As the saying goes, “when one door closes, another one will open.” When Jeff saw doors closing in his life, he had the determination and courage to open another one, one that will give him freedom he didn’t know he dreamed of.
A little more than a year ago, Jeff was living in a camper in his friend’s driveway, recently divorced and coasting on very limited funds. After having to go through some really tough life events, he decided he needed a change of scenery and a new way of life.
Life on the road was calling to Jeff, he just needed to find a way to make it happen. Getting his CDL would make him an exceptional hire for the jobs he wanted. Jeff did some research and found Midwest Truck Driving School, a local driving school that offers CDL certification courses. He looked at the courses and their method of teaching and was super excited to start. There was just one issue. It was a little out of his price range to start. With having bills and daily living expenses, going to school right now did not seem possible.
Jeff talked with one of their student services specialists and told them about his dilemma. They had recommended he check out our Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program to see if we could assist with tuition. The next day, Jeff came to our office where he met Brittany. Jeff told her about his circumstances, and she was able to get him enrolled in the WIOA adult program and found out that WIOA could cover his class tuition. After filling out some paperwork and mapping out his dream, Jeff was ready to start class a lot lighter.
Jeff flourished in his CDL classes. In fact, instructors at Midwest said that Jeff “came in as much as possible to get extra practice and really put everything into his training.” With the help of WIOA and the partnership with Midwest Trucking School, Jeff was able to complete two programs: Heavy Equipment and CDL A. Having both of these certifications helped him land a great position right after classes were done! In his exit, Jeff sent a very sweet message saying “I want to thank you and your company for helping me make my dreams come true. I will be a success story, I promise!” And without a doubt, Jeff kept that promise.
Fast forward to today, and Jeff had just got back into town from a 9-month trip helping with disaster relief in Florida after Hurricane Ian. He then made his way to Rolling Fork and Silver City in Mississippi to help clean up after a large tornado went through. He finished his long journey at Yellowstone in Montana, traveling and helping where he can. Once things quiet down a bit, Jeff plans to come back to his native Wisconsin home and sell everything, so he can go back on the road and live wherever the wind takes him. He truly has found his passion and couldn’t be happier.
Congratulations, Jeff! We’re so happy to be a part of your journey and wish you safe travels!
Looking for a career change? See how our WIOA program can help you achieve your dream!
