Instructor Carmen Williams Inspires BankWork$ Participants to Pursue Their Dreams in Financial Services

Posted on by CareerWork$

Earlier this week in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, instructor Carmen Williams kicked off her new BankWork$ class at The Energy Innovation Center. After celebrating 13 new BankWork$ graduates in her most recent summer class, she is excited to welcome more participants to BankWork$ and set them up for success in the financial services industry!  

A Pittsburgh native, Carmen is no stranger to the financial services industry; she first began her career as a teller. With 23 years of banking experience, Carmen ended her career in financial services by working at First National Bank for five years. She also has a heart for non-profit work and spent two years of her career as an Administrative Assistant at The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. When Carmen learned about an opportunity to be a Career Navigator for BankWork$ at The Energy Innovation Center, she thought it would be a great mix between her love of banking and non-profit work. In June 2022, Carmen was promoted from Career Navigator to Instructor to lead her first in-person class. 

Carmen describes herself as a background dancer. “I like being behind the scenes! However, this year, I had the opportunity to step into a new role as a BankWork$ Instructor, which has been very rewarding. I was nervous to start this new role because I didn’t want to fail my students. On my first day, I asked my students to give me grace because it was my first time, but a week into class, they all thought I was a natural. Because I’ve been in banking so long, when students have questions that go off the daily lessons, I know how to answer them and give them the right resources.”    

For Carmen, the highlight of her job is watching her students graduate. “I get weepy every graduation ceremony. We all connect so much during those eight weeks, and it’s such a rewarding experience. I try to teach my students that you can go down many different paths in banking. Even if you find that one role in banking is not for you, you can always come back to a new role that uses your skills differently,” said Carmen.     

Carmen’s mentorship often changes her students’ perception of the financial services industry. “On my first day, one woman said, ‘I’ll do anything, but I don’t want to be a teller,’ but after we did the cashbox exercises, she wanted nothing more than to be a teller. Her brother was so confident she would never want to be a teller that he thought I bribed her!”    

Carmen is especially proud of graduates whose long-term career goals have guided them since the beginning of class. “One of my students knew she wanted to work somewhere where she could transfer to a different city later, and she’s doing that! She told me from day one that she was moving to North Carolina, and now she finally did it. Another previous student is working at my old bank, and I get to brag about her and her promotions any time I go back to visit.”    

We are grateful for Carmen’s leadership, knowledge, and compassion for her students. We can’t wait to see her bring her expertise to many more classes in the future!   

The Energy Innovation Center is a Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization with a mission to align workforce development and education. BankWork$ is offered nationally, free of charge to students all across the United States. We at CareerWork$ are proud to partner with The EIC to continue to bring BankWork$ to the greater Pittsburgh community.     

Click here to learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Partner4Work and The Energy Innovation Center. 

Because of BankWork$, Divya Singh Kushwah Began a Career In Financial Services That Has Led Her to Bank of America.

Posted on by CareerWork$

After immigrating to the United States from India, Divya Singh Kushwah got a job in the US working in human resources, but her goal was always greater stability and a consistent schedule. In January 2021, after hearing about BankWork$ at A New Leaf in Phoenix, Arizona from friends, Divya decided to make a career change and start a new path for her family.  

“When I joined BankWork$, I knew nothing about the financial services industry,” said Divya. “I was beginning a totally new chapter of life, and it was overwhelming at first to learn so many different things. One of the reasons I loved the class so much was our instruction staff–I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor to help teach me everything. Whenever you’re trying to begin anything new, having mentors and guidance is so important to success.”   

Divya’s instructor was Cheri Foschi, who has served as the BankWork$ instructor at A New Leaf since the class’s inception in 2016. “Cheri has stayed a mentor to me after I graduated. She’s always asking me about my current role and wants to stay in touch. We were virtual for the whole class due to the pandemic, but she adapted so well and built such a strong bond,” said Divya.  

Cheri remembers Divya as being an extraordinary student and a great class leader. “Divya is one motivated young lady. She is known for establishing rapport with her clients and is 100% committed to meeting their needs. Divya will give ya one hundred percent!” said Cheri. 

“Cheri gave us real-time scenarios to act out and learn from,” said Divya. “The mock interviews especially helped me strengthen my interviewing abilities, so I felt prepared for every question they asked. learned that it’s ok to ask lots of questions, and I’ve grown to be proud of my Indian accent.” 

After graduating from BankWork$, Divya, like all BankWork$ and CareerWork$ Medical graduates, attended a hiring fair with local financial institutions and was met with immediate success. “At the hiring fair I got sixteen job offers!” remarked Divya. In May 2021, Divya accepted a position at Bank of America as a Senior Client Executive. One year later, she was promoted to Senior Fraud Analyst, a role she loves.  

“In my current role I get to think like a detective,” said Divya. “You have to think so many ways of how fraud could have occurred, and you have to consider lots of different factors to protect the client as well as the financial institution. I do lots of background checks and am constantly learning new skills.” 

Bank of America has been a long-term supporter of BankWork$ and has hired hundreds of BankWork$ graduates. CareerWork$ is proud to highlight other BankWork$ alumni from around the country who have gone on to work at Bank of America, including Rozanna Vakhapova, DaVonte Poole, and Jennifer Berg.  

Divya encourages anyone considering BankWork$ to experience the program for themselves. “It was a new chapter for me. I didn’t have any idea how a financial institution worked. I had to learn new terminology, new skills, and how to deal with money. BankWork$ made it not only accessible, but enjoyable to learn!” said Divya.  

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with A New Leaf, click here. The next class begins on October 17, 2022.  

Through BankWork$, Makayla Kayhill-Walton Landed Her Dream Career at US Bank Where She Helps People Every Day With Their Financial Needs

Posted on by CareerWork$
Makayla

Makayla Kayhill-Walton always knew that she wanted to help people. After working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for five years and garnering a reputation for excellent customer service skills, Makayla decided she wanted to enter the financial services industry. When she found the BankWork$ program at Goodwill of Colorado in September of 2020, she felt like the program was made for her, and describes signing up as one of the best decisions she has ever made.  

“Helping people is my greatest passion,” says Makayla. “However, as I’ve gotten older, being on the healthcare front lines was no longer the right fit for me, and I wanted to find a role more on the administrative side. When I first discovered BankWork$, I knew nothing about banking, but learning financial skills came easily to me. What surprised me about the program was learning how to stand out in interviews and make my resume memorable. I learned how to do an elevator pitch, which has helped me to present the best version of myself, and I still use it today! I wouldn’t have learned that without this program.” All BankWork$ and CareerWork$ Medical participants learn how to present themselves in an elevator pitch, where they give a 30-second testimonial showcasing their abilities and personality.  

Makayla attended Candice Sporhase-White and Barbara Colwell’s BankWork$ class from September to November 2020 and feels sentimental when reflecting on her class experience. “I had personal issues that could have prevented me from getting a job, and they helped me overcome those obstacles. They were a shoulder to cry on, and I’ll forever be grateful,” says Makayla.   

Instructor Candice describes Makayla as an exceptional participant who always went the extra mile to help others. “Makayla took all she had learned while in BankWork$ to become a successful team member and leader within US Bank,” says Candice. “Her journey is both inspiring and so genuine, as is her passion to help others like her find success in the financial services industry. She was an inspirational alumni speaker at one of our graduations earlier this year, and expressed to our graduates that if they put into practice all that they have learned and believe in themselves, that their futures know no bounds.” 

After graduating from BankWork$, Makayla, like all CareerWork$ graduates, interviewed with local financial institutions looking to hire immediately. She accepted an offer from US Bank as a Client Relationship Consultant. “I felt like I connected so much with the district managers at US Bank,” says Makayla. “I’ve been here a year and a half now, and have already been promoted twice! In my current role, I work in a combined teller and banker position. I get to do basic things like notarizing documents, creating accounts, making deposits, and selling business credit cards. However, my favorite part of my job is helping elderly clients who often have difficulties with online banking. It reminds me of my nursing days, and it’s so refreshing to see how much they value a human relationship.” 

At US Bank, Makayla has had many opportunities to grow professionally. “I was able to participate in a US Bank LEAD group (Leadership Education Agility and Development), which is a five week program to meet my peers with different goals. My district manager also added me to the McKinsey Black Leadership Academy Experience, which has taught me so much about my influence and leadership as a Black woman.” 

Makayla encourages anyone considering BankWork$ to give it a shot. “You can continue doing what you’re doing now, or you can take that step and see what it’ll do for you. It may change your life as it did mine.” 

With an 83% career placement rate, Goodwill of Colorado has helped place hundreds of BankWork$ graduates into stable, lasting careers. To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Goodwill of Colorado, click here.  

Goodwill of Colorado BankWork$ is hosting an online information session on Monday, Sept. 12, beginning at 12 PM/Noon: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85442152820?pwd=SE45SkRpVUFjZmM5MHd1dzhiWEt2QT09  

(Meeting ID: 854 4215 2820 Passcode: 457735) 

Nesha Price Took a “Leap of Faith” By Joining CareerWork$ Medical and Her Whole Career Has Been Turned Upside Down

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After getting laid off at the start of the COVID pandemic, Nesha Price wanted a career that could financially support her and her daughter. She got a job at a grocery store, but realized working twelve hours a week wasn’t enough to take care of her family. Nesha had always been interested in healthcare and knew she was a hard worker with great adaptability and organizational skills, but she had no healthcare experience and assumed she would not be able to find a career in the industry. “I wanted to get into healthcare and help make a difference, but I knew I didn’t want to be on the clinical side,” says Nesha. Initially apprehensive about signing up for CareerWork$ Medical because she’d never done a career readiness program, she took a “leap of faith” and says it turned her “whole life upside down”—in the best possible way.   

Nesha was easily able to fit attending Diana Monge’s class at JVS SoCal into her schedule while working at the grocery store on the weekends. “I was on the fence about signing up because I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t even know if I would get a job, but I figured that I have nothing to lose. I can only gain by signing up. In class, we learned a lot of technical parts of working at an administrative job, but what I didn’t expect was that the class would give me a new sense of confidence. Before this class, I would look at a place like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and never think I’d be able to work there since I have no previous healthcare education or experience. But this class taught me to trust my abilities and find my confidence.”

Diana, Nesha’s instructor, speaks highly of her former participant. “During our time in CareerWork$, Nesha highlighted her leadership skills by always being the first to participate and lead in discussion, in other words, she helped me run the class. I had no doubt that she would be the first to get hired. She is not only a role model to her beautiful daughter but a role model to all our candidates. Every opportunity I get, I share Nesha’s story and notice this glimpse of hope in our students as they realize ‘I could be the next Nesha!’ I always say ‘with the right drive and level of motivation, you all can get there too!’ Not only is Nesha a hardworking go-getter, but she is also kind, compassionate, and always willing to go above and beyond to help those around her, which is rare to find. She certainly deserves all the promotions, and I would not at all be surprised if one day she is the lead in charge.”

Upon graduating, Nesha, like all CareerWork$ Medical and BankWork$ graduates, Nesha interviewed with local healthcare institutions looking to hire now. She completed four interviews with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, for a role as a Senior Administrative Assistant. “When I Interviewed at CHLA, I knew this was the right fit for me. My recruiter was so encouraging and welcoming. As I’ve gotten to know my supervisor, I have been so moved by the level of love and support she’s shown me. She helped support me when my daughter got COVID, she helped me find an apartment, and even sent me care packages when I was sick. Although my work atmosphere is mostly remote, we all take care of each other.” In her role as a Senior Administrative Assistant, Nesha’s main responsibilities are calendar management, scheduling travel plans for CHLA, and other administrative duties. In June 2022, she was promoted to Executive Assistant at CHLA.

“Sometimes I’ll have imposter syndrome, and feel like I don’t deserve this job, but I know I do. CareerWork$ helped show me that I am capable, smart, and deserving of success. This program taught me to chase what I want and that it’s not out of reach. I’ve always wanted to get into project management, and once I mentioned that to my supervisor, she’s helped me jump in on lots of new projects. To anyone who’s thinking about changing their career, seek out training. The application took less than five minutes to complete, and now I’m in a career where I can support my family —all it took was a leap of faith.”

Congratulations, Nesha, on your career growth and success, and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.

To learn more about CareerWork$ Medical and our partnership with JVS SoCal, click here. Their next class begins on October 17, 2022.

Dreaming of a Career in Financial Services, Rozanna Vakhapova Found BankWork$ and Energized Her Career

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Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Rozanna Vakhapova immigrated to the United States by herself in 2009. She had dreams of developing a career in the financial services industry. After discovering BankWork$ and meeting instructor Julian Hampton at JVS SoCal, Rozanna knew she had found her pathway to her dream career.  

In September of 2020, after moving to Los Angeles, she signed up for the program. Rozanna says, “I was so excited to get accepted! I loved coming to class every day throughout the winter. My classmates came from all different places in life, but everyone shared a hunger for chasing a career.”   

Upon graduating from BankWork$, all graduates attend a hiring fair with local financial instructions. Rozanna describes the interviewing process as “feeling like a celebrity. I have never experienced getting to do six interviews in one day. BankWork$ had trained me well for all their specific interview questions and I had answers prepared. I felt so confident in my abilities.”  

In February 2021, Rozanna accepted a position with Bank of America, starting as a Relationship Banker. She enjoys all the opportunities working at Bank of America has given her. “Every day I speak to different people. I also get to do many volunteer events through Bank of America. Every Saturday, I go to different foundations, where we teach financial skills to children.  I’m also getting to take classes with my support team. I love working with clients and meeting so many different kinds of people. I remember the location where I first opened my Bank of America account; now I want to make sure all my clients remember me.” Rozanna is now the Relationship Manager Business Owner Specialist, and provides financial expertise for small business clients.  

Rozanna credits BankWork$ Instructor Julian Hampton for being a key figure in shaping her career. “Julian is an amazing mentor. He always knows the words to say to give you perfect life advice. I’m so happy he’s impacted so many people that were not sure about themselves. He taught me to ask questions and be willing to learn.”  

Julian also speaks highly of Rozanna, saying, “Rozanna was a stellar student who consistently yearned for knowledge. As much as I pushed her to be her best, she also pushed me to be my best by asking questions and looking for the reason behind the answer. She would look up articles and videos about the economy and historical events and share them with me. This is what made Rozanna a joy to teach. She has brought the longing for knowledge to Bank of America and used it to advance. I couldn’t be prouder of her.” 

Looking forward to her future, Rozanna is excited to continue to develop relationships and help her clients at Bank of America. Rozanna recently spoke at the last JVS SoCal graduation, congratulating the newest group of graduates. She commends BankWork$ for giving her the drive to pursue excellence. “Bankwork$ taught me to go the extra mile; whether that be calling back a customer, helping my coworkers, or staying focused to achieve a goal, I’m grateful for the skills I’ve learned from my time at BankWork$.”  

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with JVS SoCal, click here.   

Through Hard Work and Humility in BankWork$, Barbara Jimenez Found Success in the Financial Industry 

Posted on by CareerWork$

As a newly single mother just laid off from a retail job in fall 2017, Barbara Jimenez was feeling very discouraged about the future of her career. She was determined to get a position to help support her and her family, and knew stable scheduling, a chance to use her customer service experience, and opportunities for growth—along with a consistent paycheck and full benefits—were priorities. When she discovered BankWork$ in January 2018, she realized the program could be her pathway to success.  

Barbara, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, applied for instructor Michelle Branner’s inaugural BankWork$ class, then at JVS Bay Area. She faced obstacles from the beginning, when she couldn’t afford the business professional attire required in class—but got a push to go. “That first morning I wanted to go, but I didn’t meet the dress requirements. My mom encouraged me to attend anyway,” says Barbara. “I met Michelle, and she encouraged when I felt like I was completely alone and underprepared. She helped me find a thrift store where I could find professional clothes I could afford.” 

Barbara appreciated the diversity of her classmates, which included a wide range of age, gender, and nationalities: “We had lots of people coming from different countries, and several of them had degrees. I became friends with Sandy, a fellow single mother. We helped encourage each other. By the end of the class, I was giving students rides. All of our stories were different, but our goal was the same—to get a job in this field.”  

Upon graduating, Barbara, like all BankWork$ graduates, interviewed with several different financial institutions looking to hire following a job fair hosted by the program. She felt most connected to Bank of the West, where she accepted a job as Relationship Banker. “I had a great connection with that manager. I knew that I wanted to work with him. He hired me as a banker, and I was so terrified—but excited!” 

Barbara has continued to grow in her career—and has her sights set on even more growth. “Now, years later, I’m the Senior Relationship Banker, and we’ve been meeting our goals. I’m proud of myself. When I first got hired, I read everything. I learned how to process everything. I felt like I knew a lot more than some of the older bankers did. For example, I learned how to process international clients. My managers have told me that I’m going to be a manager someday. I know I’m not ready yet, because I still have some growing to do, but I’m excited to go down that path.”  

Barbara is thankful for the support of her instructors and the skills she learned in class. “BankWork$ helped give me the confidence to walk into a bank and know all my abilities. The banking side of things was just a little bit of it. Michelle taught me how to put numbers on my resume, stand out as a candidate, and negotiate a counter-offer. She is just phenomenal; she talks like your mother, sister, or friend. She gets to know you on a personal level. She gets to know your good and your bad. She will say things like, ‘this may not work for you, because you’re better than that and you should do this other opportunity.’ Michelle is a truly special and unique woman.” 

Michelle, who is now the BankWork$ instructor at Fremont Adult and Continuing Education (FACE) also spoke highly of Barbara, saying, “Barbara was the first person I interviewed at BankWork$. I saw her potential from the first day I met her. She was eager to start a career in banking. She showed up every day with enthusiasm and a willingness to help others to learn. All of her hard work has paid off and now she’s been in banking for almost five years. I am so proud of her accomplishments.”  

When Barbara reflects on her time with BankWork$ and her life situation prior to applying, her advice to anyone in a similar situation is clear. “It took a lot of guts for me to apply, but I knew I had people counting on me. Good people want to help you. Programs like this are flexible and understanding, and want to help you become a better version of yourself. Be honest about your situation, I know that’s what I needed to do.” Barbara excels in perseverance and her willingness to learn; throughout her career, her success will only continue to grow. 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with FACE, click here. 

For Fiorella, Being Bilingual and Learning Additional Skills in BankWork$ Helped Lead Her to a Successful Career at Wells Fargo.

Posted on by CareerWork$

When Fiorella Reyes first came to the United States, she was passionate about pursuing a career in the financial services industry. Born and raised in Venezuela, she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to study English, and decided to try to find an opportunity in banking in January 2020.   

“At the time I was looking for a program to get into banking, but they were all so expensive. When I found an ad for BankWork$ at Employ Milwaukee, I couldn’t believe that it was free,” says Fiorella. She was excited for this new opportunity to develop her skills in finance and saw it as an investment in herself. “I sacrificed some time to do the program, and it totally paid off to get me where I am now in my career.” 

For Fiorella, who had previously had banking experience in Venezuela, her biggest challenge was making her resume stand out—and that’s where the BankWork$ curriculum was key. “In the class, they helped me strengthen my resume and showed me what recruiters were looking for. The interview practice we did gave me the confidence I needed to apply for jobs. I learned how to build my interview answers from beginning to end with vivid detail.” This extensive resume building and mock interview practice is a core part of every CareerWork$ program, so graduates leave the program ready to succeed in new careers. After their graduation ceremony, Fiorella attended a hiring fair with local financial instructions looking to bring on new talent immediately. She ended up with eleven different offers and accepted a role as a Personal Banker with Wells Fargo. “I enjoy working for Wells Fargo. I’m still friends with my previous managers, I feel like I could call them anytime, and they would give me advice. I just started a new position as Small Business Banker, which has been exciting.”  

Like many BankWork$ graduates, Fiorella’s ability to speak multiple languages has been an asset on the job. She was initially nervous to apply due to a potential language barrier hindering her success, as she learned English later in life. “I have friends scared to apply because of the language barrier. I was too, but don’t be afraid, you can still find a path as I did. There are positions available such as a teller, where you don’t have to have a whole conversation in English at first, and speaking another language can be an advantage. The more that you train yourself, the better your English will get. Don’t be afraid to have an accent. Everyone from tellers to managers has one. At my current branch, everyone speaks at least one other language.” In fact, 52% of BankWork$ graduates speak two or more languages, and many community banks recognize how important multilingual staff can be to reduce barriers to banking.  

Fiorella’s instructor at Employ Milwaukee, Adrienne Wright, describes Fiorella as a joy to have in class. “Fiorella had her eyes on the prize early on to land a career in the financial services industry. I knew she would be successful in whatever role she accepted. She eventually landed a position at Wells Fargo and stayed in touch throughout her career. It was no surprise that she would move up in the company with her passion to help others and her dedicated work ethic. We are so proud. Fiorella is a stellar example of a BankWork$ graduate,” says Adrienne. 

Fiorella feels gratitude towards her former instructing team. “I’m very thankful. They helped me put in the work and provided great feedback. Adrienne reaches out to me every few months to check in. I can tell she loves her job, and I think that shows well in the success of all her students. I had to make a lot of sacrifices when I was in the program. I could have spent those months working, but what I was going before BankWork$ wasn’t leading to a career, just paying the bills. Thanks to the time I spent doing the work in Bankwork$, I can now say I have a career in financial services.”   

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Employ Milwaukee, click here. 

CareerWork$ Announces Delaney Bord as the Latest Recipient of the Marc Hill Rising Star Award 

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CareerWork$ is delighted to select Delaney Bord, a March 2022 graduate of the BankWork$® program from our training partners at Partner4Work and Energy Innovation Center Pittsburgh, as the fourth recipient of the CareerWork$ Marc Hill Rising Star Award! Delaney recently began her new career in financial services working as a Personal Banker at Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh. 

Beginning in Spring 2021, the Marc Hill Rising Star Award recognizes a graduate of our BankWork$ or CareerWork$ Medical® programs each quarter who has shown significant personal growth and transformation from the start of their class until their graduation. Each award recipient receives a certificate and cash award to enhance the start of their new career.   

The award is part of CareerWork$ ongoing work to open doors to meaningful careers – and honors the life, work, and legacy of the late Marc Hill, an instructor of both the BankWork$ and CareerWork$® Ready programs with CareerWork$ partner, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, who passed away in late 2020. Marc began teaching our BankWork$ courses in 2011 and then began teaching CareerWork$ Ready in 2020 as part of our response to the COVID-19 crisis. The lessons Marc shared with his students embody our values as an organization: respect, collaboration, equity, and inclusion.   

“I am incredibly grateful to be even nominated. Just hearing a few words about Marc Hill makes me feel so honored to get this award and have a chance to know his story. Bankwork$ has changed my life. Not only is BankWork$ an amazing program, but it has very inspirational and dedicated instructors, such as Tanya Bashor and Carmen Williams, who stop at nothing to make sure their students succeed. Words cannot even describe how truly thankful I am,” says Delaney. 

The CareerWork$ and Energy Innovation Center teams, along with Delaney’s colleagues at Dollar Bank, had the opportunity to surprise her with the news that she had been selected as the newest recipient from a pool of candidates across the country.   

“After we got off the video celebration, she was so appreciative, shocked, and overwhelmed with emotion that she was chosen. We are all so proud of her and all she’s accomplished,” says Kim Rodriguez, Assistant Vice President of Branch Administration at Dollar Bank.  

“Delaney was one of the best students I have taught. She was punctual, had perfect attendance, excelled on all of her exams, and asked thoughtful questions throughout. She made no excuses even though attending the BankWork$ training for eight weeks was very challenging for her. Delaney was always positive and determined to place at a bank—and Dollar Bank is lucky to have her!” said Tanya Bashor, Delaney’s former instructor at Energy Innovation Center Pittsburgh.  

From all of us at CareerWork$, congratulations, Delaney! 

Shelley McHugh and Sara Sheldon From Career Path Services are Helping Students Grow Into Their New Careers Through BankWork$. 

Posted on by CareerWork$

In Lakewood, Washington, just south of Seattle, dynamic duo Instructor Shelley McHugh and Career Navigator Sara Sheldon lead the BankWork$® program with our partners Career Path Services. Shelley and Sara draw on their backgrounds in finance and human services in supporting students before, during, and after our free, eight-week comprehensive training as they learn the skills to thrive in a new career in financial services. For Shelley, that includes a career serving in the United States military and in banking. For Sara, that includes experience working at the Washington State Department of Health & Human Services. For both, the opportunity to support students going through this program is life-changing. 

Shelley and Sara believe a key part of the success of the BankWork$ program is that it teaches the industry-specific knowledge and the customer-facing skills needed to succeed and advance in careers: “For our students, BankWork$ is a package deal: it offers both the hard and soft skills they need,” says Sara.  

For both Shelley and Sara, working directly with their students and watching them grow during the training is a highlight of their jobs. “Often the person walking in the door is often not the person who walks out of the door,” says Shelley. “It’s so gratifying and exciting to hear from our graduates about milestones like promotions in their new career – and their new babies, too!”  

Like so many workforce development organizations around the country, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges and barriers to serving their community with the BankWork$ program. But working with our training partners around the country like Sara, Shelley, and Career Path Services, CareerWork$ adapted quickly, making classes virtual and creating virtual graduation celebrations and hiring fairs with local employers.

“We’re grateful we were able to pivot so quickly to virtual learning by using our Learning Management System,” recalls Shelley. “Now, information is at our students’ fingertips. It’s a great tool to help them be even better prepared for being in a bank. We’ve also learned to appreciate the value of being in person.” 

When giving advice to students considering BankWork$, Sara emphasizes that participating in BankWork$ is a smart bet for the long term. “It’s an investment that dramatically increases your chances of launching a lasting career in financial services.” 

Both Sara and Shelley are characteristically humble when talking about their work together, preferring to keep the spotlight on the graduates and their achievements. “Our graduates always thank us,” Shelley says, “but they did the hard work.” 

Career Path Services operates across Washington State, offering programs and services to help individuals and organizations meet their employment goals. Founded in 1971, their mission is to break the spirit of poverty through the dignity of work. They have been voted a top nonprofit to work for eight times in the last decade, and we are proud to partner with them to offer BankWork$ and CareerWork$ Medical.

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Career Path Services, click here. 

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In Search of Stability, DaVonte Poole found BankWork$–and a Growing Career.

Posted on by CareerWork$

DaVonte Poole spent much of his early life filled with curiosity to see the world, but without the family or economic stability to fully stretch his wings. “I knew there was something more for me out there, that there were more than just the four corners of my Chicago block. I knew the world was bigger and I wanted to see it,” he said.  

After moving between different homeless shelters, he left Chicago for Alaska, where he discovered Covenant House of Alaska, a shelter in Anchorage. In Alaska, he worked several jobs in retail and hospitality—but one person changed DaVonte’s life. At NuVision Credit Union, DaVonte met LeeAnthony Jenkins, who recommended he joined their credit union and learn about the possibilities of working in the financial services industry. “From day one, LeeAnthony challenged me to learn everything I can about the financial Industry, and I accepted the challenge head on! He truly inspired me because I didn’t know that it was possible for someone in the financial Industry to look like me” says DaVonte. 

After moving back to Chicago in 2017, while he was also taking the Dovetail Project, a program for high-risk fathers to understand their importance in the lives of their children, DaVonte discovered the BankWork$ program at Association House of Chicago. He knew his limited interview and office experience was limiting his professional opportunities, and felt BankWork$ could give him the tools necessary to go farther in his career in banking.  He loved learning about professional roles he could take on. 

“The BankWork$ curriculum included panels of program alumni speaking about their careers, and I appreciated the insights. Being able to hear others’ stories of what they went through in the industry gave me tools to put in my toolbelt. I was constantly taking notes about every little thing.”  

After graduation, like all BankWork$ graduates, DaVonte attended a career fair with employers looking to hire. Wanting to learn from the ground level of how money moves as a teller, he interviewed for a position at a call center for Bank of America. “I had a great interview, and they offered me a position.” After eight months as a teller, he was promoted to a banker. 

After two years of working with Bank of America, DaVonte accepted a new job at Credit Union One as a personal banker, where he became interested in mortgages and credit cards. ” As a Banker, one of your primary roles is to achieve sales goals through providing loans. When I was at Credit Union One, I was able to sell over a million dollars in loan value, which was one of the highlights of my career.” In his next career move to BMO Harris, he developed skills in commercial and business lending. “I wanted to be multi-faceted when it comes to financial services.” 

In May 2022, DaVonte accepted a new role as Assistant Branch Manager at PNC Bank and is looking forward to supporting the next generation of bankers.  “I’m excited about this new job! I want to be able to train a new team of bankers. I know what it takes to be a banker, and I know the habits in order to be successful. If I’m given the opportunity to multiply myself, I know can take a branch to the next level. Hopefully, we can do some great things.”  

As DaVonte reflects on his career, he credits a combination of his own drive and the BankWork$ training he received. ‘Any time I received a no, I felt like I had to sharpen my toolset. I looked at myself in the mirror to figure out what was going on. You have to be your biggest motivator; when you are, nothing someone can say will knock you off your path. People told me I was crazy for wanting to be a banker. External supports can be few and far between on the road to success. I’m thankful for BankWork$ because it gives opportunities to individuals who would otherwise not even think about stepping into this industry. Because BankWork$ didn’t give up on me, I didn’t give up on myself.” 

DaVonte started off with very little encouragement in his career in the financial services industry, but through perseverance, determination, and confidence he has worked his way from BankWork$ graduate to Assistant Branch Manager. We are so excited to see how DaVonte continues to make an impact on the financial services industry. Congratulations on your continued advancement in your career, DaVonte! 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Association House of Chicago, click here.