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What began in 1995 as a small in-home daycare has grown into a trusted leader in early childhood education in West-Central Michigan. Today, Huntey’s Clubhouse operates seven thriving locations throughout the region and recently expanded into the Grand Rapids area with the opening of Gro Childcare Academy in September 2025. They're not stopping there.
"Michigan Works! West Central has played a vital role in our organization’s growth by supporting our efforts to recruit high-quality staff and invest in ongoing education and professional development,” Huntey said. “Our experiences with Michigan Works! staff, along with the programs and resources they offer, have consistently been professional, supportive, and impactful. These partnerships have helped us strengthen our position as a leader in childcare and early childhood education in Michigan.”
To read their full success story, click here, or to watch their video success story, click here. To view other success stories from our region, click here.
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Tickets for the fifth-annual Reentry United conference are on sale now! The goal of the conference is to highlight successful partnerships, programs and services that can benefit returning citizens, as well as showcase individual success stories of those who have exited incarceration to find personal and professional success.
The event brings together stakeholders from the Michigan Department of Corrections and partners across West Michigan to educate and collaborate about the positive impact of reentry services for incarcerated individuals and individuals returning to their communities.
Space is limited, so be sure to order your tickets today! For more information about tickets to this year's event, click here.
| | Get Your Copy of This Year's Magazine at Any of Our 6 Service Centers | | |
At Michigan Works! West Central, we love to celebrate success. For five years now, we've been celebrating the successes of local young professionals in the pages of our annual "20 Under 30" magazine. This year's magazine dropped in early June!
Did you get your copy yet?
From educators to entrepreneurs, and manufacturers to care givers, there are some pretty impressive individuals in this year's publication! Winners were nominated and voted on by members of the public.
To read this year's publication and to view previous years' winners, click here. You can also pick up your free copy of the "20 Under 30" magazine at any of our Michigan Works! West Central service centers.
| | Annual Summer Outdoor Job Fairs Serve Up Hot Dogs & Hot Jobs! | |
This summer marks the fifth year Michigan Works! West Central has hosted its wildly successful Hiring Parties.
In our first four years of serving up hot dogs and hot jobs, we've seen more than 1,930 job seekers join our annual Hiring Parties, with about 650 finding work. That's a 33 percent hiring rate! That's the equivalent to one in every three attendees finding work as a result of going to one of these events. That's amazing!
We're still working to finalize the number of people who found work after attending this year's Hiring Parties in June, but we know about 420 job seekers attended.
Be sure to check back with us on social media to find out how many people were able to obtain work at this year's Hiring Parties. Follow us on social media by clicking here.
| | A total of 1,215 ninth graders from eight counties participated in the event, which allowed them to connect with local industry experts and learn about what a day in the life of their industry is all about. The annual event was held on April 15, inside Ferris State University’s Wink Arena. Seventy-three employers and training providers offered hands-on activities for students to try. | | | |
“We invite freshmen to attend because it’s important for them to understand the breadth of opportunities available locally," said Shelly Keene, Michigan Works! West Central CEO. "This whole event is to get students thinking about what path they take after they finish high school, whether it’s going to a 2-year college, 4-year university, a trade school, into an apprenticeship, into the military or right into the workforce. We are providing them with practical information so they can make informed decisions about their education path and beyond.”
For more information about MiCareerQuest, click here. To watch a video from this year's event, click here.
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Meet Mackenzie. After dropping out of high school, she came to Michigan Works! West Central looking to earn her GED and advance her career.
With the help of our team in Reed City, she was able to earn her GED in a short period of time before setting her sights on earning her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential.
Spoiler alert, she did it!
To watch Mackenzie's video success story, click here, and to view other success stories from our region, click here.
| | | JOB SEARCH TIP OF THE MONTH | | |
It should go without saying, but don't lie in your interview. It's just not worth it.
Instead of "faking it," focus on highlighting your best qualities and being your true authentic self.
You're awesome already. There's no need to falsify the truth.
If you want some help preparing for your next interview, visit any one of our six service centers to talk to a Talent Specialist. We offer free mock interviews, job-search assistance and more! Find the service center nearest you at MWWC.org/contact.
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Michigan Works! West Central Staff Celebrate Work Anniversaries at Training
| | ABOVE: Dr. Sherene McHenry speaks to the staff at Michigan Works! West Central during its fourth-annual Always A Better Way in-house conference in June. | | |
Professional development is what we do best. Most days it's working with local job seekers and area employers, but twice a year we take some time to work brush up on our skills.
In early June, we held our fourth-annual Always A Better Way in-house conference, where we learned best practices from each other, as well as heard from leadership and mental health speaker Dr. Sherene McHenry.
We also celebrated the following staff work anniversaries:
- Jesica Galicia (5 years)
- George LeVasseur (5 years)
- Andrew Middleton (5 years)
- Jonathan Eppley (10 years)
- Shelly Keene (10 years)
Congratulations to you all, and thank you for your dedication and hard work!
| ABOVE: Michigan Works! West Central Director of Reentry Services Chelsea Augustson and Reentry Services Specialist Arianna Ott give a presentation to staff. | | ABOVE: Michigan Works! West Central staff members celebrating 5 years with the organization (from left to right) are Talent Specialist in Oceana County Jesica Galicia, Director of Information Systems George LeVasseur, and Talent Specialist in Newaygo County Andrew Middleton. | ABOVE: Michigan Works! West Central staff members celebrating 10 years with the organization (from left to right) are Director of Communication & Public Affairs Jonathan Eppley, and CEO Shelly Keene. | | ABOVE: Several Michigan Works! West Central staff members celebrated work anniversaries during the organization's fourth-annual Always A Better Way in-house conference. Pictured (from left to right) are Shelly Keene, Jonathan Eppley, Jesica Galicia, George LeVasseur and Andrew Middleton. | | |
Michigan Works! West Central is funded by State and Federal funds and governed by local Workforce Development Boards and Local Elected Officials. More details available on the Legal Disclaimer page at MWWC.org/legal-disclaimer. Michigan Works! West Central is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Michigan Relay Service: 711 | Supported by the State of Michigan. |
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