Michigan Works! Helps Job Seeker Learn New Trade With On-the-Job Training
Despite only having his GED, Curtis Marculewicz had a good paying job working as a Service Tech for Archrock Compression (oil/gas industry). He had learned a technical trade and was employed at Archrock from 2008-2016; he was earning over $22/hr…until the market crashed. Unsure what to do next, Curtis returned to his family in Michigan and got a job as a tech in a tire store earning $10/hr. Unable to make ends meet, Curtis found himself having to apply for welfare assistance.
With the help of Michigan Works! in Grayling, Curtis found an opportunity offering an OJT (on-the-job training) at Weyerhaeuser. With the OJT secured, Curtis was making much better wages and no longer needed to go on welfare assistance. He was able to put his technical and safety skills learned at Archrock to work at Weyerhaeuser and he’s doing remarkably well.
“Close to welfare, Michigan Works! helped me in the nick of time with an OJT at Weyerhaeuser with training that paid enough to support my family,” states Curtis.
Curtis completed his training on 4/30/17 and has become a permanent employee at Weyerhaeuser. He is working full-time with benefits and making a good living in Michigan. Thanks to the training opportunity provided by Michigan Works!, Curtis was able to receive the support he needed to learn a new trade, secure employment, and gain stability with one of the largest, best paying employers in the area.