The Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail has turned to an Elizabethtown native to lead it.
Robin Gooden, who has an extensive background in program coordination, employee relations, project and team management, human relations and strategic planning, is the new career center manager, according to a release from the center.
“I was attracted to this position because it afforded me an opportunity to use my skills in community development, HR and helping others,” Gooden said in the release. “The Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail offers a variety of services, through collaborative partnerships with a variety of agencies, to help job seekers, out-of-school youth and veterans attain gainful employment.”
Prior to her new position, Gooden worked in human resources for a variety of organizations and worked for a local nonprofit agency assisting victims of sexual assault. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and management from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminology from Western Kentucky University.
The career center manager plays a crucial role as part of the One Stop System Operations team for the Lincoln Trail workforce development region.
In her new role, Gooden oversees the operations of the comprehensive center in Elizabethtown, three affiliate sites in Bardstown, Leitchfield and Lebanon, and an access point at Fort Knox, the release said. Gooden is responsible for coordinating partner programs to make the Kentucky Career Center a true “One-Stop Center” for customers seeking jobs and training as well as employers seeking talented employees.
“The Kentucky Career Center strives to ensure that customers receive high quality workforce-related services in a seamless manner,” Gooden said in the release. “My goal for this position is to make local connections to encourage employers and job seekers alike to leverage the services offered at no cost by the Kentucky Career Center.”
The Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board provides oversight of center and the employment and training activities paid for by the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act.
The center operates in collaboration with various agencies to provide a range of services aimed at assisting job seekers in their pursuit of meaningful employment, the release said. These services encompass career counseling designed to facilitate individuals in returning to the workforce, exploring new career paths or addressing any barriers they may encounter in securing employment. The center also offers vocational rehabilitation services, Job Corp services, community action support and resources for unemployment assistance.
The center provides dedicated interview rooms, conference spaces, and the option for employers to set up information tables to advertise, interview and recruit qualified candidates. Virtual job fairs, which create a digital platform for employers to connect with jobseekers, are offered the first and third Tuesdays of each month. To learn more about Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail, go to ltcareercenter.org.
