For many Georgia high schoolers and young adults, entering the workforce is a challenge without the proper skills, resources, and community support along the way. Technical skills in the workforce are important, but employability skills are critical for career success. That’s why Georgia Power partnered with 14 other organizations, including Atlanta Gas Light, local labor unions, and manufacturers like Georgia Pacific, Pirelli Tire, and VT Industries, in the You’re Employed and Skilled (YES) Workforce Academy.
Skills that unlock opportunity
The YES Workforce Academy launched its pilot program during the 2024–2025 school year in two locations, Clayton County Public Schools’ GED program and Rome City Schools College and Career Academy.The idea was straightforward but impactful: While schools teach both academic subjects and professional skills, students benefit tremendously when business and community leaders bring real-world experience to reinforce lessons about networking, workplace dynamics, and career readiness.
Camden Wallace, an Education Coordinator for Georgia Power, was able to see the impact of the YES Workforce Program firsthand: “The partnership between the Rome Floyd Chamber, Rome City Schools, Georgia Power, and local manufacturers was a testament to local leaders wanting to improve the workforce pipeline within the Rome community. It was an honor to be a part of this effort and to watch the students grow into capable individuals ready to enter the workforce.”
From GED to career path
Samuel Burnett Jr.’s story demonstrates YES Academy’s reach beyond traditional high school students. While earning his GED through Clayton County Public Schools’ Adult Education program in 2024, Burnett entered the YES Academy seeking direction on his next chapter. He found it.
“My experience with the YES program and now being employed at Pierce Powerlines has been nothing short of life-changing,” Burnett shared. “Through YES, I gained the skills, confidence, and direction I needed to grow personally and professionally. At Pierce, I found a supportive environment that truly believed in my potential. Together, they gave me the tools to succeed and the community to thrive in. When opportunity meets support, transformation happens.”
After completing YES and earning his OSHA 10 certification, Burnett pursued Electrical Lineworker Apprenticeship Certification at Atlanta Technical College, finishing in March of this year. He now works as a Safety Auditor at Pierce Powerlines.
Graduating with a game plan
Alexander Vazquez-Fonseca had a problem familiar to many high school seniors: no clear plan for after graduation. His hopes rested on a soccer scholarship until the YES Workforce Academy arrived at Rome High School with a different proposition: What if he could graduate with both a diploma and a job?
“Before the YES Academy, I was unsure about what I was going to do after high school,” Vazquez-Fonseca recalls. “I had no plans, and my main goal was to go to college on a soccer scholarship until the opportunity of the YES Academy arrived. I tried applying to many places for work with an unsure resume and no interviewing skills, but all that changed due to the YES Academy.”
Today, the 2025 Rome High graduate works for Georgia Pacific in an “amazing work environment that pays well,” having earned his OSHA 10 Construction certification through the program. He’s one of 26 from the YES Workforce Academy’s pilot year.
Building Georgia’s future workforce
The educators and business leaders behind YES see it not just as a jobs program, but a long-term investment in the state of Georgia.
“Two words come to mind when I think about the YES Workforce Academy: opportunity and investment,” said Nikia M. Johnson, Georgia Power’s Workforce Development Specialist. “Connecting Georgians to life-changing opportunities yields investments that will positively impact our communities and state.”
Ethan Branch, Director of Workforce for the Rome Floyd Chamber, witnessed the transformation firsthand. “The YES Workforce Academy offered an exceptional platform for students to connect with local career opportunities, ultimately strengthening our talent ecosystem. The curriculum, designed in collaboration with our advanced manufacturers, focused on equipping students with the skills needed to excel as future employees.”
As Georgia continues to attract major industries and manufacturing facilities, programs like YES Academy bridge the critical gap between education and employment, proving that sometimes the best college prep is job prep. With the successes of the YES Academy after just one year, Georgia Power is eager to continue tapping into these programs and helping to shape the future of our workforce.
