Professional Development Center Places Hundreds in Valley Jobs

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Professional Development Center, a division of Flying High Inc., released results from its job training and placement efforts in 2021-2022.

The PDR services resulted in 373 job placements, 135 participants earning skills credentials, 287 people receiving 345 supportive services to overcome employment barriers and 639 attending job readiness workshops.

“We are pleased to help Valley residents get ready for employment and then obtain good-paying jobs,” said Jeff Magada, Flying High’s founder and executive director.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Flying High partner to meet with hiring companies to better understand and streamline the hiring and onboarding process for participants. Additionally, the chamber assists Flying High staff in placing recovering individuals in suitable job openings, providing job descriptions for available openings and onboarding procedures, as well as providing information about legal offenses that would disqualify someone from employment.

“We are committed to leveraging our Business Retention Expansion and Attraction program to identify companies in the area that have in-demand talent needs, and connecting those businesses to area resources that can alleviate barriers, such as a community asset like the PDC,” said Guy Coviello, chamber president and CEO.

The PDC job placement welcome centers are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at both 6 W. Federal St., seventh floor, in Youngstown, and 237 Main Ave. SW in Warren. Walk-ins are welcome.

The PDC provides job readiness training courses to equip clients with professional and technical skills for immediate employment in high-demand industries. Workshops include resume writing, job search, interview, professional behavior and communication skills. Case managers and job developers assist clients in overcoming employment barriers, financial support services, career exploration and placement.

Pictured at top: Jeff Magada, Flying High’s founder and executive director, at the opening of the Professional Development Center in Warren in October 2021.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.