Pub. 7 2017-2018 Issue 1

20 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S FEATURE ARTICLE JESSICA HUDGINS SMITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF DENVER The eight-week intensive course is FREE for students and provides training in the skills needed for jobs as tellers, customer service representatives, and personal bankers. BankWork$ Celebrates Third Graduating Class in Denver Goodwill Industries of Denver is thrilled to celebrate its third class of graduat- ing BankWork$ students! 19 future bankers received their certificates endorsedby theColo- radoBankersAssociation ina ceremonyheldon Tuesday, May 23 at the Commons on Champa inDowntownDenver. BankWork$ trains adults from low income and minority communities for lasting careers in the financial services industry. The eight-week intensive course is FREE for students and provides training in the skills needed for jobs as tellers, customer service representatives, and personal bankers. A national program, BankWork$ launched in Denver in August of 2016 and is facilitated by Goodwill Industries of Denver. A hiring event was held immediately fol- lowing the graduation ceremony giving the graduates an opportunity to interview for open positions at several partnering banks including Academy Bank, Bank of America, Bank of the West, Community Banks of Colorado, Fitzsi- mons Credit Union, Key Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. In Denver, the average job place- ment rate after graduation is85%, and this class is well on its way to surpassing the average! Throughout the eight-week session, stu- dents not only mastered the technical skills they need to excel in banking, but also focused on soft skills that are fundamental to building customer relationships as a trusted consultant. “We are committed to changing the lives of our participants from the inside out,” said Candice Sporhase-White, BankWork$ Program Coor- dinator of Goodwill Industries of Denver. “We provide a pipeline of qualified and committed candidates toour bankpartners. Our graduates have demonstrated their commitment to a ca- reer in the banking industry through intensive unpaid training.” Interested in becoming a bank partner? To get involved in this program, please contact Kelly Stangel-Martin at kstangel-martin@ goodwilldenver.org. BankWork$ classes are held in the training room located inside theGoodwill retail store at 15509 E. Iliff Avenue in Aurora. Currently in its summer session, interested individuals can apply for thenext sessionbeginning September 12 by sending an email to: Bankwork$@good- willdenver.org . 