Three years ago, Adam Chenoweth was unemployed and handing out resumes non-stop in hopes of a career. He was laid off when the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant closed down and relocated to his home base in Woodstock in search of a new career outside of manufacturing. Chenoweth then turned to the Woodstock Community Employment Services for help.
Concurrently, Al’s Tirecraft in Burgessville was in desperate need of tire technicians. President of People Management Group, Cheryl DeCooman provides a number of HR services to various businesses in Oxford including Al’s Tirecraft. With her help as a member of the Oxford Workforce Development Partnership, she reached out to Community Employment Services in Woodstock. DeCooman explained, “usually employers post a job and say these are the required skills we need. They interview and hope to find the right person for the position. This time, we said we want the right attitude, we can teach the skills. If [Community Employment Services] can help us cover the cost of training we can guarantee people jobs,” said DeCooman.
She said the Community Employment Services offices in Oxford County “moved mountains” to find Tirecraft the right people, “their job developers went to their employment councillors and said, I’ve got this great job with this great company- they are willing to train your people. If someone is having a hard time finding work, really wants a change as well as a career, the training would be paid for. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to make it go.”
Cheryl also wanted to make sure the training would be recognized with some type of certificate. She spoke with Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning who is also a member of the Oxford Workforce Development Partnership and with their help, Cheryl was able to find an instructor through the Tire Industry Association who would provide the education at the Ingersoll Skills Training Centre.
It’s now been two years since Chenoweth received training thanks to the employment service training incentive offered at Woodstock Community Employment Services. “I learn something new every day. If I didn’t go through the employment agency, I wouldn’t be where I am today, I’d be unhappy and still looking for a rewarding career. Since starting at Tirecraft, I haven’t called in sick once. I’m happy and enjoy my job,” he said.
