We’ve said this often, and it bears repeating: SkillBridge helps meet workforce demands, while offering Transitioning Service Members (TSM) the opportunity to intern at local businesses during their last 6 months of service. This comprehensive program prepares them for a job with the host business, or in any business in that industry anywhere in the US. Wages are paid by the military while the intern learns valuable skills.
JOED is an avid supporter of, and registered Industry Partner, with the Department of Defense SkillBridge program. A little backstory on our new intern Zac Sambula: he began his internship with us earlier this month and will be transitioning from the USMC Infantry in late March. His goals are to remain in Jacksonville and to work as a business manager in wholesale imports
SkillBridge Advisory Committee L-R: Lois Dupuis, Roy Herrick, Steve Gill, Scott Riggs, Mark Sutherland, and intern Zac Sambula.
JOED, in its role as Zac’s SkillBridge industry partner, put together a program specifically for the job title of “Business Manager.” Working with our colleagues at Coastal Carolina Community College and the Small Business Center, this program includes a curriculum that exposes Zac to a variety of topics, including accounting, marketing, human resources, regulatory and insurance concerns, and retail and wholesale interactions. After this 12-week program he will be well prepared to work in any industry as a business manager.
By maximizing the utility of the SkillBridge program, JOED and other local industry partners are creating pathways to good local jobs for our transitioning service members. As Zac reminds us, word of successful SkillBridge experiences spreads quickly among other transitioning service members. We believe this is one of our best opportunities as a community to keep them here.
Hat tip to our partners including Coastal Carolina Community College, Small Business Center, local retailers and wholesalers, and an advisory team (some of whom are seen in the photo above). The advisory team is comprised of small and veteran business owners who will share valuable “lessons learned along the way,” offer introductions to their network, ask some thought provoking questions, and support Zac’s learning process right up until he presents his capstone in late March.
