Project JumpStart’s mission has always been about more than completing a training program. It’s about what happens next, when graduates step into new roles and start building careers. This month, we’re celebrating two graduates who did exactly that: Dante, placed with Allan Myers, and Elijah Brown, placed through Outsource with Colonial Electric.
Dante: A First Impression That Led to a Job Offer
During Project JumpStart’s East Side Class 85, a representative from Allan Myers visited as a guest speaker. Dante made an impression that day, actively participating, asking questions, and taking notes.
Months later, when Dante advanced to the final round of interviews with Allan Myers, that same representative was part of the process and remembered him. He shared that after meeting Class 85, if there was anyone from that class he hoped would apply to Allan Myers, it was Dante.
That early engagement paid off. Dante has officially been placed with Allan Myers and begins his new position as a laborer on August 31. In this role, he’ll gain hands on experience in the heavy civil construction industry, assisting with the installation of interior piping, concrete drilling and demolition, rigging and moving heavy materials, cutting metal and pipe, erecting scaffolding, operating equipment, and supporting various construction installations. The position offers an hourly range of $24 to $27 based on experience, along with benefits and opportunities for continued training and advancement.
Dante’s story is a reminder of something we tell every class: every employer visit, classroom presentation, and networking opportunity is part of the interview process, whether it feels like it at the time or not.
Elijah Brown: Initiative That Moved Fast
Elijah Brown took a different path to employment, one built on initiative. After seeing an opportunity posted through Project JumpStart, he applied to work with Colonial Electric. He performed so well in the interview process that things moved quickly, and Elijah was able to start working that same week.
Elijah was hired through Outsource as an Electrical Helper for a warehouse electrical project in Frederick, Maryland, an opportunity that lets him begin applying the hands on skills he developed through Project JumpStart in a real, active worksite.
What These Placements Have in Common
Dante and Elijah took different roads to employment, one through a relationship built over time, the other through quick action on an opportunity, but both stories point to the same lesson: showing up, staying engaged, and taking initiative make a difference. Whether it’s asking a thoughtful question during a guest speaker visit or applying the moment a job posting goes live, these are the moments that shape a graduate’s path from training to a career.
We are proud of Dante and Elijah, and we look forward to following their progress as they begin this next chapter.