EATONTOWN, NJ – Thirty-five Monmouth County One-Stop Career Center alumni were recognized at a luncheon ceremony held at the Sheraton on Oct. 28. 

“You should all be very proud of yourselves,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso, who addressed the honorees at the awards luncheon. “Each of you worked really hard to make changes in your lives and because of your determination, coupled with the support you found at the One Stop Career Center, we have 35 success stories and you are ready to write your next chapters.”

Each alumnus achieved a training or educational goal that has led to his or her successful entry or re-entry into the workforce. Among the new career paths of the 2015 alumni are chef, land surveyor, certified home health aide, dental assistant, medical assistant, nurse’s aide, administrative assistant, building maintenance technician, marketing professional and truck driver.

Assemblywoman Caroline Cassagrande spoke to the graduates and said, “What you have accomplished is amazing. You have enlisted the assistance of mentors and resources while juggling schedules and priorities; you have now set a new course for your future.” 

A number of students told their personal stories and expressed their gratitude for the assistance they received at a One-Stop Center. Several students highlighted the accomplishments and challenges of overcoming significant personal issues on the way to finding new careers. 

The One-Stop system is a working partnership of every publicly funded state and local agency in Monmouth County that supports employment and training. 

“The centerpieces of the system are the two comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers,” said Fran Keane, Chairman of the WIB. “The One-Stop centers help unemployed and underemployed individuals improve their marketability through employment counseling, skill and experience assessment and literacy and vocational training.”

The County’s One-Stop Career Centers are located in Eatontown at 145 Wyckoff Rd., Suite 201 and in Neptune at 60 Taylor Ave. The main telephone number for the County’s Division of Employment and Training is 732-683-8850.

The graduates were congratulated by their friends and family as well as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Monmouth County Workforce Development Board, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the County’s Division of Employment and Training staff and other community partners.