Richard Doyle can proudly say he is an inaugural member of the Job Corps and Johnson & Johnson Vision (J&J) partnership. Richard has paved the way for future contact lens manufacturers as one of just three founding class members of the Advanced Manufacturing Production Technology training program at Jacksonville Job Corps.
“I found Job Corps because I come from a small area without a lot of opportunities, and I didn’t have a car. I needed to find something to do without having to rely on transportation. Living on campus was just what I needed.”
Richard found much more than just a place to live.
At Jacksonville, Richard not only was a leader in his training area, but also served in the Student Government Association as vice president where he did “a little bit of everything to help with the flow on campus.” This role ended up being a larger part of his Job Corps journey than he was expecting. It helped him grow skillsets he didn’t already have and improve his communication.
When COVID-19 hit, Richard was able to help his community through his work-based learning experience. Thanks to his computer technology skills, he worked for the Duval County Public Schools system setting up computers for students partaking in home schooling.
When Johnson & Johnson Vision decided to seek younger talent for their headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., their site trainer, Howard Parker, sought out Job Corps. Howard proposed the idea of creating a first-of-its-kind advanced training program where students could work on real JNJ machinery in a lab fully funded by the world-renowned company.
Richard, soon to be a Computer Technician graduate, learned about the program. He loved working with his hands and was destined to apply. Richard along with classmates Keyonte and Alex and who Richard calls their “very overqualified instructor,” Ceaso Lewis, embarked on this new journey together.
Today, Richard lives in his own apartment and excels at his job as a machine operator for J&J Vision. He recently began his transition into a technician role and is looking forward to expanding the knowledge he learned in the Job Corps training lab.
Johnson & Johnson Vision provides Richard and his fellow alums with great flexibility and benefits. Richard works 12-hour shifts three or four days a week and receives one month of vacation time per year. This schedule allows him to pursue other interests and enjoy his newfound independence. Richard would encourage Job Corps students to consider the Advanced Manufacturing Production Technology program not only because of the skills they will gain, but because they will have the opportunity to work for a company that values and appreciates their employees.
His biggest piece of advice is “Take every opportunity that you are given because the program is free. What is there to lose?”
Graduated from Job Corps in: December 2021 Employer: Machine Operator; Johnson & Johnson Vision; Jacksonville, Florida Hometown: Fort McCoy, Florida Phone: 352-537-0010 Submitted by: Sellars Huy Notes:
Source: Center
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