RWJBarnabas Health – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute Graduate Builds Career in Health Care, Pursues Further Education

Michelle Lang — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:55:13 +0000

Simone Parkes has always wanted to work in the medical field. She began her career in health care at a job that didn’t require post-secondary training, but after giving birth to her son, she decided she wanted to advance her career and enrolled in the Medical Assistant Clinical (MAC) program at . After completing the program, she began working as a medical assistant and has now decided to further her education and become a nurse.

Parkes was working at when she became pregnant. When she was on maternity leave, she decided to enroll in NCCTI to obtain her MAC certification. Her cousin completed the MAC program and encouraged her to apply. In order to focus on her education, Parkes quit her job at Summit Health and started working for an hospital on the weekends.

“I had the support of my family, so that helped me be able to succeed with the program,” Parkes said.

She had been unable to enroll in school previously because she was caring for her parents when they fell ill. Her siblings all live out of state, so she was the person who took her parents to medical appointments and testing. Her husband stepped in to help so that she could focus on her studies, which was a great weight lifted off her shoulders.

“I spoke to my husband about [enrolling in the program]. He’s like, yeah, go ahead. We’ll take it day by day and we’ll figure it out,” she said. “And I’m happy and thankful that I did because I love what I do at my job.”

Parkes now works as a medical assistant in an RWJBarnabas Health multi-specialty pediatric office in West Orange, which offers care in cardiology, urology, allergy and general surgery. She enjoys working with the children and putting them at ease during their appointments. If she has an anxious cardiology patient, she will let the child put on and take off the EKG stickers before starting the procedure so they know what to expect.

“I try to make the experience most comfortable for them. To where they’re leaving all happy,” Parkes said. “That makes my day.”

Her experience in her current role has inspired her to become a pediatric nurse. She enrolled in ’s nursing program for the fall. She will retain her current job and attend school part-time. She hopes to eventually work in a pediatric emergency department or a pediatric unit in a hospital.

“Those kids need that proper nursing where they’re not going to get upset with what’s going on with the child. They’re going to find the best way to help them heal,” Parkes said.

She said her experience at NCCTI was positive and she recommends the school to anyone interested in launching a career in health care.

“The staff was amazing. The program was amazing,” Parkes said. “Being able to do book work and hands-on was great because we weren’t being thrown out there when we got to a doctor’s office or hospital, not knowing what was going on.”

Instructor Dr. Mamdouh Sorial prepared students for both the certification exam and the work world, according to Parkes. She said he broke down the steps of the medical procedures and provided little tricks to help students remember what to do.

NCCTI Interim Director Frances Teabout is happy the school has been a positive part of Parkes’ journey.

“At NCCTI, we aim to help our students launch their careers in their preferred program of study. It’s fulfilling to hear that Ms. Parkes has found meaningful employment and is continuing her education to further her career goals,” Teabout said. “We wish her great success going forward.”

Parkes lives with her husband and 1-year-old son and has two step-daughters, ages 10 and 5, who live with them part-time.

She is excited to be taking the next step in her educational journey and is thankful to have had NCCTI lay the foundation for her success.

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that is currently enrolling for the following programs: Automotive Technician, Medical Assistant Clinical and Patient Care Technician. For more information, call 973-824-6484, email nccti@newcommunity.org, log onto or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.

91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute Hosts Guidance Counselor Luncheon for High School Staff

Michelle Lang — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:48:18 +0000

, 274 South Orange Ave., Newark, invited area high school staff members to its first Guidance Counselor Luncheon on March 14. The event, held at Monsignor William J. Linder Plaza, introduced guidance counselors to NCCTI staff members, employer partners and students. They learned about the accredited school’s post-secondary programs and had the opportunity to ask questions.

In addition to presentations from NCCTI staff, attendees heard from employer partners who work with the school and hire graduates. Brendan Gordon of said he looks forward to continuing the partnership with NCCTI.

“Every single student that’s come through our system has been absolutely fantastic,” he said.

David Hutchinson of , who also founded the Rising Stars program that introduces students in the NCCTI Building Trades Specialist program to a variety of speakers and opportunities in that industry, said he’s happy to continue the three-year partnership with NCCTI.

Rebecca Colon of discussed a recent trip NCCTI medical students took to the hospital where they had the opportunity to see medical staff in action and ask questions they had about the working environment.

Molly Cusack of talked about how her organization’s talent acquisition specialists conducted mock interviews with NCCTI medical students to help prepare them for the hiring process.

“The students were fantastic,” she said. “Three of them volunteered right away to do the mock interview in front of the entire class.”

NCCTI Medical Assistant Clinical (MAC) graduate Sabriya Lovingood, NCCTI Patient Care Technician (PCT) graduate Monica Parker and current PCT student Christopher “Sky” Oms talked about their experiences at the school and answered questions.

Lovingood currently works at the in the OBGYN department. She was inspired to enter the medical field after accompanying her mother to the hospital and seeing the care she received. She is grateful she enrolled in NCCTI.

“I would like to thank everyone at NCCTI because you helped me so much and helped me grow so much and understand myself,” she said.

Parker explained that she was the oldest student in her class but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her certification and it didn’t deter NCCTI staff members from helping her achieve her goals. She currently works at Saint Michael’s Medical Center.

“The experience at the school is awesome. The staff is awesome,” she said. “They pay attention to what you need. I needed a lot of support. And they gave it to me.”

Oms is finishing up the PCT program at NCCTI and looks forward to starting his career in the medical field. He said his experience at NCCTI has been “amazing.” He heard about the school from a friend who knew he was looking to start working in the medical field.

“I always wanted to help people,” he said.

That desire has motivated him to work hard to earn his certification. He walks to and from school every day and enjoys his time in the classroom.

“It’s an amazing place to be,” he said of NCCTI.

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that is currently enrolling for the following programs: Automotive Technician, Building Trades Specialist, Medical Assistant Clinical, Patient Care Technician and Culinary Arts Specialist. For more information, call 973-824-6484, email nccti@newcommunity.org, log onto or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.

91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute Career Fair Connects Attendees to Employers

Michelle Lang — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 22:18:40 +0000

hosted a Career Fair on Nov. 16 at the school’s main campus, 274 South Orange Ave., Newark. The event, which was open to the public, connected attendees to a variety of employers, including 91��Ƭ, , , , , , , , , Harrar Cafe and .

We thank all the employers and attendees who participated. We hope the event led to interviews and job offers.

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that is currently enrolling for the following programs: Automotive Technician, Building Trades Specialist, Medical Assistant Clinical, Patient Care Technician and Culinary Arts Specialist. NCCTI also operates a comprehensive Financial Opportunity Center and Bridges to Career Opportunities Program sponsored by the local and national Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) offices.

91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center Becomes First Newark 2020 Hub

Michelle Lang — Fri, 25 May 2018 20:27:24 +0000

91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center has become the first community hub of the Newark 2020 initiative, which aims to connect 2,020 Newark residents to employment that provides family sustainable wages by the end of 2020.

As a hub, 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center is responsible for reaching out to individuals who signed up and submitted information through the Newark 2020 website, assessing their educational and professional backgrounds and connecting them to employment opportunities.

“We are serving as the liaison between Newark 2020 applicants and employers,” said 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center Director Rodney Brutton.

Another part of being a community hub is providing employability skills training, helping candidates with resumes, practicing interviews and offering assistance in preparation for employment opportunities.

“We’re happy to have been selected as a community hub,” Brutton said. “It’s exciting.”

Mayor Ras Baraka announced the Newark 2020 initiative last year. It has support from a number of city employers, including Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, PSE&G, Audible, Prudential, RWJBarnabas Health, NJIT, Rutgers-Newark, Panasonic, United Airlines and 91��Ƭ. The employers have agreed to hire a certain number of Newark residents.

91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center is in a good position to prepare applicants for jobs because as an accredited post-secondary career and technical school, it offers programs that help students receive certifications in their field of study.

“If a Newark 2020 applicant isn’t qualified for a job but is interested in training, we’ll be able to help them,” Brutton said.

Newark 2020 Project Director Travis Reid said 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center was chosen as the first community hub based on the results of a competitive bidding process and subsequent follow-up interviews with staff. Community hubs will help candidates develop resumes, provide best-in-practice case management to clients and facilitate effective matches between job seekers and employers.

“91��Ƭ’s existing infrastructure and deep experience in workforce development led to their number one ranking in a very competitive pool of respondents to our RFP,” Reid said.

Greater Newark LISC was part of the Newark 2020 selection and onboarding process for 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center as a community hub. Its funding is providing for the start of Newark 2020 operations there. The organization also provides funding and technical support for 91��Ƭ’s Financial Opportunity Center and Bridges to Career Opportunities program.

“Greater Newark LISC is proud to have served as a partner in the Newark 2020 initiative since its inception, and we are especially pleased to be a part of the launch alongside the LISC Bridges to Careers Opportunity work at 91��Ƭ, all in alignment with the living wage employment landscape efforts here in Newark,” said Greater Newark LISC Program Officer Jerrah Crowder.

Newark 2020 applicants came to 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center May 14 for an orientation. They got to hear more about the initiative from Reid and Brutton and met with Hub Representative Aziza Johnson and Program Assistant Quameria Edwards.

While Reid explained that employers are not required to grant interviews, those looking for employment at companies that have committed to Newark 2020 are better positioned to yield opportunities.

“Newark 2020 strategically leverages employer commitments to hiring locally to benefit the city’s labor force,” Reid said. “Community hubs are critically important because they help facilitate matches that mutually benefit job seekers and employers.”

Newark 2020 is open to all Newark residents, regardless of employment level. At the orientation, participants had a variety of career interests, including customer service, health care, communications, building maintenance and human resources.

Those interested in participating in Newark 2020 should visit and register. For more information about 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center and its course offerings, or call 973-824-6484.

NCC Joins Newark 2020 Initiative To Reduce City Unemployment

Michelle Lang — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:49:01 +0000

91��Ƭ Director of Special Projects Richard Cammarieri speaks during the launch of the Newark 2020 initiative June 26. Photo courtesy of the City of Newark.

91��Ƭ is a partner in the Newark 2020 initiative, which aims to reduce unemployment and poverty in the city by connecting residents to a variety of job opportunities in Newark.
The City of Newark, the city’s business community, higher education and medical institutions, clergy, philanthropies and workforce development programs have all come together for the cause, which aims to hire 2,020 Newark residents by the year 2020.
Anchor institutions, which have committed to hiring a certain number of Newark residents, include Audible, Panasonic, Prudential, PSE&G, Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health.
NCC’s role in the initiative is to connect Newark residents to jobs, which includes helping them get the skills to obtain employment. That’s where the 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center comes in.
“Newark 2020 is a premiere opportunity to connect Newark residents to career opportunities and jobs that anchor institutions are recruiting for,” said Workforce Director Rodney Brutton. He believes Workforce can close the skills gap that exists as a barrier for some city residents to get gainful employment.
“If Beth Israel is hiring five nurse assistants, but they need to have certifications and if people don’t have the skills, that’s where we come in,” Brutton said.
The Workforce Development Center offers job training in Allied Health, Automotive Technician, Building Trades and Culinary Arts.
91��Ƭ Director of Special Projects Richard Cammarieri calls the Newark 2020 initiative “extremely ambitious” but is hopeful for its success because the process has been much more strategic than others like it in the past.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is a big proponent of the initiative, which he announced at a press conference June 26 with many representatives from involved organizations, including NCC’s Cammarieri.

Partners in the Newark 2020 initiative at the launch June 26, including 91��Ƭ Director of Special Projects Richard Cammarieri. Photo courtesy of the City of Newark.

If successful, the initiative will not only help Newark residents find meaningful employment close to home, but Brutton said it will also benefit the Workforce Development Center.
“Newark 2020 will help Workforce with the marketing of programs and will help increase enrollment,” he said. “Part of the initiative is to market where people can go to get training.”
Cammarieri added that NCC will make sure all its residents and program participants are aware when hiring is happening through Newark 2020 so they have the opportunity to apply.
“The potential is great,” he said of the program.
The website has been set up as a place where interested residents can fill out a profile and upload a resume. A full launch of the website is expected this fall.
More than 100 people have already filled out information, with varying geographical locations and income levels, according to Cammarieri. Another goal of Newark 2020 is to have job offerings for various skill levels so residents can find entry level, mid level and high level positions.
“The bottom line for Newark residents is they have to see results. They have seen things like this before,” Cammarieri said. “The time is right. There’s good leadership. Hopefully this will work.”
Cammarieri is representing 91��Ƭ on the Newark 2020 Steering Committee, as well as the Subcommittee on Community and Faith Outreach and the Subcommittee on Policy and Workforce System Reform. Brutton serves on three Newark 2020 subcommittees: Training and Education, Job Placement and Career Pathways and Policy and Workforce System Reform.
Residents interested in learning more about the training offered by the 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center should visit newcommunity.org or call 973-824-6484. Those interested in getting more information about the Newark 2020 initiative can visit .