Ballard Voc Rehab Job Candidate is First to Complete Meat-Cutting Apprenticeship

Congratulations to Caleb Isaacson, an Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation job candidate and the first person ever to be certified as completing an Iowa EDGE/Fareway Meat-Cutting Registered Apprenticeship!

The apprenticeship was an outgrowth of Boone High School's "Boone EDGE" work-based learning program for high school students in and around the Boone School District. Iowa Edge partnered with Fareway to offer a meat-cutting apprenticeship to students within qualified school districts across the state of Iowa. The program encompasses the work-based learning initiatives of Boone Edge, Future Ready Iowa, and Executive Order No. 1 establishing Iowa's Clearinghouse for work-based learning.

"Caleb is a very big shining star for us," said Roxanne Kanne-Roush, Vice President of Training and Development at Fareway. "It's a super accomplishment."

Caleb, who has received help from Vocational Rehabilitation Services with a variety of challenges involving his communication, organizational, and job skills, started working part-time in the Huxley Fairway's grocery department when he was a junior at Ballard High School. He then expressed an interest in working in the Meat Department - because, well, it looked like fun!

Caleb's apprenticeship turned into a very successful job experience - thanks partly to support from Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Carla Reynolds and on-the-job mentoring from Fareway Meat Department managers Jeremy Tangkhpanya and Jake Eyanson.

When Tangkhpanya received a promotion and went to a new location, he stayed in close contact with Eyanson to assure that Caleb continued his progress under the new manager. "Jeremy and Jake had many conversations to make sure that Caleb was considered throughout the transition," Reynolds said.

Meanwhile, Caleb kept improving his skills both at Fareway and in school.

"Caleb has overcome limitations you wouldn't believe," Tangkhpanya said.

Caleb started the apprenticeship in high school and worked for more than two years to complete the 4,500 hours of on-the-job training required for the apprenticeship. Now 21, Caleb has an established career with Fareway and has enhanced his employability in the job market.

"He has gained valuable, technical skills and experience that not a lot of people have," Tangkhpanya said.

To celebrate Caleb's achievement, the Fareway staff and management held a reception at the Huxley Fareway on June 26. Fareway presented Caleb with a jacket and a plaque for "going above and beyond with this superior accomplishment."

Caleb said, "I want to thank you all for helping me accomplish my goals. All of you helped me take a step in the right direction in completing this apprenticeship. I couldn't have done this without you."

VR Counselor Carla Reynolds and Caleb's parents attended the reception, as well as Fareway managers and staff, to express how proud they are of Caleb's success. The partnership between Fareway, Boone Edge and Vocational Rehabilitation Services helped set the path for gainful employment - and a new pick-up - for Caleb.

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