Carter Countian Shawn Hanshaw Makes the Leap to a New Career with Help from Services at Northeast KY JobSight

Before he turned to the employment services available at his local Kentucky Career Center JobSight, Shawn Hanshaw was working as a custodian within the local school system. Despite his dedication to the job, it wasn’t the career that he wanted. He knew that looking for work elsewhere could not only fulfill his career aspirations but also improve his financial situation.  

Shawn Hanshaw

A resident of Carter County, Hanshaw became interested in obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), recognizing the opportunities it could unlock. His journey towards that goal, however, seemed daunting until he learned through a friend who had successfully navigated a similar path that assistance was available through Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency that could help him land a different job. 

“I had an interest in obtaining my CDL, which made me want to enroll for services,” Hanshaw said. “I had heard that Northeast could help me with this.”

A partner in the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, Northeast provides Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services in Carter, Elliott, and Lawrence counties under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP). Those services include programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who may need assistance honing skills such as résumé building or networking with local employers, or who need assistance being retrained or going to school. 

After Hanshaw reached out to Northeast, he began working with Career Advisor Amanda Hanshaw, who swiftly guided him through the enrollment process and set the stage for what would become a transformative experience. She played a pivotal role in connecting him with a four-week CDL training program offered through Ashland Community and Technical College, and because he was eligible for services through Northeast, his tuition in the program was completely covered.

Recognizing the financial constraints Hanshaw faced, Northeast was instrumental in ensuring both the cost for his training and the cost to be able to attend and complete the program were not barriers to his career advancement. One of Hanshaw’s main concerns was the distance he had to travel—75 miles round trip—to attend the CDL training.

“Amanda was able to provide me with gas cards to ease the financial burden of traveling … to attend the training,” he said.

Fast forward a few weeks and Hanshaw is now a commercial driver and earning a livable wage, something he credits to his decision to contact the career staff at Northeast.

“Thanks to Amanda and the team at Northeast, I have obtained my CDL and I am maintaining a career earning a livable wage,” he said. “If it was not for the services I received at Northeast, that would have never happened because there was no way I could afford to pay for the training.”

Working through his career advisor and with the staff at Northeast was an easy process, Hanshaw added. They were professional and always willing to help, and anyone who may find themselves in a similar circumstance of being underemployed and wanting to find self-sustaining work should start their search at their local JobSight and see if the services there might also benefit them.

“I would highly recommend the services at Northeast to anyone looking for a career or training,” he said. “They are an awesome group of folks who truly have a desire to help our community.”  

If you live in Eastern Kentucky and are interested in applying for career and employment services, visit jobsight.org/locations to find your nearest Kentucky Career Center JobSight and contact a career advisor to get started.  

EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. The agency provides an array of workforce development services and operates the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, which provide access to more than a dozen state and federal programs that offer employment and training assistance for jobseekers and employers all under one roof. Learn more about us at http://www.ekcep.org, http://www.jobsight.org and http://www.facebook.com/ekcep.