Michael T. Smith came to Job Corps in October of 2011. He had been working as a supervisor at a bagel shop in Redmond, Washington. Not sure of his next step in life, his grandmother suggested he take a look at Job Corps. He entered in to the Culinary Arts program at Springdale JCC with the idea of possibly going on to Advanced Training at the Treasure Lake Job Corps Center in San Francisco.

“I had my high school diploma already,” he says. “I graduated from Redmond High School. Working at the bagel shop was all right, but I knew it wasn’t my long term plan.”

As Michael worked his way through the Culinary Arts program, completing 507 hours of work-based learning with two local restaurants, he started to think about what he might do after he completed his training. “At the time I didn’t know I couldn’t do Advanced Training AND the college program at the same time, so I thought I would do both! When I found out I would have to choose, I decided on the long game and chose Springdale’s ACT program.”

Michael started classes at Mount Hood Community College fall term of 2012. He decided to study Communications. “I think I’m a good communicator,” he explains.

“My goal was to develop my interpersonal skills. I knew I wanted to work with people, help them. That’s why I looked for work with Job Corps.”

He called Naomi Ulsted, Springdale’s Center Director, to ask if there were any Residential Advisor positions available in the dorms. “Unfortunately all the RA positions were filled,” says Naomi. “But it just so happened the Records Administrator position was available at PIVOT. I knew Mike to be a hard worker and that he always acted with integrity and presented himself professionally. I was happy to suggest he apply!”

Tivon Abel, who taught Office Administration at Springdale before moving on to teaching third graders, has nothing but praise for Michael. “Mike Smith is one of those rare intellectuals who listens first and never talks down. He is always open to and looking for ways to improve himself and, more than most, he puts the interests of those near him on a level with his own.”

Michael and his wife, Alla, are preparing for the birth of their first child. Michael took some time off from school to get used to his new role at PIVOT, but will go back during winter term to complete his Associates degree in Communications. After that he will balance his role as PIVOT’s Records Administration with classes at Portland State University where he intends to get a Bachelor’s degree. “I think I want to go in to Human Resources,” he says. “I think I’d be good at that.”

Springdale and PIVOT are both excited to see what the future holds for Michael!