Being a young parent in today’s world is a difficult task. Add losing your job due to a plant closure following a global pandemic to that and you will begin to know how Beau Cournaya was feeling. Beau worked his way up to a welder at Champion Bus right out of high school. He was a loyal employee there for 4 years. After the plant closed in 2021, he found himself unemployed and unsure of what the future would hold.

He contacted GST Michigan Works! to see if we could be of any help to him. Beau qualified for WIOA as an Out-of-School Youth due to being a parent. Soon he was signed up for the Welding class at the Sanilac Career Center. His previous experience in welding helped him successfully complete the class.

At the time, Cotterman Company needed welders. Eldon Preston (BSP) was able to get Beau in through the Youth Work Experience program. He began shortly after completing his certification. After 90 days, he was hired in full-time with benefits!

Beau started his journey with us as a young man who found himself in a difficult situation. He left as a certified welder, with a full-time job, making $6.00 more per hour than his previous job. He is grateful for the opportunities that GST Michigan Works! was able to provide him.