In April, three more veterans earned their Building Operator Certification (BOC) in Chicago and are now actively seeking new career opportunities. As part of the BOC program, MEEA and the State of Illinois connect unemployed and underemployed graduates with a network of Employment Partners who work to assist these veterans with career development. In 2015, Employment Partners Franklin Energy, CLEAResult, Ecova, Nexant, Lockheed Martin and Illinois AMVETS assisted with resume reviews and shared new job opportunities. Veterans Program Mentor ComEd assisted five veterans with homework completion during the course of the series.
MEEA is proud to highlight three recent graduates.
Lamar Gougis
In addition to receiving his Building Operator Certification in May in Chicago, Lamar Gougis also completed his A.A.S. in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at Kennedy-King College in 2014.
“I now have an excellent understanding of theory in the construction of HVAC system, chillers and electrical systems,” Gougis said. “I’m also well-versed in installation and blueprint assessment.”
Gougis spent two years as a Quality Control Supervisor for the U.S. Marines, inspecting hazardous equipment and maintaining technical data from the Federal Logistics Systems. Gougis is looking for an opportunity to start a career in the operations and maintenance field with an entry-level position.
Christopher Myers
Christopher Myers, originally from Chicago, has been working in operations and maintenance for over 20 years. Since being honorably discharged in 1980 from the U.S. Navy, Myers has been working as an industrial electrician and a field HVAC Repair technician.
“I love the job of repairing, monitoring, and being able to get the equipment running again in the shortest time period,” Myers said.
In January, Myers was accepted into the BOC Veterans Scholarship program and began classes in Chicago. “My favorite part about the BOC program is the lessons information booklet, how easy and clear that the information was to understand.”
Myers is currently searching for an entry-level position in the operations and maintenance field, preferably HVAC, Electrical or Solar maintenance.
Fulton Bond
Fulton Bond started the BOC Program in January in Chicago with four years of experience as an electrician and maintenance weapon repairman for the U.S. Army. With a background in both teaching and IT, Bond is seeking a challenging entry-level position in the operations and maintenance field where he can continue to develop his comprehensive skillset.
“I’m hoping to find a position that has some room for growth,” Bond said. “I’m looking forward to learning more.”