Seeking a new direction in her career, Tyra Brown walked into the South DeKalb Goodwill Career Center determined to find an opportunity that reignited her passion. After years in the food industry, she longed for a change and discovered Goodwill’s skills training programs, which offer pathways to new careers at little to no cost.

During an information session, Tyra learned about Goodwill’s Maintenance Technician Program and eagerly enrolled. The industry was a complete departure from her past work, but that only fueled her excitement. With support from SNAP Employment & Training funding, her tuition was fully covered, removing financial barriers to her success.
Tyra approached the program with clear goals: gain employment and step into leadership. She embraced every aspect of training—from coursework and group discussions to earning her First Aid/CPR and OSHA-10 certifications. Hands-on, on-the-job training gave her the confidence to master the daily responsibilities of a maintenance technician and prepared her for supervisory roles.

Her hard work paid off. After graduation, Tyra was hired as a Maintenance Technician at Hidden Woods Apartments, and her drive quickly set her apart. Within a short time, she was promoted to Maintenance Technician Supervisor—a role that came with a living wage and even a 50% discount on her rent.

Today, Tyra leads with confidence, fostering teamwork, mentoring others, and ensuring her community thrives. “Without the Goodwill program, I would not be as successful as I am today. I am so thankful,” she shared.

Tyra continues to network with industry professionals and proudly promotes Goodwill’s training and employment services, inspiring others to pursue their own career transformations.