“Through the Eyes Of” is a recurring series from Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) that shares the stories of people across our region, capturing the moments that shape our community through those who experience them firsthand. Grounded in perspective and place, each installment explores how broader community efforts take shape in individual lives.

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative (CareerEdge) is a workforce initiative designed to help people build skills and move into new or advancing roles, while supporting employers across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, skilled trades, and transportation. Unlike more traditional training models, this work is guided by what employers in the region are actively seeking, with programs developed alongside local education and training partners to prepare people for roles that are already in demand. The result is a more direct path from training to employment, with opportunities ranging from Certified Nursing Assistants to diesel mechanics, HVAC technicians, and other skilled trades, all connected to real jobs needed here at home.

CareerEdge was built on a rare kind of partnership - one that brought together community foundations, government, and the private sector from day one. Gulf Coast was a founding funder, joined by area partners including Sarasota County Government and the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, alongside corporate partners Florida Blue, Bank of America, and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.  Since its launch in 2010, this collaborative approach has led to nearly $20 million invested in workforce development, more than 2,000 jobs created, and nearly $45 million in new wages and raises generated across the region.

Behind these numbers are individuals taking the next step for themselves. Their experiences offer a closer look at how programs like CareerEdge show up in real ways.

Marissa Owens
Certification Achieved: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
CareerEdge Program: Health Connection / LEARN (Sarasota Memorial Hospital)
Current Place of Work: Sarasota Memorial Hospital

After taking time away from her career to raise her children, Marissa Owens knew she wanted to return to her work in healthcare, specifically Mother-Baby care. Supporting her family remained her top priority, even as she moved through roles that didn’t align with her career goals. A connection from high school ultimately opened the door to a path back to the field that had truly fulfilled her.

“It was seamless. They made it really easy. I literally didn’t pay a single dime except for my scrubs. So that was huge, because I didn’t have a lot of extra money that I could put towards school at that time, and through Career Edge, I was able to do it without paying anything pretty much. And I didn’t have to miss out on a paycheck. Like I said, that was huge, because I have two little kids at home that are counting on me. Once I graduated from the program, I was able to get my dream job working in Mother-Baby. One of my friends from high school had posted that they were looking to fill a tech position, and with my CNA license that I was able to obtain, I was able to apply for that position and essentially get my foot in the door again, but working directly in the department that I’ve always dreamed of working in.”

Dilon Petzke
Certification Achieved: EPA 608 Universal Certification
CareerEdge Program: American Vocational Academy (AVA)
Current Place of Employment: TriCounty Air; AVA instructor

After relocating from Wisconsin, Dilon Petzke came to Florida in search of a new direction. With a background in food service, he was ready for work that would give him more independence while staying rooted in service—something practical and needed in Florida, like air conditioning. Early on, he applied widely for other types of service roles but found few leads. A connection to CareerEdge ultimately helped him get started, opening the door to a path he’s continued to build.

“I came down to Florida and I started doing interviews. I couldn’t get any of the plumbing companies to call me back. They kept telling me that they would call me when the season picked up. But I could actually get in to do interviews with HVAC companies, but nobody would ever call me back, and when I would call them back, there would be some kind of back and forth and they would end up hiring somebody who has minimal experience, but more experience than I had.

At some point, I found something online about CareerEdge and I got a hold of Kevin Golumbeck (Director of CareerEdge for the Greater Sarasota Chamber), and he did an interview with me. He gave me my scholarship to AVA. I told him that if he accepted me for this scholarship, he could be sure that any of the skills that I developed, I would redeploy into the community myself, because that was really where my heart was at. It’s like, ‘Hey, what’s the point if you’re not building things around you?’”

Lilian Del Carmen Alvarez González
Certification Achieved: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
CareerEdge Program: Meridian West Central College / Lutheran Services Florida
Current Place of Employment: Inspired Living at Hidden Lakes

After leaving her life and career as a doctor behind in her native Cuba, Lilian Del Carmen Alvarez Gonzalez set out to begin again in Florida. While the healthcare system differed from what she had known, her commitment to empathetic care — particularly for patients with dementia — remained unchanged. Through connections with local agencies, she found a program that met her needs and allowed her to continue providing the kind of care that matters most to her.

*Translated from Spanish

“I am a person originally from Cuba. I immigrated to the United States, and I worked many years in the healthcare sector. I am a doctor by profession in my country. And I was assisted by Lutheran Services of Florida. They have very extensive community work. I’m grateful for having found this program, where they provide guidance to refugee families while they adapt to new opportunities and resources within the community. Through Lutheran Services of Florida, I learned about CareerEdge and the CNA program. 

A selection process was carried out, interviews took place, and I had the opportunity to participate in the first hybrid (Spanish and English) CNA program they were going to do here in Sarasota.

I am starting over again, I am studying again, finding my direction in a new country. Despite having years of experience, despite having a medical knowledge base, one has to adapt to new protocols, language, documentation system, and work culture, which required humility, discipline, and perseverance.”

Original Spanish:

“Yo soy una persona procedente de Cuba. Emigrada a los Estados Unidos. Y que trabajé muchísimos años en el sector salud. Soy médico de profesión en mi país. Y fui atendida por el Servicio de Lutheran Service, FL. Un trabajo comunitario muy amplio que tiene. Agradecida por haber encontrado este programa. Donde ellos realizan una orientación a las familias refugiadas mientras se adaptan a las nuevas oportunidades y recursos dentro de la comunidad.

A través de ellos supe de CareerEdge y del programa de CNA. A través de esta entidad fue que tuvimos la comunicación con CareerEdge. Se realizó un proceso de selección, entrevistas, y comenzó el proyecto con el proyecto de CNA híbrido. El primer proyecto que iban a hacer acá en Sarasota. O sea, el primer proyecto que se hacía en español y tuve la oportunidad de participar.

Obstáculos, eh, estoy volviendo a empezar, estoy volviendo a estudiar, a encausarme en un nuevo país. Como obstáculo me tuve que adaptar, conocer, la experiencia como tal de enfrentarme a un nuevo sistema, un nuevo entorno de salud. A pesar de tener años de experiencia, a pesar de tener un conocimiento médico de base, hay que adaptarse a nuevos protocolos, idioma, sistema de documentación, cultura laboral. Lo que requiere humildad, disciplina, y perseverancia.”

Each of these stories reflects how growth takes shape across our community, one person at a time. As individuals build skills and find their footing, that effort strengthens the workplaces, families, and communities around them. Over time, it adds up: through CareerEdge, more than 8,500 individuals have been trained and more than 10,000 certifications and degrees have been earned in the last 16 years. It’s a reminder of what can take shape when people have space to learn, grow, and contribute in ways that feel meaningful—and how that can change the course of what feels possible.