Faces of Workforce

After a long career in the title insurance industry, Barbara was faced with the harsh reality of job insecurity, shattering her retirement hopes. After being downsized several times and struggling to find stable employment, she contacted the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) and enrolled in the Older Adult Workforce program as part of the program’s first cohort. Barbara developed the tools she needed in the program to adjust to a changing workforce.

At just 19 years old, Summer’s workforce journey is just getting started. Born and raised in East Oakland, influenced by her mother’s strong work ethic and desire for independence, she began working at 16. With the help of different community organizations and nonprofits like the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), as a part of the Access to Career Pathways for Foster Youth program, she is offered a reliable support system while she navigates her career journey.

After almost seven years of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) after being diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD, Jennifer Smith found herself ready to test her resolve to head back into the workforce. Through the Ticket to Work program and with encouragement from her program specialist, Georgina Garcia, at the San Diego Workforce Partnership, Jennifer developed the tools and fortitude to successfully restart her career in healthcare administration.

For Spencer Howe and John Hornbrook of MRIaudio, investing in their employees is part of their company’s ethos. With support from the California Manufacturing Technology Consulting and the Workforce Partnership, MRIaudio was able to provide Lean 6 Sigma Training to their staff at a fraction of the cost. Read on to learn how Incumbent Worker Training funds made this possible. 

Being the only woman at a construction job site is not new for Jenifer Arce and Jesse Gomez-Villeda. In fact, that imbalance has only helped them thrive. Jenifer and Jesse are ironworkers by trade and instruct pre-apprentices in the Apprenticeship Readiness Program, a collaboration between the San Diego Workforce Partnership and the SD Building Trades Council. Here, they shared us why representation in construction matters.

Starting a career in healthcare required Israel Guzman to overcome countless obstacles. Through the Healthcare Administration Pathways program and the support from career navigators, he not only completed the program but also landed a job at Scripps. He tells us about the importance of shifting mindsets and staying true to yourself.

Nashid Mateen has held a variety of job positions, from working at Jack in the Box to working as a medical biller, over his life. Following a twisted turn of fate, Nashid found himself involved with the justice system. Now released, Nashid is on a journey to finding his place in the workforce with the help of the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Reentry Works services and other community partners.

Jeniffer Mendiola has had a passion for working with her hands from an early age, influenced by her uncles working in construction. The passion is made clear when looking at her work history, which reflects a pattern of physical if not mobile elements; from emergency medical technician (EMT) to welding and driving for Uber, her career journey took her through various career paths and industries. It was when she received an email from San Diego Continuing Education that she was able to find her way to becoming a certified electrician by way of the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Construction Career Jumpstart (CCJ) program.

Having spent three decades as a small business owner, managing two salons in Encinitas and downtown San Diego, life threw a curveball at Teresa Koecher. In 2014, she faced a life-altering accident, leaving her physically incapable of working in the same capacity as before and starting her life anew. With the help of friends and her church community, she could pick herself up and change course.

In 2018, after spending 20 years raising her daughters as a stay-at-home mom, Shellie Baxter created Our Genetic Legacy (OGL), a nonprofit educational publishing house focusing on amplifying the voices and stories of People of Color. Shellie used our TechHire program to provide paid work experiences for young female data analysts and drone pilots.