It’s not often that a Capital Area Michigan Works! job seeker comes full circle in the way that Debbie Myrand has.
In June of 2013, Debbie was laid off from her position as an IT trainer at a nonprofit she’d been at for nearly 12 years. Not one to take time off, she immediately went to Capital Area Michigan Works! to learn how to update her resume for today’s job market and took advantage of Encore! Plus 50 programming available in partnership with Lansing Community College.
“It was really scary out there looking for work in that 50-plus age group,” Debbie says. “But with Plus 50, you realize you’re not alone because everyone in the room is in the same age group, so you can really help each other through that process.”
Debbie is now the human resources and training coordinator at MAHLE, an internal engine component factory in St. Johns, where she is able to tap into her passion for training and talent development.
Recently, in her role at MAHLE, Debbie helped write a Skilled Trades Training Fund grant, which happens to be the same kind of grant that supported her being hired at the manufacturer to begin with!
“MAHLE has been privileged to work with Capital Area Michigan Works! to not only help us obtain new talent like Debbie, but with support on state-aided programs as well, says MAHLE Manager and Head of Human Resources Joel Honaman. “We’ve been very fortunate to have their help.”
MAHLE’s 280 employees are gearing up to celebrate 70 years in business and it seems longevity is part of MAHLE’s culture.
“I think we share a good work ethic with Capital Area Michigan Works!,” Joel says. “They understand what we need and that helps us to get good candidates that will stay for a long time. The average seniority at MAHLE is 16 years. We just had a gentleman that retired after 52 years. People come here to work, they like what they do and they stay a very long time.”