Grace Notes: Happy New (Fiscal) Year!

It is always a challenge to look back over 12 months, 365 days, and 8,760 hours and pick out one or two game-changing events from the year. This year is no exception, but there are a few that stand out. Over the past year, National Able Network has added thirty new professionals to its staff, each of whom has brought new ideas, new energy and a strong commitment to service. Every department has benefitted, most especially our rapidly growing IT Career Lab that was recognized by somewhat astonished executives at Cisco as having the highest certification rates in the region. The team has ambitious expansion plans underway involving wonderful new partnerships with Prairie State College, Lake County, and several youth services providers. Able made the news this year with the acquisition of the CareerPlace and Executive Network Group who joined the Able family, bringing us innovative new service practices and some terrific new Board members. And in November, the national Walmart Foundation bestowed a $1M grant on us to develop retail middle skills training. This ground-breaking program will pilot this August in Indiana and Illinois, and rollout to scale in the new year.
We are excited about our plans for growth this year and extremely grateful to all of you who have – and who will – make them possible.