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When Aleyda Rodriguez came to work at Miami Job Corps Center (MJCC) over 14 years ago, she knew that she had found her “Home Center” and began to build a legacy for opening doors for her graduates. She had been the instructor at the UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters) local 1809 Apprenticeship program working with MJCC students and when the position at MJCC became available, she didn’t think twice since she always loved to work with them. Fast forward to today, Aleyda has been named Field Coordinator for the UBC-NJCTF, Inc. covering 6 of DOL’s Atlanta Region Job Corps Centers, including her “Home Center” of MJCC. Her goal has always been to exceed graduate placement goals and now she’ll accomplish this hopefully 6-fold.
Aleyda states about her favorite memory while an Instructor at MJCC is “while I have so many wonderful memories, my best memory is taking my first team of Carpentry trade graduates (Christopher Roman, Anthony Palermo, and Terricka Scott) to Arcadia, Florida for their team placement with Blattner Energy installing solar panels and watching them succeed and prosper.” This memory is of special significance because it was Aleyda’s first UBC Union collaboration outside her area. Matthew Swanson from The Orlando UBC Local 1905 had helped ensure the success of that team and the transition of many other successful grads into his UBC local union. The initial team told the rest of the MJCC students about their success which prompted a “snowball effect” that encouraged Aleyda and her students to do better. Aleyda stated that she works with her students daily on “how much a team can accomplish by sticking together.”
MJCC Center Director Mary Geoghegan said of Aleyda “She led the Career Technical Training Department for Placement Ranking for several years in a row, since I became Center Director. Record-setting Placement achievement was no accident, but a careful, caring, and well-executed plan to ensure every Carpentry graduate had the opportunity to get a great Union job. She supported her students every step of the way, and we are grateful to have had Aleyda as a member of our team and remain a member of our Village. Once family, always family!”
“The Job Corps students are our future, we need to take care of them. They are hungry to learn, work, better themselves and succeed. Give them a chance and your company will succeed too” proudly stated Aleyda. Her advice to others including her students is “the glue that holds your body and soul together is the commitment that you make to yourself
to do what’s right for you and others. This is the key to happiness.”
Long affiliated with the UBC, Aleyda is a member of local 1809, Warden to The Union Local 1809’s E-board, Labor Committee person to The Florida Carpenters JATC (Apprenticeship), and Executive Committee person to The Florida Carpenters Regional Council. Congratulations Aleyda on your new role with the UBC and with Job Corps students. May
you continue the legacy of filling these young hearts with happiness as they pursue a successful career.
