Taking Back Control of Career Destiny with Help from National Able Network
June 8, 2021

Dane Watkins had been out of work for over 26 weeks and felt he was unable to re-enter the engineering field due to lack of project management certifications. “I was laid off, and felt helpless and that I couldn’t do…
Equity Blog Series | Start with Leaders
June 1, 2021

In April 2018, I became CEO of National Able Network and I had a long time to think about my priorities. My predecessor, Grace Powers, had announced her retirement almost a full year earlier and prepared me to be her…
Career Resources and Networking Lead to a New Career Path
May 28, 2021

When Noelle Hardy was laid off from her previous job, she connected with National Able Network (Able) to help her transition to a new career pathway. She attended an orientation session to learn more about resources that were available to…
Retiree Returns to Workforce for Dream Career!
May 18, 2021

After spending eight years in retirement, Lorry Charak wanted to get back to work. Although he had a lifelong career in commodities trading and sales, Lorry wanted to pursue a new career path this time around. His daughter, who was…
Older Americans Month 2021: Resume Do’s and Don’ts for Older Job Seekers
May 13, 2021

Job hunting can be stressful, and even more so in a world where we rely on virtual first impressions. For older job seekers with years of experience, the good news is that your resume can be a wonderful first impression…
Equity Blog Series | On the Journey to Equity
April 30, 2021

Six years ago, I got a chance to work with a leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We were in a group workshop talking about the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), which measures cross cultural agility on a scale from…
Seventy-three and Thriving in Senior Services!
February 3, 2021

Margit Altstadt had been working in the department of health in Champaign, Illinois for several years until she was laid off at the age of 62. “It was hard to find a job at that age,” she said, but that…
Senior Gains New Skills for a New Career!
January 22, 2021

Steve Deon worked as a supervisor for two residential buildings in Minnesota, overseeing the maintenance and cleaning staff. He enjoyed his work, but when he was diagnosed with cancer, he moved to Illinois to be closer to family. “I had…
Finding a Dream Career During the COVID-19 Pandemic
December 29, 2020

When Keith Tody began looking for employment at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic he attended a fair at Truman College on Chicago’s north side. There, he met Elliott Esparza from National Able Network (Able), who told Keith about IT…
Career Jump Starts with National Able Network
December 23, 2020

Jeremy Leeper had always wanted to obtain his Commercial Drivers License (CDL), but he was afraid that some past issues with the law would prevent him from achieving that goal. “Like most human beings I have a somewhat rocky background,”…
The Most EPIC Career Journey
December 21, 2020

Steven Scholtes had always dreamed of working in the information technology (IT) industry, but for years he worked in the retail and restaurant industries to get by. That didn’t last. “I had a job dishwashing and cooking in a restaurant,…
Mom Finds Career Passion in Medical Field
November 5, 2020

Masgelah Sullivan came to National Able Network seeking to positively change her employment situation. She had been pursuing her education with the goal of a stable career for many years, but something about this time, when she connected with National…