Meet Tiffany Crenshaw

Gainesville resident Tiffany Crenshaw came to Goodwill’s Oakwood Career Center in November 2021 after seeing a flyer advertising the welding training program. At 29 years old, this single mother needed to get on a career path that would allow her to provide for herself and her two-year-old daughter.

Tiffany met with Case Manager Alex Balla, who assisted her with completing the intake paperwork. She was nervous about the Test of Basic Adult Education (TABE) and concerned about her ability to earn a passing score. Alex assured her that she would do well on the test – and she did. With financial support provided by the Department of Labor Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (DOL-WORC) grant, Tiffany enrolled in the welding program.

Tiffany actively participated during job readiness training classes and often provided personal examples of the material being taught. By mid-November, she began the hands-on training portion of the program, which took place in a mobile welding unit located in the career center parking lot. Goodwill values its partnership with Workforce Innovators of America and appreciates the convenience afforded by the mobile classroom. Tiffany frequently shared with Alex that she enjoyed training in the welding trailer.

Alex was continually impressed by Tiffany’s motivation and reliability. He also noted that she demonstrated exceptional follow-through when given directions. Although she had a computer at home, Tiffany decided to come to the career center to complete her online OSHA10 training to remain focused throughout the exercise. By the time she completed the program on December 6, Tiffany had earned OSHA10, CPR/First Aid, and various American Welding Association certifications. Her confidence grew throughout the experience – as a result, she was the first in her cohort to complete the welding certification exam and earned the highest score among her peers.

Tiffany shared that her childcare situation required her to find a first-shift position. With the help of Employment Specialist Nicole Hardin, Tiffany interviewed for a position at Cottrell, Inc., and was offered a job on the spot. She set a start date of December 15 and began at a salary of $17 per hour. She achieved 30-day retention in mid-January and reported being thrilled with her new role.

As she approaches her 30th birthday, Tiffany is excited about the new direction her career has taken and is looking forward to a bright future. The Goodwill team is proud of Tiffany’s achievements and will continue to support her as her journey unfolds.