WorkSource Southwest Georgia Spring 2025 Newsletter

Service Delivery Locations and Contact Numbers:

Please use contact information below:



(229) 255-3940

swga_wioaworks.com



One Stop Comprehensive Center:

Albany Department of Labor - (229) 430-5042

1608 South Slappey Blvd., Albany GA 31701

Affiliate Sites:

SRTC-Bainbridge

Moultrie Department of Labor

Southern Regional Technical College   

(Moultrie Campus)

Southern Regional Technical College

(Thomasville Campus) - (229) 225-5065

Thomasville Dept. of Labor

2025 is off and running! Although we are navigating in uncertain times, we must not lose focus on developing and upskilling a worldclass workforce for Southwest Georgia. The Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program has positively impacted the Economy, Employer, Jobseekers and Youth in Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Terrell, Thomas, Seminole, and Worth counties through education, employment, training and support services. The WIOA Program is making a difference in the lives of individuals that are facing barriers with employment. The program is also vital for connecting talent (Jobseeker) with opportunity (Employer). The program has a plethora of services ranging from Career Services, Work Base Training to Rapid Response. Rapid Response is instrumental for businesses that are on the verge or experiencing a lay-off.

Forbes has identified Top Recruitment trends.

As we step into 2025, the recruiting world continues to evolve, shaped by economic forces, emerging technologies, and shifting workforce dynamics. In our recently released Top Recruiting Trends for 2025 report, we identified four key trends that will define talent acquisition in the coming year. Here’s what to look for:

• Labor market normalization—The Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts and immigration’s impact on labor supply are rebalancing the labor market, offering new opportunities for efficiency in hiring.

• Artificial intelligence in recruiting—AI innovations like chatbots, job-matching tools, and automated interviews enhance recruitment processes; balancing technology with human interaction is critical to avoid bias and ensure successful adoption.

• Quality retention over quantity—Companies are moving beyond retention for retention’s sake, focusing on cultivating engaged, high-performing teams.



• Data-driven recruitment marketing—The softer economy demands more scrutiny of budgets, metrics, and strategies. Businesses need to identify gaps and optimize their recruitment processes to align with their goals.

It’s Time for A Change!

WorkSource Southwest Georgia was awarded another round of Quest Grant funds to assist with those who are:

• Displaced Workers (Laid off)
• Long Term Unemployed
• Experiencing Reduction in Work Hours

Who Do We Serve?

• Adults,
• Dislocated Workers,
• Youth (Out of School)

Do not hesitate to refer individuals to the program to determine eligibility and suitability for WIOA services.

Please send referrals for Adults and Dislocated Workers to:

Cathy Johnson, Project Manager email: Cathy.Johnson@equusworks.com

Opportunity for Out-School Youth!

• Do you know a youth between the age of 16 -24 years old?
• Did not complete High School?
• A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter;
• A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low income individual and is basic skills deficient or an English language learner;
• An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system;
• A homeless individual;
• An individual who is pregnant or parenting;
• A youth who is an individual with a disability;
• A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

Please send referrals for Out-of-School Youth to:

Shirley Ingram, One-Stop Operator email shirley.ingram@equusworks.com

To the hardest working team for WorkSource Southwest Georgia (Amanda, Gerlissa, Rebecca, Pascha and Jerry) for always going above and beyond for both our internal and external customers. 

Until next time……………………………………Melody Pierce

5th Annual South Georgia Healthcare Summit

The South Georgia Healthcare Summit was held on February 27^th, 2025, at the UGA Conference Center in Tifton.

This was a joint venture with Southwest Georgia Healthcare Sector Partnership (Region 10) and South Georgia Healthcare Group (Region 11).

Theme of the Summit was “Rural Revitalization: Charting the Future of Healthcare” and was attended by participants from K-12, Post-Secondary, Employers and Community Partners.

The welcome and introduction was given by Melody Pierce, Executive Director, WorkSource Southwest Georgia.

Scholarship Announcements were given by Amy Jones and Jerry Chapman for their respective areas. This was the second year for our Scholarship Programs. The Summit is funded through grants from TCSG Office of Workforce Development with restrictions that the funds cannot pay for food and refreshments. For last year’s Summit, we reached out for sponsorships to just pay for food and refreshments. Any remaining money would be used to start scholarship programs; one for high school students entering a healthcare-related pathway and one for post-secondary students enrolled in a healthcare related pathway. We had $11,600 for our scholarship programs and received nearly 100 applications. 20 students received scholarships. Large presentation checks were presented to the students at the Summit. School representatives accepted for those unable to attend.

Amy Jones, Project Manager, South Georgia Healthcare Group, gave the Summit Focus and introduced Opening Speaker, Vicky Davis, Cool Cat Teacher Blog, AI Educator.

Attendees then participated in Breakout Room rotations with everyone attending all 3 sessions, consisting of:

• Vicki Davis, Cool Cat Teacher Blog - Q&A from Opening Session (Moderated by Sandra Martin, GDOE)
•  Read Blumberg, PCS AI – Equipment and Technology using AI (Moderated by Deidre Martin, PCOM)
•  Katrena Felder - Adult Education; Gabe Lord - Veteran Services; Elton Dixon - Foster Youth (Moderated by Bruce Mattos, Phoebe Putney)



Sponsor and Vendor Highlights were featured on stage followed by a Gift Basket Raffle.

Brandon Ona, Director of Business Services, TCSG, Office of Workforce Development, gave our closing to the Summit.

The Summit is viewed as a huge success with over 300 registered for the event with 30 vendors and great feedback collected that will benefit the Healthcare Industry in South Georgia. Plans are already underway for next year’s Summit.

REAL Skills Day

On March 4th, Albany Technical College proudly hosted the Regional Employability and Life (REAL) Skills Day.

This collaborative event, organized by Great Promise Partnership, WorkSource Southwest Georgia, LifeLink of Georgia, and Albany Technical College, aimed to equip high school students with essential skills for future career success.

Lisa Stephens of Albany Technical College welcomed students from surrounding counties, emphasizing the value of learning directly from industry leaders.

Melody Pierce, Executive Director of WorkSource Southwest Georgia, also addressed the attendees, highlighting the significance of the event in shaping their professional paths.

The event featured several key sessions and speakers.

Courtney Proctor from LifeLink of Georgia sponsored the lunch and introduced the engaging “Lunch & Learn” program.

Additionally, Todd Gainous, Daphne Davis, and Dr. Beverly Holyfield from Great Promise Partnership spoke about their ongoing commitment to the REAL Skills Day initiative and its transformative impact on students.

A highlight of the event was a presentation by Randae Davis, Executive Director of the Darton Health Professions Foundation. His session, titled “How to Secure the Financial Bag,” provided students with practical knowledge on financial planning and securing resources for higher education.

Students then participated in focused breakout sessions covering various career fields, including:

• Military
• Healthcare
• Cosmetology/Barbering
• Agriculture

Additionally, panel discussions led by industry professionals provided valuable insights into career opportunities.

Lisa Stephens moderated a discussion featuring:

• Brian Gresham – Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
• Kimberly Weaver – Georgia Power

Meanwhile, Melody Pierce led another panel discussion with:

• Dr. Marcus Glass – Assistant Fire Chief, City of Albany
• Carey Ferguson – Turner Job Corps

Ms. Pierce also engaged students in a hands-on REAL Skills activity, reinforcing practical workplace and life skills.

To conclude the event, Todd Gainous, Melody Pierce, Lisa Stephens, Courtney Proctor, and Daphne Davis shared inspiring reflections on the day’s experiences, leaving students motivated and equipped with new knowledge.



Months of planning and collaboration made the REAL Skills Day a resounding success, thanks to the dedication of many individuals and organizations. The event not only provided students with industry insights but also empowered them with tools to build a strong future. Be sure to check out the photos below capturing some of the day’s memorable moments!

SETA Spring 2025 Conference

Advancing Workforce Development

Melody Pierce, Jerry Chapman, Cory Thomas, and Cathy Johnson attended the Southeastern Employment Training Association (SETA) Spring Conference held March 16th through March 19th at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Workforce professionals from eight states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) converged on Myrtle Beach to network, learn best practices from industry experts, receive legislative updates, and gain insight from vendors that specialize in workforce development. SETA strives to work with business and industry to provide workforce professionals with the tools needed to develop a highly skilled and highly trained workforce pipeline.

Engaging Sessions and Insightful Discussions

Throughout the conference, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a diverse array of concurrent sessions, each focused on a specific aspect of workforce development. Topics span from leadership development and skills training to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Led by industry leaders and subject matter experts, these sessions provided attendees with actionable insights and best practices to inform their work.

Presentations and discussions included various topics such as: “Leveraging Technology, Governance, Engagement, and Collaboration in Workforce Development,” “Embracing the Now – Navigating AI in Workforce Development,” “Workforce Development Around the World – Lessons for the U.S.,” and many more.

Networking and Collaboration Opportunities

In addition to formal presentations and sessions, the SETA Spring Conference offered numerous networking opportunities for attendees to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas. Informal gatherings, networking receptions, and interactive exhibits provided valuable avenues for building partnerships and exploring potential collaborations to further advance workforce development efforts across the region.

Looking Ahead

The SETA Spring Conference continues to be a vital event for workforce professionals committed to innovation and excellence in workforce development. By sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and exploring new strategies, attendees return to their organizations equipped with the tools and insights needed to make a meaningful impact in their communities.



Stay tuned for more updates on workforce development trends and upcoming industry events!

1st Annual Medical Arts Field Career Day @ Live Oaks Elementary School 2025

Contributed by Dr. Tonya McDuffie, Dougherty County School System

Our 1st Annual Medical Arts Field Career Day was truly a magnificent event! The participation from the Southwest Georgia Medical Field was unmatched! The impact of this event provided a solid foundation for the entire student population of Live Oak Elementary School. Our students engaged in and explored various medical field professions for overall awareness. This pivotal event equipped our students with the necessary knowledge to make future medical arts field pathway selections as they matriculate through middle school , high school , post-secondary and even as a career choice if desired!

This event is just what the "Doctor" ordered! 

Children are our business and business is good!

LOES Medical Arts Field Career Day Presenters 2025 

Friday, February 7th, 2025

110 Guest Presenters 

1. Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

2. Tift Regional Medical Center 

3. Miller County Hospital 

4. Dentists

5. Physicians 

6. Nurses (RNS) (LPNS) (APRNS) (NPS)

7. Physical Therapists 

8. Certified Athletic Trainers  

9. Deans of University Health Programs

10. Directors of University Health Program 

11. Dougherty County Health Department

12. Dougherty County EMS

13. Dougherty County 911

14. Health field students in training from;

15. Albany State University

16. Albany Technical College

17. Morehouse College

18. Georgia SouthWestern State University

19. Florida A&M University Pharmacist 

20. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia

21. DCSS 4C Students

22. DCSS Merry Acres Medical Arts students   

23. DCSS Westover High School Medical Arts students 

24. Worksource Southwest Ga

25. SOWEGA RISING

26. Southwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership

And many other exciting guests!

Quaeeccia Smith

Quaeecia, a single parenting youth from Albany, Georgia, faced several barriers to self-sufficiency. Quaeecia is an African American female that grew up in a poverty-stricken community. She had become a high school drop-out, teen parent, and unemployed. She felt as though her barriers were endless, with that came hopelessness.

That’s until one day a friend told her about the Paxen program in Albany. She was not very thrilled at first, because she was more interested in making money, rather than entering a workforce GED program. But once she met with the career coach at Paxen, she was informed of the endless possibilities of her completing the program to have more opportunities.

Quaeecia begin the program, and she faced many challenges when it came down to earning her GED. Quaeecia had issues with childcare, transportation, and she also had issues with being able to stay consistent with her studies. Paxen assisted youth with childcare & transportation and then she was identified as having personal issues that made it difficult to complete courses. Quaaecia dropped out of the program. Some time went by, and she returned to the program. She still faced the personal issues; however, she was developed another plan to address her situation. This plan included the steps to not only complete her GED, but to become gainfully employed. Quaeecia’s career goal was to be become a Registered Nurse at the local hospital. She became dual enrolled into Eckerd’s GED/work readiness program. Quaeecia worked on her GED & became employed as a Personal Care Assistant. During her employment as a PCA, she completed her CNA training. Quaeecia also completed her GED, in which she worked really hard at. She dealt with single parenting, transportation issues, stability issues, as well as unemployment. Eckerd worked with service providers, and other community partners to assist Quaeecia with completion her goal plan.

Quaeecia worked diligently on her goals as she surpassed them. Not only did Quaeecia successfully complete her GED, but she also completed work readiness training as well. Eckerd provided Quaeecia with several skills training, including social skills, interviewing skills, basic skills training (math computation & reading comprehension) employee essentials skills, etc. to enhance her skills to become more employable. She was able to gain employment skills, attain supportive services-clothing, transportation assistance, career counseling, etc. Quaeecia is currently a GED graduate, CNA certified, and she is gainfully employed at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital as a CNA. She will be enrolling into a program a Phoebe to become certified as a LPN in the near future. All this was possible, because Quaeecia did not give up. Although she ran into some barriers, and became discouraged at times, but she envisioned a future that she wanted for her and her children. And she was not going to let it go.

Quaeecia transitioned through the Career Readiness training at Eckerd Connects with a career pathway that enabled her to change her life, and to start a better and productive life for her and her children. 

Zania Williams

The CNA program I completed was an intensive four-week journey that focused not only on technical skills but also on personal growth. The program was exceptional due to its comprehensive curriculum and the dedication of the instructors.

Mrs. Lovett stood out for her unwavering commitment to excellence. She challenged each of us to reach our highest potential, ensuring that we left the program not just as certified nursing assistants, but as confident and capable professionals ready to be effective. Throughout the program, Mrs. Lovett consistently emphasized the importance of compassion, diligence, and professionalism in caregiving. She created a supportive yet challenging environment that encouraged me and my peers to step out of your comfort zones and embrace the responsibilities of a CNA. Her firsthand teaching style and real-world examples made the lessons engaging and impactful.

By the end of the four weeks, I felt fully prepared to enter the healthcare field, thanks to the rigorous training and the inspiration Mrs. Lovett provided. I am incredibly grateful for the WorkSource Georgia program that entrusted with providing funding to complete this Program.

My Case manager, Ms. Virginia Jackson was very professional with all the details of the overview from the beginning of Initial phone contact all documents for completing the Enrollment process. She contacted me to see how the training was going and provided me with transportation aid.

Thank you, WorkSource Georgia for my New Beginning as a Nurse. 

Zania Williams, 

Brandy Conley

I do not know where I would be if it was not for the help, I got from WorkSource. After everything that had happened, I did not see any way I would be able to make it. I knew I needed to make changes, but I did not know how. I love what I do now and although things are still hard at times, I know that I have the skills I need to keep moving forward. 

McKensie Wilcox

I was at a very low point in my life when I heard about WIOA. I was ready to give up, but this program helped me in so many ways. I am thankful for everything. 

Event & Meeting Schedule

Workforce Development Board Meeting: June 10th, 6pm - 7:30pm Workforce Development Board Meeting, WorkSource Southwest Georgia Admin. Office, 75 W. Broad St., Camilla GA

Southeastern Employment & Training Association: September 28 - October 1, 2025, Biloxi Mississippi