Virginia’s Community Colleges have helped to train thousands of students who have gone on to get certified for a wide-range of skilled trades careers across the Commonwealth. From certified nursing aids and clinical medical assistants to heavy equipment operators and truck drivers, we’re training Virginians for the open…
Philip Stiltner, a native of Buchanan County, Va., began working in the coal mines at 18. A lot of hard work, followed by multiple layoffs, led him to make a change and move to Manassas to work as a electrical groundsman. Stiltner, however, deeply missed his…
Career training enrollment can feel like a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are five tips to make the career training enrollment process painless so you can get on your way to a new and improved career. Do your research. Before committing to a…
A FastForward education at your local community college prepares individuals for a career in an in-demand field right in their community. Programs to earn a credential or certification, many stackable, take just a few short weeks and run year-round. Whether you’re starting in the summer, fall,…
Jo Lynn Kelley, or JJ as she likes to be called, is an over-the-road long haul trucker with a not-so-hidden talent that goes beyond her CDL credentials. JJ enrolled in a FastForward CDL training program at Eastern Shore Community College and graduated from the program in January 2020. By March, she…
A quality education comes in many shapes and sizes. For some, that means living on campus at a four-year school and for others, it’s attending their local community college. Peyton Stallard happened to do both, securing a new job after earning a second education at Mountain…
Voncilita, or “Vonnie,” grew up on the [Eastern] Shore. Originally from Painter, she developed an early interest in big trucks that were a fixture in her neighborhood. The sight of a tractor trailer could be intimidating to a young child, with the sheer size and the…
Life on the Eastern Shore might mean immense wealth, but for many, it is the daily grind of just getting by. Isaiah knows that grind well, and after tragedy and hardship – and then throw a pandemic on top of it – he knew he had…
According to the Virginia Employment Commission, by 2026, there are expected to be 2.6M middle-skilled jobs in Virginia – jobs that require some training, but not a four-year degree. There is a skills gap in Virginia’s workforce, and FastForward aims to bridge the gap. Each year,…
You don’t go into healthcare because you think the benefits are good. There’s blood, there are tears, and there are days where you have to go through some terrible situations. But it was one of those tough situations that fueled Jordyn’s passion for helping others in…