ETI Student Continues to Achieve

Marjorie Gongaware graduated from ETI's Computerized Office Technology Program in December of 2003. Before coming to ETI Marjorie was employed at Target as a Team Leader in the Electronics Department where she handled inventory, stock and personnel. Target restructured and Marjorie lost her job. With 3 growing boys Justin, Travis and Austin, Marjorie was struggling to keep her family going as a single Mom.

Marjorie knew she had to improve her skills to find a better career that would allow her to support herself and her 3 sons. Marjorie worked with Debbie Billeck, Employment Specialist at the Westmoreland CareerLink. Marjorie and Debbie decided that ETI offered the best opportunity to gain new skills and be ready for a new job market before her unemployment compensation was exhausted.

Marjorie enjoyed her classes at ETI and especially remembers Dick Bitner, Computer Skills/Math Instructor and Allison Black, English Instructor as making her, "want to strive for something more". Marjorie said that they made school challenging and rewarding. Marjorie struggled to re-master study skills and time management after many years out of school. Her sons demanded that she share her grades with them and they all worked together to succeed.

After graduation Marjorie had no income because she had exhausted her unemployment benefits so she took the first job offer she got. She worked at Sony disassembling televisions and smashing picture tubes with a 17lb. sledge hammer to be recycled. This job did not allow her to use her new skills so she continued to search and was offered a position as an office clerk where she taught herself Quickbooks and Frontpage.

Still not happy with her job, because it had no opportunity for advancement, Marjorie continued to search. She applied for a posting on the CareerLink site for an Office Manager at the Laurel Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Marjorie interviewed and got the job in June of 2006. Marjorie approached her new job with enthusiasm and determination to learn as much as she could. She handled website updates, memberships, all financials, Student of the Month program and the monthly luncheons. Marjorie had become a valued asset to the Chamber and when she tried to give her notice to move on to another job that she thought had more opportunity to advance the Board had other plans. On March 2, 2008 The Laurel Highlands Chamber of Commerce promoted Marjorie Gongaware to Executive Director of the Chamber. In her new position, Marjorie will continue to do all the things she did as Office Manager but she will also focus on growing membership and event planning.

The ETI faculty and staff and the CareerLink staff applaud Marjorie's success and offer our congratulations on her promotion and best wishes for her continued success.