Ms. Brown Begins New Career at Atlas Outdoor LLC.

Genesee County – In early September, Ms. Brown came to the GST Michigan Works! Fenton Service Center looking for  help. At 26 years old, Ms. Brown expressed she wasn’t happy with her current role as an auto detailer, hoping to find a more stable and less physically demanding career while balancing her responsibilities as a single mother. She had work experience, having worked as a siding/roofer in her uncle’s business for three years and as an assembly worker for two years. She had a great personality with definite customer service skills.

The team at GST Michigan Works! introduced Ms. Brown to the Michigan Reconnect program through Mott Community College.  This seemed like a great fit because she qualified and could work towards a degree in her field of interest. They then worked closely with Ms. Brown to refine her resume, highlighting her skills and work experience.

During this time, Roy, the Business Solutions Professional (BSP) in the office, had been meeting with Brandi Gembel, Owner/HR Director of Atlas Outdoor, a local landscaping company in Genesee County. While meeting, Brandi mentioned an upcoming vacancy for an office assistant/secretary position, which required someone with a great personality who could be trained for the office role. Roy immediately thought of Ms. Brown!

A short time later,  BSP Roy mentioned the position to Ms. Brown and let her know that the company was willing to provide training for the office experience she lacked.  At that point, Ms. Brown had not decided on her degree path at Mott Community College. However, pursuing an accounting or human resources degree, which would align perfectly with the Office Assistant/Secretary position at Atlas Outdoor, was very intriguing to her. While Ms. Brown was in the office, BSP Roy Reynolds called Brandi at Atlas Outdoor, discussing her qualifications and potential fit for the office assistant/secretary position. Brandi was impressed and agreed to an interview that afternoon. Ms. Brown’s interview with Brandi and the Atlas Outdoor team went exceptionally well, to the extent that she was offered the Office Assistant/Secretary position on the spot. It came with a good starting wage and a family-friendly Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00 schedule.

Excited about the opportunity, Ms. Brown returned to GST Michigan Works! to express her gratitude. She remarked, “Thank you so much, I’m so happy I went to Atlas and met Brandi! They are all so nice there, and I feel great about this; it feels like a family over there.” Following this, Roy Reynolds visited Atlas Outdoor to inform Brandi that due to Ms. Brown’s lack of office experience, GST Michigan Works! could assist with the On-The-Job Training program, reimbursing Atlas Outdoor for a portion of Ms. Brown’s wages through the initial training period.

Ms. Brown has already started working toward her degree at Mott Community College. She found an exciting and desirable career path, and Brandi at Atlas Outdoor was able to gain a promising addition to her team, all through working with the team at GST Michigan Works!