CENTRAL

charlie"I like tinkering. I like knowing whatmakes things work. I’m a biomedicalequipment technician for UniversalHospital Services. I do repairs andperformance checks on medicalequipment and make sure it’s safeenough to go on a person. Theelectronics education I received atITT Tech has made a real differencein my life. The hands-on approachand the programs helped me enterinto the workforce. My family is veryimportant to me, so my job makesme feel good because I can providefor them. I bought my own house,and I enjoy doing all the small thingshomeowners get to do. Good thingswill come when you work hard anddedicate yourself. I’m proof of that."Charlie Graves – ITT Tech – Little Rock"My name is Nicklas Collins. I’m anIT project manager for one of thelargest computer manufacturers in theworld. Anything that requires someequipment to be installed – I’m theman to do it. I have a very big senseof satisfaction and self-worth. BeforeI went to ITT Tech, I was doingconstruction ... nasty outside work inall the hot weather and the rain andthe snow, you name it. Now, I havea nice inside job and am enjoyingmy family. There is a night-and-daydifference from where I was to where Iam thanks to my education."Nicklas Collins – ITT Tech – OmahanicklaserinErin Smith is one of the many success stories from O’Briens Aveda Institute in So. Burlington, Vt. Erinenrolled in the Cosmetology program in September of 2008 at the age of 26, after already earning a 4-yearBachelor’s degree in 2005. Erin had worked as a YMCA site director, managing and developing after-schoolprograms for K-7 and managing the staff. Erin had also worked as a residential support person at a mentalhealth facility. Erin loves people, but had not found the right employment.Erin is also a single mother and wanted to have a job that she enjoyed for herself and her son’s well-being. Erinloves people, fashion and health, so cosmetology seemed the right fit for her. Erin admired cosmetologistsfrom her area and asked them about training. They referred her to O’Briens, where they had trained.When at O’Briens, Erin always had a smile and kindness for all. In an essay Erin wrote during her training,she said, “I hope to learn the best techniques in cutting, coloring and all the new trends in this field to enablemyself to do the best job possible.”Erin passed her state board and is currently working within the cosmetology field in Vermont. Mostimportantly, Erin loves her new career. Erin Smith – O’Briens Aveda Institute WHAT'S AT RISK? | 20