Local veterans benefit from NC Works Career Center

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Tuesday Seaside Silk Screening in Wilmington received recognition from the state for its effort in training people through the NC Works Career Center.

The NC Works Career Center is a resource to help people find employment. One of their programs connects employers to potential employees. The government pays a portion of a workers’ salary to train at a business for 5 months. At the end of that time that worker can be hired full time or if not they will at least have the work experience.

Sharese Robertson went through the program and is now a full time employee.

“Everybody here is so amazing. We work so well together,” said Robertson.

Robertson said she is a former army medic and a recent graduate of Cape Fear Community College. She said when she was finished with her service she struggled to find a job. She said she went to the Employment Security Commission.

“I just went in there like, ‘please somebody help me’ and they started telling me about the on-the-job training program and I decided to participate and they sent me here and here I am,” said Robertson.

Mark Sblendorio, owner of the Seaside Silk Screening, said participating in the state’s NC Works Career Center program which matches employers with potential employees has helped grow his business.

“It allows us to bring employees on board for five months so their salary is supplemented. Not a hundred percent, but it allows us to train those employees,” said Sblendorio.

And sometimes that training can turn into a life changing employment opportunity especially for military veterans like Robertson.

“After sacrificing your life and going over and away from your family, you deserve to have something stable,” said Robertson.

For more information head to the NC Works Career Center page.