NEW ORLEANS CAREER CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NAMED OFFICER OF CITY’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Amy B. Ferguson
Amy@fergusonfreelance.com, 504.343.7536
NEW ORLEANS, La., September 15, 2021 – New Orleans Career Center Founding Executive Director Claire Jecklin has been tapped to chair the Youth Committee of the New Orleans Workforce Development Board (NOWDB). The Youth Committee Chair serves as the liaison between NOLA Youth Works and the NOWDB and as convener of leaders of existing youth collaborative tables across New Orleans. The Committee will provide advice and counsel to the NOWDB in developing appropriate programming for Youth Works and in reviewing and recommending for approval the budget of funds available to support youth development programming.
Jecklin has served as a member of the NOWDB since 2019.
Since NOCC was first awarded its independent 501(c)3 status in 2017, Claire has stood at the helm. She has built the NOCC team, steered the organization from startup funding to a stable and sustainable financial model, led the development of its operational capacity, and forged necessary partnerships with area schools, employers, and higher education institutions. Claire and her team hoped to open NOCC with 20 students. More than 130 high school trainees dove into their career prep pathways in the fall of 2018. In March of 2020, as the COVID pandemic became reality, Claire developed and launched an intensive adult re-skilling program to serve those predicted to lose jobs.
Today, she leads a team of 18 highly accomplished professionals at NOCC, challenging them daily to show up, innovate, and deliver high-quality programs and results. In just three years, NOCC has guided more than 750 high school and adult trainees through its pathways and programs. As a result of her leadership, NOCC trainees are ready to compete - in career, in college, often both -- immediately upon graduation.
Claire also serves on the City’s COVID-19 Re-Opening Task Force, YouthForce NOLA Community Steering Committee, and participates in the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions. A member of the National Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Claire holds a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in English.
About New Orleans Career Center
The New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) connects Orleans Parish high school students and adults with clear pathways to high-demand, high-wage careers in healthcare, engineering and hospitality. Trainees develop the valuable hard and soft skills they need to succeed in professional environments through hands-on learning with industry and education experts. In 2018, NOCC welcomed its first class of 124 into three credential/certification pathways – healthcare, hospitality, and engineering/manufacturing. In 2020, NOCC launched an intensive Rapid Reskill program to train and credential adults 18 and older as certified Patient Care Technicians. To date, NOCC has trained more than 725 high school students and more than 100 adults. For more information visit www.nolacc.org.