Success stories

For years, Karl Leone pursued a career in the entertainment industry, working behind the scenes on television and film productions for some of Hollywood’s biggest studios. After moving from New York to Los Angeles in 2016, he built an impressive résumé, working on productions for Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and Paramount while following his passion…

Mayra Garcia had already built years of experience in customer service. After leaving high school as a teenager and becoming a young mother, Mayra returned to school years later determined to earn her GED and create a different future for herself and her children. She worked in phone sales for 13 years before staying home…

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the economy, José Gonzalez suddenly found himself facing an uncertain future.  After working as a maintenance technician for Clear Development, where he handled repairs ranging from plumbing fixtures to electrical work, José was laid off as businesses downsized. Although he found temporary employment at a local Vons supermarket, he knew he…

After serving his country for 10 years and spending more than a decade helping others through customer service and vocational rehabilitation, Roberto Figueroa was ready for a new challenge.  What he didn’t know was that JVS SoCal’s ImagingWorks program would provide the opportunity to transform his experience into a rewarding healthcare career.  A U.S. military Veteran, Roberto served on active-duty delivering ammunition before…

When Catherine Cañar left Ecuador to begin a new life in the United States, she wasn’t leaving behind an uncertain future… she was leaving behind a successful career.  For seven years, Catherine worked for Banco Pichincha, Ecuador’s largest financial institution, where she steadily advanced through multiple leadership and technical roles. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and…

Like many of our nation’s restaurant industry workers, Citlali Cruz was feeling vulnerable and frustrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had dedicated years of his life to restaurants and suddenly his was closed, open, then closed again.    “In Los Angeles, people weren’t taking the virus seriously,” explains Citlali. “I wanted to do something where I was helping people who…

Angelina Avina was a stay-at-home mother to her three children for several years but found herself looking for opportunities that would allow her to support her family and open the possibility of one day buying her kids a house. However, after several years out of the workforce, she was not getting hired. Having worked at…

After more than 20 years in the restaurant industry, JoJo Acuna thought he had reached the limit of what his career could offer. He had spent decades balancing maintenance work, management responsibilities, and customer service, but despite his loyalty and experience, he no longer felt fulfilled. What once felt like stability had become exhaustion, stress,…