“It [Job Corps] was the best decision I ever made.”
Vernon Taylor showed up to work one day at Long John Silver’s and everything was being taken down. The restaurant was closing without notice. Vernon had quit high school in ninth grade and was working there to help support his family. Without a job, Vernon’s grandmother suggested Job Corps as a great option to further his education. His uncles previously attended Job Corps, so they knew the program was a great first step toward a career. Vernon decided to enroll at Great Onyx Job Corps in Mammoth Cave, Ky.
“Everything I experienced, I wouldn’t change it because it shaped me into who I am today.”
Vernon became the Student Government Association (SGA) president and shared dorm and peer mentorship responsibilities. The skills he learned not only in his business training but serving as SGA president have helped him throughout his career. The center director was his biggest influencer and mentor at Job Corps.
“As president, I worked closely with the center director, Ms. Mattie C. Seals, and learned a lot from her. She was one of the strongest Black women I had ever met in my life, and she reminded me of my grandmother. Ms. Seals was self-assured, a straight shooter, and dedicated to her students’ success, and held everyone to a high standard.”
While on campus, Vernon gained several on-the-job experiences, including working in a high school office and an internship at the Mammoth Cave National Park, which led to how his career began.
Job Corps and the Park Service’s collaborating helped Vernon begin his career. He was in the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) in Kentucky and then the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) at the Tuskegee National Historic Site in Alabama. His SCEP experience turned into a permanent role at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Atlanta, Ga.
Over his 21-year career, Vernon has worked for both agencies, the Park Service and Forest Service. His main experience has been in program management, and most of his career has been spent with the Job Corps program.
“I discovered a desire to work with youth and give back to the program that had helped me. I was selected for a job at Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in North Carolina and was quickly promoted to positions of more responsibility where I was able to help youth complete their education, learn leadership skills and start meaningful careers.”
Vernon worked on Forest Service centers from 2002 up until 2019. In 2019, he took a detail to the National Forest Systems Deputy Chief’s Office and became permanent that July. The following year, Vernon took two details. One was with Business Operations Deputy Area as the Special Assistant to the Job Corps National Director for five months, and the second was with the National Forest of Alabama Supervisor’s Office as the Recreation Specialist.
Vernon was recently promoted to the Forest Fleet and Equipment Manager for the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Ariz., where he currently works.
“Whatever you put in is what you’re going to get out of it. Don’t be afraid of the unknown, and try something different because it just may work out for you.”
One of Vernon’s biggest highlights was helping reestablish a program called Pay It Forward with other Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers alumni. This program was initiated by Clara Johnson, Job Corps liaison, U.S. Forest Service. Pay It Forward motivates Job Corps students to pursue success and consider careers in natural resources. It was funded through the fire program initially; but Vernon and other alumni wanted it to be sustainable, so they helped align it with the Job Corps National Office. Pay It Forward is still active within the U.S. Forest Service campuses, and Vernon hopes that it will continue for years to come.
Vernon has used the technical and interpersonal skills he learned at Job Corps throughout his career. He understands the importance of working with people who may be different from himself. Vernon continues to gain a vast amount of experience on his details and, moving forward, aspires to become a district ranger.
“Job Corps gave me the opportunity to learn and achieve goals strategically, without an environment filled with distractions. As a result, I was able to flourish and participate in various opportunities that prepared me for the future.”
Interview with the National Job Corps Association (TevTalks): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CL-B2SIDKm6/?igshid=1r11vvuvum2pp
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2000 Employer: Forest Fleet and Equipment Manager, U.S. Forest Service – Coronado National Forest, Arizona Hometown: Waycross, Georgia Phone: 202-591-5740 Email: vernon.taylor@usda.gov Submitted by: Becca Sweredoski Notes:
Source: Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service (Jesse Casterson, MA – Realignment Coordinator – Forest Service)