Ketchikan Career Transition Center has a new Community Development Specialist to assist you in planning your future! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Brian Tackett. I have lived in the State of Alaska for four years. I have lived in the Alaskan bush and other cities in Alaska. Some of my hobbies are: kayaking, scuba-diving, and running. I really do enjoy living in Ketchikan and I look forward to meeting folks here and in the surrounding communities. I invite you to stop by the Center and find out about the services we offer.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

-Brian Tackett,
Community Development Specialist

The New Chance Center is glad to announce we will continue classes through May of 1999. The next class will begin on January 11th, 1998. Interested applicants may contact us at 225-5230 (fax 247-5240) or stop by our convenient second floor location in the Plaza Port West Mall, next to the Bon Marché for Kids. You may enroll for any or all of the classes.

The daily schedule is as follows:

• 8-10:00 Academic Skills
• 10-12:00 Career Exploration
• 1-3:00 Computers for Beginners
• 3-5:00 Open lab (homework time)

You're invited to graduation for the current session to be held at the New Chance Center on December 18th from 1-2p.m.

For those looking for work, our job list still offers variety. The City/Borough of Juneau sends us their job openings as they become available. These have presented some good opportunities. Tim Gieb is one former co-worker who successfully took advantage of this avenue. He has relocated to Juneau and is currently working as an Instrument Tech. He says Juneau is much like Ketchikan in its beauty but has far less rain and much more opportunity. You might have to go to the ski slopes to check with him for more information as he mentioned he will be hanging out there in his spare time.

Has anyone been following the Kodiak Missile Launch happenings? Thursday, November 5th the launch of the Air Force missile was a first for the Kodiak Launch Complex, a site the State hopes will become the centerpiece of a new industry sending satellites into orbit. Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation (AADC) is the State agency that operates the launch site. The $28-million-dollar complex is still under construction. At first, this complex won't provide dozens of year-round jobs, as the only permanent launch jobs will likely be a few security people and a site manager to watch the site. However, the project will boost the local economy by channeling routine maintenance work and other business to the site. I am currently working on an exciting job development opportunity for one client from KCTC. You never know what other opportunities will arise with AADC.

Another exciting opportunity I am involved in is assisting a client in obtaining training as a Baader Technician. You may ask: What is a Baader? Badder is a Company which manufactures machines for the Seafood Industry. These machines produce skinless/boneless fillets of fish. The machines are built in Germany and usually the company recruits operators from Germany or Norway since there are no trained technicians in America This takes available work away from Americans. My client and I aim to change this. The pay is very good. Usually between $6000-$9000 Per month.

Stop by the Center and let me assist you with your search for employment. The holidays are just around the corner and there should be some temporary/seasonal positions available which could put some extra cash in your pocket.

Those who haven't used the computer for job searching yet, stop by and let us show you how. There is a whole new world on the Internet just waiting to be discovered.

Although Thanksgiving has come and gone, let us continue to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. Sometimes, even the obstacles are blessings in disguise. Wishing you all a joyous Christmas season! When you are thinking of gift-giving please remember how very valuable is a gift from your heart; gifts of memories, love, and friendship will last longer than any store-bought gift.

-Noni Woodruff,
Employment Consultant

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Ketchikan Career Transition Center helps provide conditions favorable for re-training. Know-how can be developed and ability acquired for a new career choice. For example...

TRAINING COMPLETED!

Cecil HARPER finished training November 20, 1998. Training: Refrigeration & Heating Place: Universal Technical Institute

Knowledge is power.

Last week I saw my old friend Scott Diverty. He was back in Ketchikan taking care of some business. We had some time together talking about the "Good Old Days" but more importantly, how things are now. He has finished his school in Phoenix, AZ for H.V.A.C. with very high marks. Has moved to Glendale, AZ found a job and bought a home. His wife has a job she likes.

One of the things we talked about was how he originally thought he would not live any place other than Ketchikan. How things change: he now knows what it's like to be dry! He said to tell you all that if you are down his way look him up. "I'm in the book!"

-Paul Lamm,
Peer Counselor

These are some names and addresses we received at the KETCHIKAN CAREER TRANSITION CENTER from clients who have given us permission to print their address, phone number, fax number, email address etc.

Note: Rodney DUE is a Civil Service shift supervisor for the wastewater treatment plant serving Pearl Harbor & Hickam AFB, since 2/97.

Rodney Due
P.O. Box 262
Pearl City, HI 96782
Telephone: (808) 672-6811
E-mail: duecrew@gte.net

Mary Bransford
815 Olympic Avenue
Medford, OR 97504

Al & Brenda Jacobson
P.O. Box 6471
Ketchikan, AK 99901-99019
E-mail: voltage@ptialaska.net

John Vandiver
317 South Shoreline Drive #4
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
E-mail: John@Vandiver.net

Will & Sandy Singer
P.O. Box 1171
Ward Cove, AK 99928