Susan Stockton, a Local Veteran’s Employment Representative with the OneStop Workforce Center in Liberty, constantly refers veterans to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program. As a veteran herself, she’s experienced the benefits of the program and praises the way WIA works.
“It’s a bond between the WIA program and participants,” she said. “You are not a number. You are a human being, and you are treated that way. Your strengths are pointed out, and they work with you one-on-one to help you find the answers.”
In Stockton’s case, she had extensive experience in customer service, having worked for many years for the City of Orangeburg for the Department of Public Utilities, as a buyer for Parts Inc., and as an office manager and purchasing agent with Parts Place, Inc. When the business closed in 2008, she found herself unemployed and looking for a new challenge. She enrolled in the WIA program in June 2009 to gain assistance with job seeking skills.
One of the first places she found help and a connection was through the free workshops offered at the OneStop, which she describes as “comfortable and uplifting.” She also searched for jobs through their online database, jobs.scworks.org.
When a position became available with the Liberty OneStop Workforce Center for a Local Veterans Employment Representative, Stockton fit the requirement of being a veteran with customer service experience. She served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1970-1973 as an administrative specialist. She started her new position in January 2010.
Through the Workforce Investment Act, WorkLink Workforce Investment Board gives priority of service to veterans and eligible spouses. This service policy aligns with The Jobs for Veterans Act and ensures that those who have served our country move to the front of the line for employment and training services.
“I feel like veterans deserve the extra respect,” Stockton said. “Every time I assist a fellow veteran in finding rewarding employment, I feel I’m still serving my country.”
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