The Adventure Seeker

After graduating from Bad Axe High School in 2021, Carson went off to college and earned a degree in a field he later determined he had no passion for. In an effort to become more fulfilled, he joined the U.S. Air Force and trained as a Munitions Specialist for the National Guard Reserves.

When Carson returned home from training, he realized he wasn’t happy spending his days indoors at his current job. What truly motivated him was hands-on work, being outdoors, and operating heavy machinery. That’s when he set his sights on truck driving and decided to pursue his CDL-A license.

Carson came to GST Michigan Works! seeking help to make his goal a reality. He met with a Career Coach, who discussed his barriers and options with him. The challenge was clear, how could he balance CDL training, commuting to a full-time job out of town, and fulfilling his duties with the Reserves? Confident in his abilities, Carson developed a detailed plan to manage it all and enrolled in the CDL program at Thumb CDL, LLC.

Determined and focused, Carson dedicated his weekends to training and completed the program in less than three months. He passed his CDL road test with flying colors and officially received his CDL-A license.

Carson began working for a friend while searching for the right long-term opportunity, one that would challenge him and align with his passions. Before long, Kappen Tree Service hired him as a Woodsman Driver, offering a large hourly wage increase and full health benefits. Though his career path took a few turns, Carson found the adventure he was looking for.