Members of the Tri-County Collaborative Program Completers from the Keysville cohort. They are pictured with Tri-County Community Action CEO Rev. William Coleman, SVHEC Executive Director Dr. Betty H. Adams, and SVHEC Director of Workforce Assessment & Advancement Nettie Simon-Owens.

Success!  Participants in the South Boston Cohort of the Tri-County Job Readiness Training Program Earn Their Completion Credentials. Pictured L-R: Morgan Brown, Steven Brown, Donald Burroughs (Charlotte County), Marilyn Goode, Anthony holt, Doretha Kirby, Harold Link, Nettie Simon-Owens (SVHEC Director of Workforce Assessment and Advancement), William “Bill” Coleman (President and CEO of Tri-County Community Action Agency), Cheryl Terry (DCC Director of Business and Industry Services), Marlo  Womack, Thomas Turbeville, Tanejah Tertilus, Sherman Spraggins (Charlotte County), Judy Songer (Charlotte County), Quincey Medley, and Marque Medley. All program completers are Halifax County residents except where otherwise indicated

A ceremony was recently held for individuals completing the 1st Tri-County Job Readiness Training Program at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC).  More than 80 people were in attendance to honor the 14 individuals in the South Boston cohort.

Click here to view the Completion Ceremony Program

The ceremony opened with remarks from Cheryl Terry, Director of Business & Industry Services at Danville Community College, and greetings from Patty Nelson, Chief Finance & Operations Officer at the SVHEC. Doretha Kirby, a participant in the Job Readiness Training program, extended a welcome to those in attendance, and spoke of how she is much better prepared for today’s workplaces because of participation in the training program. 

 Federal stimulus monies were used to fund the initiative that brought together educational providers and employers to provide comprehensive training to unemployed individuals in Halifax, Charlotte, and Mecklenburg Counties. Tri-County Community Action Agency, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, and the South Central Workforce Investment Board including the Virginia Workforce Center partnered to form the Tri-County Collaborative. The Tri-County Collaborative formed to leverage and maximize regional resources to create and support this new comprehensive job readiness program. Nettie Simon-Owens, Director of Workforce Assessment and Advancement at the SVHEC, serves as the project and program manager for this new initiative.  

Simon-Owens worked with educational and training partners in the region to develop and provide a job readiness curriculum that integrated soft and applied skills, workplace credentials, and direct employer involvement. Danville Community College, Southside Virginia Community College, IAMGOGREEN, LLC, and the SVHEC Workforce Assessment and Advancement Department partnered to deliver the curriculum focusing on Customer Service, Business Ethics, Teamwork, Basic Computer Skills, Workforce Preparation, Basic Measurements, and OSHA Safety. Participants in the intensive eight-week training program were required to attend class Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.   

L-R: Nettie Simon Owens (SVHEC Director of Workforce Assessment & Advancement and Program Manager), Marilyn Goode (Program completer), and William Coleman (President & CEO Tri-County Community Action Agency).

Mr. William J. Coleman, President and CEO of Tri-County Community Action Agency, was theguest speaker for the completion ceremony. He encouraged the program completers to be persistent and to never give up. “Never stop trying, never stop believing that what you do counts and that your life is significant,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you are today; it doesn’t matter what’s held you back in the past. Your family is depending on you,” he continued. 

 Tom Reynolds with Southside Virginia Community College and Corey Coleman with IAMGOGREEN, LLC spoke on behalf of the training providers. Reynolds, SVCC’s retired Director of Workforce Training Services, said this was of the best classes he’s had in his 20+ years of experience in workforce training. Coleman, who said this was his first experience with workforce training with adults, was struck by the level of student participation, “Everybody participated, everybody gave forth a positive effort. I want to thank you students because after the first two days of class I realized this is what I want to be doing with my life,” he said.  

A critical part of the Job Readiness Training Program was involvement by local employers. Program participants had onsite and classroom visits with employers who provided valuable information about workplace expectations, application and hiring processes, and conducted mock interviews with immediate feedback. Students were required to prepare resumes, write cover letters, practice interviewing, conduct live job searches, share their experiences in facilitated discussions, and register and apply for jobs online.  Speaking on behalf of the employers, Mary Jane Francisco, HR Director with Huber Engineered Woods, spoke about the high level of enthusiasm from the training program participants. “They wanted to be here; they wanted to do this.” She concluded her remarks by saying, “I am excited because this program has given me a better potential employee pool to draw from when I do have openings.” 

Donald Burroughs successfully completes the Job Readiness Training Program. He received a Career Readiness Certificate, OSHA 10 General Industry Safety & Health Certification, and a Certificate of Perfect Attendance.

Cheryl Terry, William Coleman, and Nettie Simon-Owens presented the program participants with their credentials. Participants had an opportunity to earn workplace credentials in the area of OSHA 10 Safety Certification, Virginia’s Career Readiness Certificates (CRC), and LEED Certification. Morgan Brown, Steven Brown, Donald Burroughs, Marilyn Goode, Anthony Holt, Doretha Kirby, Marque Medley, Harold Link, Quincey Medley, Judy Songer, Sherman Spraggins, Tanejah Terilus, Thomas Turbeville, and Marlo Womack all successfully completed the job readiness training program and received their credentials.

 Twelve of the 14 participants earned a level of CRC, 12 of the participants also earned OSHA 10 General Industry Safety and Health Certification. A Certificate of Completion from the educational and training providers was awarded to each program completer. They also received a stipend. Three of the program completers reside in Charlotte County and the remaining 11 students live in Halifax County. Terry told those completing the program, “You’ve gained a lot of skills, a lot of tools for your tool box. When you go out into the workforce you can hold your head up high knowing you have all of these new skills.”  

Several program participants spoke about the importance of the program and the impact on their lives. Marque Medley stated, “Everyone knows the economy is slow but jobs are slowly coming. You need all the tools you can get in your belt.” Tanejah Terilus said, “I’d like to thank the teachers. You taught us how to dig deep and push ourselves. I’m thankful for the opportunity to participate.”  Several participants, like Thomas Turbeville, a recent college graduate, saw the Job Readiness Training Program as an opportunity to gain more skills and give themselves an edge in the job market. 

Special thanks from the Tri-County Collaborative and the program participants were given to Nettie Simon-Owens. “Nettie poured her heart and soul into this program,” Terry said. “I think some of you students probably feel like she’s your big sister, sometimes your mother. But that only means she loves you.” Simon-Owens received a standing ovation for her dedication. 

In her ceremony’s closing remarks, Simon-Owens described the completion of the training program as a life-changing accomplishment. “The completion of this brand new, eight-week long, life changing, consuming training program is truly an accomplishment for each of the students. It’s an accomplishment for our organizations and our region.” Although the South Boston Cohort of the Job Readiness Training Program has officially ended, Simon-Owens and her staff will continue to work with participants to assist them in finding employment.  

The Tri-County Collaborative is a partnership between Tri-County Community Action Agency, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, and the South Central Workforce Investment Board including the Virginia Workforce Center providing Job Readiness Training for residents of Halifax, Charlotte, and Mecklenburg Counties. For more information about the Collaborative or the Job Readiness Training Program contact Nettie Simon-Owens at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 434-572-5440 and toll free 1-800-283-0098.