Pilot Program helps unemployed find jobs that suit their skills

FORSYTH - As one of three pilot sites for Illinois workNet, the state's new work force development system, Decatur already has some success stories.

One is Diana Taylor, the first of 20 women who completed the city's first Workforce Readiness Training last month to be hired by Archer Daniels Midland Co. The Decatur resident started work last week as an administrative assistant in nonexempt recruiting.

The 11-week training program was designed by Workforce Investment Solutions and Richland Community College to create viable candidates for clerical positions at ADM.

"I'm ecstatic," Taylor said shortly before a news conference Thursday morning at the Education and Training Center in Hickory Point Mall to promote Illinois workNet. "The program took what skills I had to the next level."

Participants in the training were identified by Illinois workNet, so Kathie Whitley, vice president of employee and labor relations for ADM, was among several speakers at the news conference singing its praises.

"The process provided us with a very good quality of job candidate," Whitley said. "I believe we have two other hires and two others who are in the interview process, so we've been very successful in a short time period."

Rocki Wilkerson, adult education coordinator for Decatur public schools, also introduced three young Decatur residents who came to the Employment and Training Center to earn a GED but, with the help of Illinois workNet, accomplished more.

After it showed that Lauren Bockert, a 20-year-old biology student at Richland, was suited for laboratory work, the Employment and Training Center put her into an appropriate internship this spring at its own expense.

As a result, Bockert started a summer internship Tuesday in ADM's corn processing department. "I wasn't expecting all this to happen so fast, but I'm really happy with it," she said after the news conference.

Jonathon Clem, 19, and Tim Haley, 22, haven't earned their GEDs yet, but both were referred by Illinois workNet to the Decatur Area Technical Academy's Introduction to Construction Skills program.

Each has a full-time job as a result: Clem with J.J. Swartz Co., and Haley with Walker's Lawn & Landscaping.

"Jonathon hopes to complete his employer's carpentry program, and Tim's bosses say he is one of the best employees they have ever had," Wilkerson said.

Illinois workNet is the name of a Web site that provides free career, education and work support information to Illinois residents and businesses, matching potential employers with potential employees. Former state employment and training centers performing the same functions also now are known as Illinois workNet centers.

Also at Thursday's news conference to promote the system were Decatur schools Superintendent Gloria Davis, Decatur Mayor Paul Osborne and Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Not everyone goes to the unemployment office to find a job, and the Illinois workNet Web site goes well beyond some of the other popular job search sites," Lavin said. "It provides both the ability to search for a job and features tools that help Illinois residents find the right training that better prepares them for jobs and industries where there's growth and high wages."

Theresa Churchill can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 421-7978.