New Orleans Career Center Sees Record Enrollment, Expands Offerings to Meet Community Demand

NEW ORLEANS – In response to an unprecedented demand for programs, the city’s leading career center and technical education (CTE) provider expanded its offerings and added new staff this summer. In the past two weeks, the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) welcomed a record number of apprentices — more than 600 — across five industry sectors. NOCC hired 14 new staff members, doubling its size in the past two years. This expansion is in response to demand from local industries for a talented local workforce and demand from families, schools and community-based organizations for increased CTE opportunities. “It’s very encouraging to see organizations and buildings moving toward the capacity that will best serve our community,” said Carlin Jacobs, NOCC’s chief program officer, in a press release. “From the beginning, we knew the value of accessible, high-quality CTE would become apparent to parents and the business community once our trainees entered the workforce, and we couldn’t be more excited to offer these opportunities to more New Orleanians.” NOCC’s growth this summer includes: Five new training options for people 18 and older: medical assisting, facilities maintenance, electrical, welding and pharmacy technician 86 trainees 18 and older enrolled New specialized second-year building trades training for high school students – trainees can choose to focus on carpentry, electrical or welding 14 new employees (names below), including instructors, success coaches and operations personnel (total staff number is 42, doubling starting in 2022) The NOCC team now consists of: Shanitra Charles – instructor, pre-nursing Miles Ford – instructor, pharmacy technician Diana Kennedy – instructor, pre-nursing Winn Martin – success coach Tony McCarley – Instructor, Building Trades Bria Hayes McKee – Bookkeeper Mackenzie Rosenberg – Success Coach Maria Schneider – Program Coordinator Cedric Singleton – Instructor, Building Trades Taralynn Stevens – Culinary Instructor Lee Stevenson – Building Trades Instructor Aaron Washington – Trainee Support Coordinator Anastasia Williams Smith – Program Coordinator Terrance Payne has been named Director of Building Trades Training. (Payne was one of the organization’s first trainers in the Building Trades program and now leads a multidisciplinary team of instructors to build this in-demand career path.) NOCC leaders expect growth to continue in a controlled way over the next few years. “We know there are more New Orleanians whose lives could be changed by what NOCC has to offer,” Jacobs continued. “At full capacity, over 1,000 local residents per year experience high-quality CTE training programs and gain the technical skills, workplace knowledge and professional network to succeed in their chosen careers.” The New Orleans Career Center is the city’s flagship career and technical education provider for both high school students and adults. NOCC transforms lives through accessible, industry-informed, quality career preparation and technical education, preparing trainees for local, mid-skill jobs that offer living wages, benefits and pathways to career advancement and economic stability. NOCC offers training in Healthcare, Building Trades, Digital Media/IT, Engineering/Manufacturing and Culinary Arts. Since 2018, over 2,000 New Orleanians have gained the technical skills, workplace knowledge and professional network they need to succeed at NOCC. Click here to learn more.