Archive for category: Success Stories

Aliegh Monroe thought she had found a career that would last in the dental field. She had attended college but never completed a degree and found herself repeatedly feeling burned out by jobs that just didn’t cover the bills. In the back of her mind, however, was an interest that had been there for years: the skilled trades. “I always knew I wanted to work in the trades, but just never thought I had it in me to do so,” recalls Aliegh.

Growing up around construction through her father’s work, Aliegh was familiar with the trades but wasn’t sure how to turn that interest into a career of her own. While searching online for ways to get her foot in the door, she discovered Missouri Works Initiative through social media. “I signed up to make a change in my life, and to set myself up to build a career and future to better myself,” Aliegh said. After applying, she connected with Russ Unger, Construction Program Coordinator for Mid-Missouri, who helped guide her through the program, and later toward opportunities in the industry.

Aliegh hit the ground running in the program, visiting training centers gave her the opportunity to speak directly with instructors and industry professionals while gaining a better understanding of what they look for in apprentices. She also developed practical skills she could take directly to the jobsite, including properly reading a tape measure, construction math and understanding how to prepare for the expectations of an apprenticeship. 

The experience gave Aliegh the knowledge and confidence she needed to make the transition into a career in construction. Through the program, she connected with Millstone Weber and joined Laborers Local 955 in Columbia. Today, she works as a construction laborer in general highway construction. “My life has changed for the better,” Aliegh said. “I’m not struggling financially like I was beforehand. I love what I do every day.”

Finding the right career has also given her an opportunity to continue learning. Aliegh credits the crew she works alongside with helping her feel at home in the industry. “I got put with an amazing crew at my job, and they have been amazing to work with,” she said. “Learning with them every day has made the job so easy to fit into.”

Aliegh also credits Unger with helping her believe that a career in the trades was possible. “Russ Unger believed in me and gave me the opportunity to go through the program with him,” she said. “His teaching and guidance were a huge step in where I am today.”

Looking back, Aliegh hopes her experience inspires others who may be interested in the trades but aren’t sure whether they should take the leap. “The program is definitely worth the time for someone who is battling the back and forth in their head to do it. Take the chance and go after it.”

Aliegh is grateful for everyone who supported her along the way, including MWI, Millstone Weber, her crew and the people in her corner who encouraged her to pursue a new path. What began as uncertainty about whether she belonged in the trades has become a career she loves and a more secure future. Aliegh’s advice is to trust the process, believe in yourself and be willing to put in the work, even when the path isn’t easy. “Not every day will be easy,” says Aliegh, “but the program is definitely the right step in the right direction.”

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Judy Randle had a decade of manufacturing experience when she took a break from paid work to raise her children. Returning to manufacturing after six years away proved more difficult than she expected. Rising childcare costs made it hard to justify returning to work, and finding an employer willing to look past a six-year gap in her employment history was daunting.

Then, Judy discovered Missouri Works Initiative’s Apprenticeship Ready Manufacturing Program and decided to take a chance on herself by enrolling. This would be the first step toward building a new future for her and her family.

Throughout the program, Judy received hands-on training designed to prepare her for a career in manufacturing. Judy earned in-demand certifications such as OSHA and CPR, and sharpened soft skills like teamwork, communication, and the importance of professionalism and showing up every day. Preparing for a career in manufacturing also meant learning hard skills like practical math, blueprint reading, and safety procedures.

The MWI team knows that developing practical skills are only a small part of what workers need to find and maintain stable careers. The ARM program also prepares participants for their job search. Judy was coached through resume writing, mock interviews, and presentations to help her develop the confidence needed to put herself back in front of employers after years outside the workforce.

Jobsite tours and opportunities to hear directly from speakers in the manufacturing industry also gave Judy a better understanding of the careers available to her and what she could expect day-to-day on the job.

For Judy, one of the most valuable parts of the experience was the people she met along the way: “I liked everything, but mostly the mentorship from Maggie Farrell, Mike Morris, and Jimmy Stroup,” she said.

After completing the program, Judy accepted a full-time position as an Assembly Mechanic at Boeing. For someone who had struggled to re-enter the workforce after years away, the opportunity represented much more than a new job. “The ARM program changed my life by giving me the skills and confidence to start a new career in manufacturing,” said Judy. “It landed me a full-time position, opened the door to new opportunities, and gave me a stronger foundation for my future.”

Judy credits the support she received through the program with helping her make the transition back to steady employment. In addition to the mentorship of Maggie, Mike, and Jim, she wants to give a special shoutout to Harriet, a driver with the program who connected with Judy and supported her every step of the way.

“I’m forever grateful for the opportunity I got from Missouri Works Initiative,” says Judy. For her, the program provided far more than a pathway back into the workforce. It gave her the skills, confidence, and foundation to build a brighter future for her and her family.

Start your journey here.

Charlotte Frederick was no stranger to odd jobs. From babysitting and dog-sitting to jobs at an amusement park and Walmart, she was unsatisfied with the work and the lack of direction.

Upon learning about the Missouri Works Initiative and talking to Mid-Missouri Construction Coordinator Russ Unger, “a great instructor and just a good guy in general,” Charlotte decided to apply and start a trade career. The variety of trades Charlotte and her class got to learn about was a huge benefit of the program. “I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do, but being able to go through all the different work really helped me decide if I liked something or not.”

In addition to introducing the hard skills trades workers need on a job site; MWI helped Charlotte with the soft skills that help students on the job for sustained success. “The program helped me sound more confident when I was applying to my company. Yes, I was good at talking to people, but I was terrible in interviews because I was always scared of answering questions wrong”, said Charlotte, “With the program, we had seen so many people and did a lot of different activities, I realized as long as I’m confident in myself, I’ll be flawless in the interviews.”

That self-confidence helped Charlotte land a great career as a drywall finisher and taper, a job she’s still loving six months in. “When I realized that trades work is what I wanted to do, I had wanted to be a painter because my father was a painter, so was his dad, and his dad’s dad. Not only was it a generational thing, but my father died when I was young, and I was always finding ways of being closer to him. As much as I wanted to be a painter, I’m glad I’m a taper instead. It keeps me close to my father, since they’re the same union, but it still allows me to be my own person.”

The Missouri Works Initiative Program gave Charlotte the skills and the confidence she needed to find a career that invests back in her, not just a job that barely pays the bills. “Before MWI, I honestly thought I was going to end up as some gas station or Walmart employee for the rest of my life, but thanks to the program helping me, I’m now in a career I don’t plan on leaving until retirement.” 

Start your journey here.

Before joining Missouri Works Initiative, Alina’s life felt scattered. She had once worked as an executive chef at a country club, but in 2024 she was let go, and the loss shook her confidence.

“My life was all over the place,” Alina said. “I was in between a lot of jobs trying to find myself because I had lost who I was and I felt like I was worthless. It was a very hard time for me to start all over.”

She picked up work in other kitchens, but it never felt the same starting from the bottom again. She even tried an office job, but quickly realized that sitting at a desk wasn’t for her. “I like to work with my hands and move,” she explained.

Alina first discovered Missouri Works Initiative through Facebook. Wanting a new path that would be both steady and rewarding, she reached out and connected with Russ from the MWI team. That decision turned out to be life-changing.

She enrolled in the Apprenticeship Ready Program, where she especially enjoyed the hands-on experiences and opportunities to learn about the different trades. “It was fun,” she said. “I really liked the field trips and getting to learn about all the different trades.”

During her time in the program, Alina learned practical skills like drywall and framing—skills she now uses on the job every day. Today, she’s proud to be working with TJ Wies, doing framing and drywall at the Mizzou Stadium. Her chosen trade is carpentry with Carpenters Mid-America, and she is excited to be building a future she feels connected to. 

For Alina, Missouri Works Initiative provided not only skills but also confidence. “It’s a great program for people that are on the fence about joining a new career,” she said. “It shows you all the ins and outs, the information you need to know about all the trades.”

She credits Russ for helping her take the leap and guiding her through the program. “Definitely Russ,” she said when asked who she wanted to thank.

Alina’s story is proof that even when life feels like it’s starting over, there’s always a path forward, and sometimes, it begins with simply taking that first step.

Start your journey here.

Denise Whitener, a stay at home mom doing deliveries part time to supplement her income, had been interested in working in construction for “quite a while, and was looking for ways to skill up and prepare to get started in the industry”. She found Missouri Works Initiative through her interest in labor related pages on social media, and thought it matched her goals. “I signed up because I wanted to enter the construction field through the right door. I want to be a Union Construction worker.”

Through the Apprenticeship Ready Program in Construction, Denise got a taste of the different construction trades that could become her full time career through work site visits and hands-on lessons at training centers. “I enjoyed getting to view the different union training facilities,” she said, “I learned how to cut and set tile, bend conduit, and bend sheet metal!” 

Beyond the job-specific training Denise participated in, she was able to get industry-standard certifications that employers look for in a potential employee, giving her a leg up over other candidates, “obtaining a MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) certification, First Aid/CPR, and OSHA 30 Certifications helped with the interview process.”

Soon after her graduation, Denise’s new skills and certifications got her in the door and hired at a company that values her drive and her ability to take on any task.”I work for MoDOT Warrenton as a maintenance worker. We maintain the roads, performing pothole patching, bridge washing, indecking and sealing, mowing, hauling, ditching, and litter pick up…I now have a job where I can put my skills to use, and it has been rewarding. I am working towards my Class A CDL with several endorsements. I am gaining experience working in the field instead of inside a manufacturing plant, which I enjoy.”

Denise’s passion for the construction industry is driving her to further her skills and her career. “I am working towards becoming a Heavy Equipment Operator. That is my ultimate goal. I want to be a member of IUOE Local 513 and learn how to skillfully maneuver the beautiful giants that build our nation!” 

As she reflects on her time in the Missouri Works Initiative program, she wants to shout out, “All of the union locals for hosting us!” We want to shout out Denise for her commitment to following her dreams and taking charge of her future to build a better life.

Start your journey here.