Today I want to share the story of a recent graduate of the CLC, Inc. MAAT Program. Eric Pardo served the United States for 16 years in the Army before finding his way to CLC to begin a new chapter of his life.

-Troy

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for all that the CLC team has done for me. Upon entering the Aerospace Training Program, I spoke with Troy Bottem and Andre Palinkas about some of the challenges I was facing but I would like to take the time to share the bigger picture and the tremendous impact the CLC team has made and changing the trajectory of my life.

I was a Medic in the Army for over 16 years and passionate about my work. Being a Paratrooper Medic was my identity, but I was injured while in the service and I was required to medically retire. This turn of events hit me hard because it was not part of my original plan to finish a 20 year career in the military and then consider retirement. At that point I not only needed to figure out what I was going to do next, I also needed to figure out how to be a husband as I was recently married. The sudden changes, injuries, and major life events made the transition processes overwhelming.

Shortly after my medical retirement, my wife and I separated. I was grievously lost, but I needed to maintain my resilience. I convinced myself to go to college in San Antonio to pursue the obvious career path that aligned most with my experience in the service, nursing. However, as I advanced through the coursework in the degree plan, my anxiety was triggered. I quickly realized nursing was not the path I was supposed to pursue. My transitions continued when my ex-wife and daughter moved to Fort Worth. I followed, to remain close to my child and transferred to the University of North Texas. Just as I was completing my studies, the Covid Pandemic happened and I was unable to continue working towards my degree in Sports Psychology. I ended up receiving a Bachelor's Degree of Applied Arts and Science and an Associates Degree of Science in May of 2021. Confident that I would easily find employment, 4 months later and over 150 applications, I was unable to find a job that I was qualified for.

At this point it was getting harder and harder to maintain my resiliency. I was running out of money and I was quickly running out of ideas as to how I was going to keep my head above water. I was referred to the CLC and introduced to Frank Filice, a Coin Case Manager. In addition to coaching me through my financial crisis, Frank helped me feel less isolated by sharing his story and his ability to relate to my situation. I was able to trust Frank and his expertise. Thanks to him, my financial crisis became manageable. Frank was able to help me get out of financial distress and wanted to make sure I would not find myself there again. He asked me what my plan was to stay out of the hole and if I was open to taking some courses at the CLC. I told him I was very open to the idea of going through some specialized training. The way I looked at it was, if I can find a way to sustain myself then I would not need to keep looking for help . Frank introduced me to Krystle Kaszuba, a Veteran Case Manager. She provided me with in depth information and resources about the various training opportunities offered at the CLC. Unfamiliar with all of the programs, Krystle went through each program to find the one that best suited my particular needs and interests. The fact that Frank and Krystle both have a military background made me feel I was being taken care of by my family. Their knowledge and compassion allowed me to open up and enable them to help me.

The program I found most interesting was the Manufacturing and Aerospace Assembly Training (MAAT) Program. Krystle provided me with information and connected me with the course director. I applied to the program in August 2021 and was excited to receive an invitation to begin the course in November 2021. Krystle checked on me on a regular basis and tracked my progress throughout the duration of my training. This shows how much she and Frank genuinely care about each of their clients.

The MAAT course director Troy Bottem and lead instructor Andre Palinkas are both incredible instructors. They are able to connect with each student and teach in a manner we can relate to and understand. They deliver clear and direct instruction that enables students to use the knowledge gained through experience and hands-on strategies. I have always been interested in aircraft but I had no clue how to get into the aerospace industry. The passion and enthusiasm that Troy and Andre display in their teaching made me excited to come to class and do my best because I knew my instructors truly cared, not just about my success, but that of each individual in the class. They gave us room to make mistakes and were ready and willing to not only go over what was wrong, but why the mistakes occurred as to ensure it does not happen again. I was not quite sure how this class was going to aid in my obtaining a job as I had never done anything like this before, but with their help I developed the skills and confidence to graduate first in my class. Troy and Andre assisted me in my resume writing and referred us to potential employers in the area.

Almost immediately upon graduation, I received an interview and employment offer with Qarbon Aerospace as a Bonder. I consulted with Troy and Andre about accepting the position, discussing the pros and cons. They helped me see the benefits in gaining additional experience while I continue to hunt for a better opportunity closer to home and competitive pay. I am glad I listened, as I was able to implement most of what I learned in class on a daily basis. I am happy to say that with their help and mentorship, I was able to obtain employment at Lockheed Martin as a Low Observable Bonder. The skills I acquired from the MAAT Program enable me to be a successful member of the employment team regardless of the company that hires me.

CLC has made a tremendous impact in my personal and professional world. I cannot thank the Community Learning Center enough for empowering me and giving me a second chance to start a new career. I am excited to begin this new chapter in my life and the CLC family has been there the entire time. Thank you for all that you do, have done, and continue doing for the community.

V/R
Eric Pardo