L.O.G.I.C. Student Spotlight: Corey Jackson
May 12, 2021
Finding a job during the height of the pandemic was hard for Corey Jackson. “I was putting in applications and nobody was calling back,” he explains.
Corey says his parole officer referred him to the L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) program, and it’s exactly what he needed to obtain employment. He has completed probation and has a positive outlook for the future.
Corey comes to the program with previous warehousing experience, but never worked on equipment before.
“I signed up, I got here. At first I didn’t think I would be able to operate the machinery,” he admits. Thanks to the guidance of Warehouse Instructor Joe Cunha, Corey is now feeling confident in his abilities to work a variety of equipment pieces.
“A couple days in I started liking it,” he says. “Joe got me through a lot. When we are on the machines, he says, ‘You are going to find yout own little way.’ He is great for me.”
Corey and his classmates are in week eight of their 11-week training program and have been learning the ins and outs of the warehousing/logistics field. They also have the opportunity to earn their OSHA-10 and forklift certifications and apply for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card to access places like the Port of Wilmington.
“I am glad my parole officer signed me up for this class,” he says. “I like it. I like the job; it’s active. I have no problem lifting things.”
He has already started to look for jobs, and with the help of Joe and Workforce Training Program Manager Lisa Grinnage, he knows he has the support to land an interview.
Corey has started telling friends about the program, and the blue safety vest that he and his classmates wear always strikes up a conversation. “They see me coming home in this [vest] and they actually think I have a job. I tell them I’m in the warehouse at the Food Bank of Delaware, and I am training to get my certification. Once I get my certification, I will be able to work anywhere they need forklift drivers,” he says.
He encourages others to apply, but only if they are willing to work.
With graduation just a few weeks away, Corey’s final thoughts on the program, “I love it. I’m going to go all the way with it.”
Interested in pursuing a career in the warehousing/logistics industry? The next L.O.G.I.C. class begins on June 21 at the Newark facility. Click here to learn more or to apply for this free training opportunity!
