BOWLING GREEN, KY. – Goodwill Kentucky celebrated the graduation of its latest Construction and Skilled Trades Pathway cohort on August 26 at its Bowling Green Opportunity Center, recognizing participants who completed free workforce training designed to prepare them for careers in the skilled trades.
The six-day program, held at the Bowling Green Opportunity Center, equipped participants with the skills and credentials needed to pursue entry-level positions in construction and related trades. Graduates earned an OSHA-10 certification or Procore industry credential, received resume and interview coaching, and participated in an employer interview day with local industry partners.
The program’s curriculum was developed in collaboration with employer partners to ensure participants gain the most in-demand skills across the region’s construction workforce. The most recent cohort was made possible through an investment from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky.
“Programs like this demonstrate what’s possible when employers, community partners, and workforce organizations come together with a shared purpose,” said Dennis Ritchie, vice president of reentry and strategic partnerships at Goodwill Kentucky. “Our goal is to equip people with the skills, confidence, and industry connections they need to build lasting careers, and we’re grateful to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky and our employer partners for helping make these career pathways possible.”
Employer partners for the cohort included Scott, Murphy, & Daniel, Stewart Richey Service Group, Reynolds Sealing & Striping, Portables General Contractors, and Builders by Design. Following the graduation ceremony, participants interviewed with employer partners, which allowed them to connect classroom learning with immediate career opportunities.
One of those participants was David Bridges. David was released from incarceration with one goal in mind: never to go back. That meant he needed to find connections to resources that would put him on a pathway out of poverty.
While at a halfway house, David became a member of the Bowling Green Opportunity Center, where he began taking job-readiness classes with help from his career coach. Following the completion of those classes, he was introduced to an opportunity that ultimately led to a career: the Construction and Skilled Trades Pathway program.
Upon completion of the program, David landed an interview with Reynolds Striping & Sealing, where he said he was open about his past.
“I gave them my story and told them all the things I had been through,” David said. “I told him I was doing everything I could to change. And he said, ‘I can see that because you’re doing this.’ He told me right then and there: ‘I’m hiring, and you were honest with me.’ So, I got hired, and I’ve been working there ever since. I’ve never missed a day of work.”
Since being hired by Reynolds Striping & Sealing, David has earned a promotion and a raise, which hasn’t come as a surprise to Steven Adams, owner and operator of the company.
“At Reynolds Sealing & Striping, we believe people should be defined by who they are today, not solely by the mistakes they’ve made in the past,” said Steven. “David’s story is a powerful reminder that when we choose to see potential instead of a person’s past, everyone wins. We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to watching him continue to succeed.”
David’s new career has given him stability, confidence, and the opportunity to grow—and he said none of it would be possible without Goodwill Kentucky.
“For my story, Goodwill was everything,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I know I wouldn’t. The people there were very helpful to me getting on my feet, trying to help me get the tools I needed to work—everything. I can’t thank them enough.”
For more information about Goodwill Kentucky’s workforce development programs, or to apply for the Construction and Skilled Trades Pathway, contact the Bowling Green Opportunity Center at (270) 781-4930.
About Goodwill Kentucky
For more than 100 years, Goodwill Kentucky has helped Kentuckians find pathways out of poverty through the transformative power of work. Operating in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, Goodwill Kentucky places over 3,000 Kentuckians into jobs each year through its 1,400-plus employer partners and its own retail stores. These life-changing opportunities are made possible through donations to Goodwill Kentucky stores and community support. The organization reinvests approximately 90 cents of every dollar earned in its retail stores into job training and workforce programs. When you give to Goodwill, you do a lot of good.