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…
It’s never too late to achieve your goals. Take Gerri, for example. In the sixth grade, back in 1967, she knew she wanted to be a Certified Nursing Aide. Now, at the age of 65, she can cross that off her list. Back in January, Gerri…
Before Anthony Price decided he wanted to get his commercial driver’s license, he worked odd jobs around Covington, Va. And while he managed to get by, there was always a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. “What happens when this one ends?” “Is this…
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try (and try and try) again. Julian, a student in the FastForward Certified Nursing Aide program, did just that. After graduating high school, Julian had dreams of working in healthcare, but growing up in a small town in West…
For 14 years, Greg Seals spent his days in the coal mines. He worked hard, day in and day out, to support his wife and four children. But when Blackjewel, a coal mining company with operations around the country, filed for bankruptcy and ultimately laid off…
Up until a few years ago, Allen Miller’s only experience with asphalt was driving and shooting hoops on it. He didn’t think about the process behind combining a semi-solid form of petroleum with aggregate particles through a highly controlled mixing process. He didn’t pay attention to…
Finding the right study buddy can be a challenge. You want to make sure you partner up with someone who understands you – how you like to study, how you like to communicate back and forth. For Kacie and Heather, who are currently enrolled in FastForward…
For Danielle, a new bundle of joy meant a need for change. Just a few months before enrolling in the FastForward, she had her second child and realized she needed a more consistent schedule that would allow her the time she needed to provide for her…
At first, Colin was a landscaper and a car porter for a body shop. He wasn’t making much money and it was difficult for him to get by. But when he heard about the quality of Lord Fairfax Community College’s FastForward program and the guaranteed interview…