Antanell Jones, a resident of Decatur, has visited Goodwill’s South DeKalb Career Center twice before to seek assistance with job searches. After losing her job during the pandemic, she returned to Goodwill in 2021 to explore the floor tech/custodial training program and its potential to advance her career.

Antanell attended an information session and received help from C3 Navigator Sheretta Sanders, who assisted her in securing SNAP Works funding. This support enabled her to enroll in the program for free. Antanell excelled in her training at the South DeKalb Career Center, demonstrating leadership skills and offering assistance to her classmates. She even volunteered to help her fellow students prepare for the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IHEA) exam.

Despite the program’s relocation to the Smyrna Career Center, Antanell remained committed to completing her training and overcame transportation, childcare, and health challenges. She graduated from the program on November 5, 2021, earning her IHEA Frontline Associate and Environmental Service Specialist certifications. With the help of Goodwill’s Employment Specialist Robert Cummings, she secured a job as a floor tech custodian at Georgia Tech and began her new career on Dec. 8.

Antanell is thrilled with her job at Georgia Tech, which offers stability and a benefits package that will help improve her family’s life. She thanks Goodwill and recommends it to family and friends interested in career training. Her ultimate goal is to open her own business, and she will rely on her motto, “You can do anything with hard work,” to achieve it. Goodwill proudly recognizes Antanell’s accomplishments by presenting her with the 2022 South DeKalb Career Center Outstanding Graduate Award.