Summit Career Center (SCC) is accepting applications for its January program in Stevensville through December 27, with classes beginning Monday, January 8.
The center is offering a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program for the first time as well as a new program that prepares career changers for jobs in the film industry. Other popular programs include Medical Assistant, CDL, Bookkeeping, Medical Billing and Coding, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Construction Trades, and IT Support.
According to SCC Executive Director Jacqueline Stevens, local employers of all types are eager to fill vacancies, and SCC provides motivated adults with free training to become employed. “Our six-month program is always looking for new leaders who are motivated and ready to reinvent themselves in the workplace. The new CNA program is a great opportunity to be trained for jobs in the rapidly growing healthcare field, at no cost for tuition,” she said.
In addition to job-specific training, Summit Career teaches six weeks of personal skill development that helps new student leaders age 18 and older grow personally and professionally. The center provides coaching and evaluation throughout, as well as mentoring from program graduates and area business leaders.
“What’s remarkable,” Stevens said, “is seeing how quickly people can develop competence and confidence in a whole new field. Our student leaders learn how to present themselves, interview for jobs, and handle themselves in the workplace—skills that not only make them invaluable to their employers, but also stay with the employees for the rest of their lives.”
Three student leaders graduating from the program were quickly hired by Doyles Sheehan, recently voted Missoula’s best mid-size company. According to Matt McConaughey, head of talent and culture, “Finding good people with a good work ethic and good skills is hard. Summit was able to provide us with amazing folks to come to work here—people who want to be here and are happy.”
Specific career options are numerous but must be for jobs that are available in Missoula and Ravalli counties, according to Stevens. Summit Career also offers programming in Missoula, with classes meeting at the Lifelong Learning Center, 310 South Curtis. “We’re so excited to offer these programs,” Stevens says. “It’s a great opportunity for people to change their lives and get into a new self-sustaining career.”
A faith-based nonprofit, SCC serves the area’s most vulnerable individuals. Financial support from the Gianforte Family Foundation, private donors, and other Montana nonprofit organizations enables the nonprofit to offer free career training to its students.
For more information, visit summitcareercenter.orgor call Jacqueline Stevens at 406.777.7232.