New Bedford Career CenterSuccess stories are nothing new for the people who work at the Greater New Bedford Career Center (GNB CC). Working with clients that have difficulties is challenging at best. Lost job, family problems and the mental anguish people go through when they lose their jobs are just some of the problems the staff needs to pay attention to. Sometimes it takes a complete team effort to accomplish this goal.

One such story is about a man referred from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). Robert Champagne was referred to Donna Balut, Job Developer with the Division of Career Services (DCS) in December of 2005. He had a family to support, and no transportation. Donna called on help from Marie Franqui, Case Manager with New Directions SouthCoast, Inc., for bus passes and incentive awards to keep him going. Often it was just offering encouragement and making sure that discouragement didn’t weigh his life down.

One day, Robert visited the GNB CC to visit Donna. She was not in but was seen by Paula Roux, Job Developer with DCS. Paula referred him to the Dartmouth Mall who was looking to fill a maintenance technician position. After the interview, he was offered the job; 40 hours per week at $10.00 per hour. It was a difficult time for him and at one point he wanted to leave but with the encouragement from Donna, Paula and Marie he decided to stay with it.

He was given a raise after six months and at the end of the year was offered a position in Maryland, with the same mall company, as the Maintenance Manager. After his recent promotion to Assistant Manager of Mall Facilities, he now oversees all activities as related to mall maintenance and upkeep and has the responsibility of hiring and firing.

In October 2007 he visited the GNB CC to thank the people who helped him better his life. The company is paying for his relocation and is making sure he has an apartment to live in. He said he was looking forward to the change and “could not leave without saying thank you” to the people who helped him.

Much is said about the “seamless” operation and cooperation between DCS and New Directions SouthCoast, Inc. This is a great example of the inter-agency cooperation and work between people whose only job is to help people help themselves. Great job to all the staff who work tirelessly to assure a job match and moral support to our clients.

Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board

Connecting Employers and Job Seekers
employment - education - training

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board is a business-led, policy-setting board that oversees workforce development initiatives in the ten-community region stretching from Dartmouth to Wareham, MA. Appointed by New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, the Board is composed of business, civic, education, labor, and community leaders.

Established under federal law, the Board's Chairman is a member of the private sector. The current Chairman is Charles R. Simpson, President and CEO, First Citizens' Federal Credit Union in Fairhaven. Vice-Chairman is David DeJesus, Jr., VP Human Resources, Southcoast Hospitals Group, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.

The Board employs a staff of full-time professionals and maintains offices in New Bedford. The Board itself consists entirely of volunteers.

All of the Board's meetings are open to the public.

227 Union Street, Suite 206, New Bedford, MA 02740-5946
PH 508.979.1504 • FAX 508.979.5680
Visit us on the web at: http://www.gnbwib.org

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