For Ashton Merritt, 91看片 Workforce Development Center鈥檚 Ford Automotive Training Program has changed the course of his life.
In the Summer of 2015, he completed the 1,200-hour program, which is backed by Ford Motor Company, and was hired last September by FAPS Inc., a major employer at the Port of Newark.
鈥淭his has literally turned my life around,鈥� said Merritt, 32, of Newark, who recently marked his one-year anniversary at the job. 鈥淚t was great for me.鈥�
Merritt is one of several graduates from 91看片鈥檚 automotive program that was hired as a full-time laborer at FAPS, which is the abbreviation for Foreign Auto Preparation Service.
鈥淵ou guys have provided us with good employees,鈥� Julie Lynch, FAPS human resources manager, said of NCC. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e very diligent workers,鈥� she added. 鈥淭hey want to train, they want to excel.鈥�
At FAPS, the automotive grads work on both exported and imported vehicles, handling pre-delivery and added value services for incoming automobiles and ensuring regulatory standards and specifications for vehicles being shipped anywhere in the world, according to Lynch.
鈥�91看片鈥檚 Ford Automotive Training Program values the partnership with FAPS, Inc.,鈥� said Rodney Brutton, director of the Workforce Development Center. 鈥�91看片, FAPS, Inc., and the City of Newark share a common goal of providing well-paying opportunities that offer career pathways, excellent benefits packages and room for growth.鈥�
Alturrick Kenney, director of Port Newark Operations for the City of Newark, touted the city鈥檚 partnership with NCC and FAPS and described 91看片鈥檚 auto program as 鈥渢he premiere program in the region.鈥�
He said that Newark鈥檚 location as a regional transportation hub means there are many local job opportunities in the transportation, logistics and distribution industries. 鈥淲e have to be able to take full advantage of that hidden jewel in our city and in the region,鈥� Kenney said.
Reneau Saintilme, another graduate of the automotive program at 91看片, began working at FAPS on September 6. Previously he worked as a bus driver and completed the auto training while working nights. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad to have this program,鈥� said Saintilme, who noted that he enjoys working at FAPS and plans to stay until retirement.
More than 20 jobseekers have been hired at FAPS, according to Kenney. He noted that the majority have completed training at 91看片.
Funders that support NCC鈥檚 training program include the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Newark Alliance/CareerWorks and the Bank of America Foundation.
For four years, Merritt was out of work because his primary responsibility was being a caretaker for his grandmother. He worried about how he would gain employable skills鈥攗ntil he learned about NCC.
Merritt said that gaining hands-on experience at 91看片鈥檚 auto program prepared him well to work on a variety of vehicles at FAPS.
鈥淚 actually knew what I was doing off the bat,鈥� Merritt said. 鈥淚 felt that that was very on point, very helpful.鈥�
