Success Story

Emma’s journey with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC) highlights the impact of support and determination. Emma enrolled in the Dental Assistant program at Central Lakes College (CLC) in Brainerd, where she thrived academically and enjoyed the hands-on classes. The PIC provided crucial financial assistance, covering her tuition and offering support services that allowed […]

Madia, a senior at an alternative school, faced numerous challenges on her path to success. Despite truancy issues and the need to work to support her family, Madia was determined to pursue a career in the health and nursing field. Madia initially worked as a Home Health Aide (HHA) while balancing her school responsibilities. Her

At 32, Alyssa Niezgocki had already collected a wide variety of career experiences – from selling car parts and debt collection to a decade in retail and patient registration at the Mayo Clinic in Fairmont. Despite her varied roles, Alyssa felt a calling to a more fulfilling career in nursing. Alyssa faced significant financial challenges.

For me, success is achieving my dreams and goals to better one’s life while sharing it with others. My name is Tory, I am 46 years old and have graduated from Minnesota West Technical College with my Associates’s Degree in Nursing. I will start from the beginning by explaining how i achieved my goal of

Gay Htoo Paw, a 29-year-old single parent and Karen refugee from the Thailand-Burma border resides in Worthington, MN, living with her parents and caring for her five children. As a participant in the SNAP E&T program, Gay had a strong desire to become self-sufficient but faced challenges due to her limited English proficiency, which hindered her

Ramses, a student at the Learning Center in Worthington, Minnesota, was looking for a career change. He had experience working in customer service at Taco Johns and as an activity aide at South Shore Care Center, but he was yearning for a different path. That’s when he heard about the welding training program offered through

Lizbeth wasn’t your typical candidate for welding training. A young mom at 19, her most recent experience came from waiting tables at her family’s business. But Lizbeth, a senior at Worthington Learning Center had the determination to build a better life for herself and her three-year-old son. That’s where the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council

Htay Htay grew up in Myanmar (Burma), graduated from high school, and worked as an office manager in a communications center for over 13 years. She stopped working many years ago to care for her elderly parents. In April 2023, at the age of 65, Htay Htay moved to the United States after winning a

Sade’s journey with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC) showcases resilience, determination, and the support she received as she pursued her dreams. As a young single mom seeking assistance with job search and career planning, Sade engaged with the PIC’s career pathways and MFIP program over several years. Initially focusing on Certified Nursing Assistance

Through the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council’s (PIC) 2023 Summer Work Experience Program, Seth and Tanner were placed at two different local school districts. Not only did they earn a paycheck, but they strengthened their physical and interpersonal skills in the process. Tanner, a proactive student with prior work experience, embraced the chance to expand