ONE ON ONE, ONE BY ONE

It is with tearful eyes but pride-filled hearts that we announce the dissolving of our beloved One on One, One by One Program. One on One as it is often referred to is the very heart of what Royal American was created for- the urge to provide better lives to those in our community. While RA was established to provide safe and affordable homes for everyone, One-on-One came into fruition to further that mission by extending a hand to our fellow citizens and lift them up.

One on One, One by One is a non-profit service provider that assists in various welfare reform programs and workforce development services. They support all of Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties in the Panhandle of Florida. The program has been serving these communities for over 20 years and has assisted thousands of individuals with workforce services. The program staff provides the necessary support to families who have significant barriers to finding and retaining employment. The One-on-One program staff provides the necessary tools, resources, referrals, training, and career development for clients who need careful and strategic planning in getting back into the workforce. One on One caters to all ages and manages many programs including the Welfare Transition Program (WT) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) that serves (ABAWDs) Able-Bodied Adults without Dependent Children between the ages of 18-49.

Over the years, One on One has impacted the lives of thousands in the community with their commitment, dedication, and unwavering support. They have put so much heart into what they do and we have been honored to watch them flourish over the years.

This program was fortunate to have an incredible team that ensured its success. It included Julie Ramirez; Program Coordinator, Carlas Wodford; WT (Welfare Transition)/ SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Supervisor, and Eva Woods; SNAP Career Manager. We are so impressed with these women and how far they have carried this program. Below is a little about each of their achievements and experiences throughout their time with One-on-One.

JULIE RAMIREZ

The One on One program with Royal American Management has been a rewarding experience. The program helped thousands of individuals transition from Welfare to Work over the years.

I have worked with the program for over 15 years. I started my career as an Assessment Specialist with CareerSource Gulf Coast providing career assessments to RAM clients. In 2007, I applied for a job opening with RAM and was hired as a Career Counselor for a special workforce grant to provide sponsor training for healthcare workers to assist with advancing in the healthcare field. In this position I enrolled over 175 employees into short-term training which led to advancements and promotions I was able to learn other jobs within the programs as a Ticket to Career Manager where I served individuals with disabilities and helped them return to the workforce. I then became Career Trainer, Proctor, Outreach Specialist and finally, the Program Coordinator. In these positions I provided resume and job search assistance, proctored hundreds of career assessments, shared job searching techniques, soft skills training, time management, stress management, employability skills, shared community resources including; employment services, educational & training opportunities.

I am grateful for the experience working with the One on One program.

Royal American Management is an amazing company and I am proud to continue my career as a Community Manager.

CARLAS WODFORD

I started 12/1/1999. I first started out as an Administrative Assistant. At the time of my 90-day Follow-up One on One had received a grant for the Welfare Transition Program. I received a promotion and became the Career Manager due to my prior knowledge of the program. I have worked as an Upfront Career Manager, Operations Manager/Medical Career Manager as well as my current position is the WT (Welfare Transition)/ SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Supervisor. I also currently carry a case load as the WT Fulltime Career Manager. These positions cover all 3-Counites Bay, Gulf and Franklin.

I have been a Trainer/Trainee for the System we currently use for the Programs. I am currently training to be a Trainer/Trainee with the new system we are moving too.

Awards Received:

· Florida Certified Workforce Professional-2021

· League of Heroes Award, Florida Workforce Development Association- 2021

· Mental Health First Aid Certification-National Council for Behavioral Health- 2018

· TABE- Test of Adult Basic Education Certification- 2015

· Award of Excellence for Outstanding Community Service- 2006

· State pf Florida Top Performance Awards- Years 2003, 2004 and 2005

I strive every day to help each client be a better them and to achieve their employment or training goals.

I strive to be the best employee I can and to be a role model for all Staff I supervise.

Royal American Management Company has been a great company to have worked for these last 23 and ½ years. I feel so blessed to have worked for such a great company these many years.

EVA WOODS

I started with Ram in October 2002 as an Intake Specialist with the YES Program (youth employment services program. I was promoted to Youth Case Manager within a few months. Out of the 4 – employees with the youth program I continued to work with the program grant for several years and when the grant ended, I worked with the WT program as Operations Assistant working with upfront services, teaching WT Orientation, writing upfront childcare referrals, issuing gas cards and transitional services as well. The next position was Snap program Career Manager and was asked to step in to assist with the youth program after hurricane Michael. I assisted with coordinating numerous C.N.A. Classes with several nursing homes in Bay County alongside the youth program and SNAP program.

I have been nominated twice to represent our region for Florida Workforce Professional Award. I was recognized from the One on One, One by One program with CareerSource Gulf Coast as the 2019

recipient of the Workforce Champion Award. There is only 24 CareerSource Regions throughout the state of Florida and was the one nominee representing our entire Region 4.

A NOTE FROM JULIE: The Workforce Professional Champions Award was established with the purpose of honoring those individuals on the frontline within the workforce system who demonstrates traits and characteristic worthy of emulation.

Recipients of this award serve as teachers, role models and confidante to their peers as we prepare the workforce of today for the economic structure of tomorrow. These individuals should be recognized for sharing their expertise and transferring their knowledge in a capacity that goes far beyond the standard expectation of the job.

A little personal background- I lived at one of RAM’s properties for 8 years before employment with RAM. I lived at Royal Arms Garden Apartments and Denise Dean and Pasty North were the Property Managers. While living at Royal Arms I went back to school at Haney for Administrative Assistant and upon completion of the course , I was offered a job with Haney Workforce. While working at Haney, I purchased my home and received my mortgage loan through People’s First Bank with Diane Owens. I knew I wanted to work with Royal American Management because I was so impressed by Mr. Chapman and everything his company did for the community and how he always strived to put people first! While working at Haney I assisted with Coordinating services with Jan Barton and Staff with the One on One Program and once the grant ended and my job with Haney ended, I contacted Jan Barton with One on One and she hired me October 28, 2002. In 2003 I got married to my husband and we had our wedding at the Boardwalk Beach Resort

I say all of this to let you know what an important role Royal American has been in my life. I am truly grateful and honored for the opportunity to work with the One on One Program at Royal American Management for the past 20+ years. I have come to consider Ram as family, I’ve had the opportunity to work with 2 of the best organizations around. I will truly miss working with Royal American and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue to work with CareerSource Gulf Coast.

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