Building a Better Life in the Upper Peninsula

Building a Better Life in the Upper Peninsula A wonderful success for one of Michigan’s newest residents!  Vitalii and his family came to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from Ukraine, determined to build a better life. With support from his host family in Crystal Falls and Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, Vitalii overcame language and transportation barriers, earned his […]

See Us in Action! Tour

The See Us in Action! Tour Over the last couple weeks, our Business Services team kicked off the first two legs of our new See Us in Action Tours! From advanced engineering demonstrations and facility tours to employee testimonials, these visits showcase to state legislators how the Going PRO Talent Fund is helping employers across […]

Emma got ready to win.

Designing her Future: NMU Student Shines in Work Based Learning Emma S., an NMU Graphic Design student, is spending her summer working as the Marketing & Promotions Assistant for the City of Marquette’s Office of Arts & Culture through a UPMW Worked Based Learning (WBL). Her position has given her real-world, hands-on experience with many […]

Path to Becoming a Dental Assistant – Success Story

Path to Becoming a Dental Assistant Paige visited her local American Job Center to inquire about our services that she heard of through Bay College, where she was attending school part time. She was working concurrently at a local sporting goods store. Paige met with a talent services specialist (TSS) to complete an individual employment […]

Finding the Career You Always Envisioned

Finding the Career You Always Envisioned Drake was attending class at the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (DSISD) and wanted to further his education and earn a higher wage. Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! (UPMW) is a close partner with DSISD and learned of Drake’s situation. After assessing the options, UPMW and DSISD introduced Northern Machine […]

Helping a Single Mother Succeed in Nursing

Helping a Single Mother Succeed in Nursing   Melissa—a single mother—visited the Marquette American Job Center seeking cash assistance after having her child. She needed financial support to help her complete the Northern Michigan University nursing program. A talent services specialist worked with her through the PATH program. PATH funding enabled her to focus on […]

The Road to Success

The Road to Success   We first spoke with Connor during his junior year of high school. He was referred to Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! (UPMW) by his school counselor. Connor expressed interest in gaining experience with the Marquette County Road Commission (MCRC) early in conversations with his talent services specialist. At the beginning of […]

The Road to Self-Sustainability Results in Success

Makaelynn Marken was referred to Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! (UPMW) through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope. (PATH) program in February of 2024. Makaelynn is a single mother with one 6-year-old daughter, she was looking for ways to support her daughter and move forward in her career. She met […]

Support Through Trials and Tribulations 

Support through Trials and Tribulations Reina graduated from Northern Michigan University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. In July, she accepted her first teaching position at North Star Montessori Academy in Marquette, but she wasn’t living in the area, so she needed to move to start her new career. […]