Invest Hamilton County works with The Mattison Corporation to develop and deliver training programs for our InvestOnward initiatives.
By Vanessa Jimenez, Marketing Manager, The Mattison Corporation
Reentry into society after incarceration or facing daily life with mental health challenges is a journey, often fraught with obstacles. To support this journey, Invest Hamilton County is offering training programs designed to equip individuals with the skills needed for workforce reintegration. Funded by Hamilton County Tourism, Hamilton County Community Foundation, and Invest Hamilton County, and in collaboration with the Hamilton County Jail, Aspire Health and the Township Trustees, these initiatives in employability skills and hospitality training aim to transform lives and foster hope.
Employability Skills Training: Building a Strong Foundation
Our four-week employability skills training program is designed to provide participants with the tools they need to secure and maintain meaningful employment. This program focuses on several key areas: resume building, job applications, interview readiness and honesty, effective communication using DiSC, workplace expectations, dressing for the job and life skills coaching. Participants gain an understanding of how to tie all parts of their employability profile together to create goals and build a profile to present their skills and experiences effectively to potential employers.
Hospitality Training: Creating Golden Opportunities
The hospitality training offers American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) curriculum to gain customer service skills as well as professional development to be successful in the hospitality industry. This training emphasizes several key topics to ensure rewarding careers such as: customer service, the various sectors in hospitality and front desk operations. Our curriculum provides real-world scenarios to ensure participants are job ready. Leading the training is an industry professional who brings valuable insights along with presentations from industry professionals and past students who share their experiences in the industry. Beyond technical skills, our program emphasizes communication, teamwork and problem-solving. We assist participants in creating connections with employers upon completion of the program.
Witnessing Transformation: Impact on Participants
The impact of these programs on participants has been profound and inspiring. Seeing participants of both programs gain new skills and knowledge has allowed them to boost their self-esteem and confidence. They feel more prepared to tackle the challenges of reentry, employment, and overall exploration of various careers they did not consider at first. Since the start of the hospitality program, we have had participants who have successfully transitioned into hospitality jobs, becoming valuable contributors to their communities. Their stories of securing employment, after months of hard work being offered a promotion, and achieving financial independence are testaments to the program’s effectiveness.
Our collaboration with Hamilton Community Corrections, Aspire Health and the Township Trustees has been instrumental in the success of these programs. They complement our training initiatives, and their involvement ensures that our programs are well-supported and aligned with community needs.
