On Thursday, April 9th, Job Point hosted its 60th Anniversary Awards Banquet at the Courtyard by Marriott. A lively crowd gathered to celebrate the evenings’ honorees as Job Point rounded out its 60th year of serving central Missouri. Supporters helped raise more than $60,000 to help support Job Point’s greatest needs at the end of the evening, a record for the event!
Job Point announces and congratulates the following organizations and individuals from this year’s Awards ceremony.
Employer of the Year
When considering Employer of the Year, we look at not just how many people they’ve hired, but how well they support and encourage our students through internships and allowing job trials. We appreciate their communication with us and their willingness to provide feedback. This helps strengthen our programming so that we can better serve our students and our community.
In the past year, Walmart on West Broadway has provided employment opportunities for five of our YouthBuild students seeking supplemental income. Walmart allows our students a part time schedule so they can continue working on their high school equivalent diploma and gain vocational certifications.
People Lead, Diane Phillips, even threatens to reduce their hours if their attendance at Job Point slips. Seriously, though, one of the student employees said, “I love Ms. Diane. She is caring, loving, and very helpful.” In addition, Walmart has gone above and beyond to provide supports and accommodations for a candidate from Job Point’s Rehabilitation Services team.
This individual wanted to try working full time with the support of a Job Point coach. When it became apparent he would be more successful in a part time position, the management readily adjusted his role and hours. He has been happily working there for more than a year and a half, and just might be the person gathering items for your next online order.
Job Point is grateful to Walmart for its unwavering flexibility, and tireless support of Job Point’s mission. Thank you for doing all you can to ensure success for the people we serve.
The businesses that collaborate with Job Point are many and varied, from referring students, to guest speaking, providing a place for job-shadowing or trials, and everything in between. As we mentioned earlier, Job Point’s work is not possible without these vital partnerships.
Partner of the Year
This past year, we were fortunate to forge a collaboration with Columbia Metro Rotary. With their mission focused on youth, education and the environment, they adopted our YouthBuild program without hesitation. It was a perfect fit. Job Point already had a gardening program for our students to plant, tend and harvest vegetables and fruit. Rotary members expanded the experience by providing cooking connections classes for our YouthBuild students, many of whom had no prior experience in cooking from scratch, but learned they really liked the experience. These young students found great satisfaction in eating a meal they cooked themselves, and in seeing others enjoy a meal they prepared.
Rotarians also generously provided each student with a crock pot, cooking supplies and groceries, so they could continue to hone their culinary skills at home. The partnership has expanded by Metro Rotary also funding a project for Job Point students to learn more about careers in growing, a class on cooking specifically with vegetables, and an opportunity to give back to the community by building grow stations for preschool students in the CPS Title 1 program. These youngsters also learned about gardening, which as we all know leads to food on the table, and brings the love for gardening to another generation.
We are most grateful for The Columbia Metro Rotary and all you have done for our students this past year.
Volunteer of the Year
Amanda Spry-Bazat provides the calming influence of yoga to the YouthBuild students and staff. Many students have plenty of hesitation, questions and complaints their first time, but ultimately they end up enjoying it. Staff have noticed the youth seem more relaxed, and better able to concentrate after their sessions.
Amanda has been teaching classes at Job Point twice a week for over year. She provides the equipment, which she either purchased from her own pocket or secured donations to buy.
She was introduced to adaptive PE through a college study on adult recreation centers for people with disabilities. In her words, “Seeing that everybody has a place, that they’re seen, that they have something that they can excel at, something they can grow confident in, it really motivates me to continue teaching.” Over the lifetime these students, the extensive physical and mental benefits of this invaluable program, will be a testament to this volunteer’s dedication and the genuine care she has for each student.
Employee of the Year
Tania Cook’s primary role is Skills Training Coordinator, but that official job title is misleading. She wears MANY Hats. Through careful guidance, immense knowledge and unmatched compassion, she has touched more lives than can be counted. She also serves as Office Technology Instructor, Safety Officer and Data Coordinator for our Higher Education programs. A dedicated employee of Job Point for 40 years, she has given a significant portion of her life to serving people with barriers to employment.
Tania serves as Advisor for every single person enrolled in a skills training program, ensuring the services provided meet the needs of each student, essentially serving as a formal mentor. She guides students through, and provides the necessary supports to address the myriad challenges they face. You name it, Tania has seen it, and she knows how to help people navigate these trials.
Because some of our classes occur in the evenings, Tania frequently works late hours to meet with students and instructors. She knows our students often have long-term goals and dreams, as our Legal Secretary students might have a goal of paralegal, and many of our C.N.A. graduates have gone on to nursing school, while others have even become Physician Assistants and doctors. Tania helps them all chart their individual paths.
Tania is highly involved in the community as well, always with an eye toward promoting Job Point and our students, from the Elks Club, Women’s Network, Missouri Rehabilitation Association, Show-Me State Games and many more!
Tania Cook, our longest-serving staff member of 40 years, is the 2025 Employee of the Year! Thank you, Tania, for all you do for your students and for Job Point, Tania. You are the backbone of our team, and we are so grateful for your leadership, patience and vision.
Awards of Excellence
Job Point’s Award of Excellence recognition highlights individuals for their perseverance through major obstacles in their lives and their drive toward career success. This year, we honored participants from each of our three programs, who have gone on to find great success in their careers through hard work and unwavering dedication.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Tutin III
After high school, community college and a Bachelor’s degree with dual emphasis, Andrew struggled to secure more than a part time job as a pizza delivery driver. That’s when he turned to Job Point, where staff helped evaluate his skills and career aspirations. After several job trials and practice interviews, Andrew became more comfortable with the process, and was offered a position with MU Health Care in September 2024 as an Operating Room Supply Clerk. He enjoys this position and strives to be the best employee he can be. He hopes to one day earn his Master’s Degree in Business.
Award of Excellence Honorees
Kayleigh Wiecken
Kayleigh was 16 when she enrolled at Job Point. She had tried public school and homeschool. Neither format was a good fit for her learning style.
Because she wasn’t old enough to take the HISET tests when she first enrolled, she focused on completing certifications in the carpentry program, earning not one, but three AmeriCorp Education Awards and becoming a Certified Peer Specialist.
Kayleigh enjoyed the hands-on learning environment and working with engaged instructors whom she felt truly cared about her goals. While she continued with her schooling, she worked various part time jobs even without reliable transportation. As soon as she turned 17 and was eligible to take her HISET tests, she passed all five within three months.
While completing her HISET, she worked at Walmart and Hot Topic. She struggled with transportation, but with support from YouthBuild, she was able to dependably get to class and work. She passed her driver’s license test and has purchased a vehicle.
Kayleigh is still trying to decide where she wants her career to go, but knows that she has the capability and drive to find success.
Alex Cason
Alex Cason first began his journey at Job Point in late 2023 as a student in Job Works. After completing this week-long class, he enrolled in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program with support from Vocational Rehabilitation and taught by instructor, Jim Smithee.
“Alex was a good student. He always came prepared for class,” Jim said. “He often came early or stayed late to ask questions. He always wanted to make sure he understood exactly how everything came together.”
Although Alex lives in Moberly, he commuted twice a week for class throughout 2024, graduating with the December class that year. He completed his internship and was able to leverage that experience along with his certifications to attain a job in the maintenance department at Columbia Housing Authority where he has continued to commute daily from Moberly. Alex is committed to do the best he can to apply his knowledge to help the residents at Columbia Housing Authority.
His supervisor, Justin Anthony, describes Alex as a dedicated employee who is always willing to step up.
“I’m proud of Alex,” Jim said. “He was a star pupil. I hope to have more students like him.”
Kyle Oliver
When Kyle first began working with Job Point and Vocational Rehabilitation, he had no competitive employment history. He had worked at Mid MO Production and Packaging Services, a sheltered workshop in Moberly, doing various assembly work. He didn’t have his driver’s license or his own means of transportation and relied heavily on family support for budgeting and other aspects of his life. He was ready for a change but wanted to do it carefully.
“I wanted to work in the restaurant world. I enjoy cooking,” Kyle said.
Thus began his exploration of opportunities in the Moberly area. He had already acquired his food handler’s certification when he started working with Becky Curry Roe, Employment Services Coordinator at Job Point.
Kyle knew he wasn’t interested in working in a fast-food restaurant, and he knew where some of his weaknesses may impact his success in a fasterpaced, high-stress environment.
As a hands-on, visual learner, Kyle hoped to find a friendly restaurant environment that could accommodate his need for written checklists and reminders. After a few job trials around town, he found exactly what he was looking for at Pizza Hut.
In the almost two years that Kyle has been with Pizza Hut, he has obtained his driver’s license and a vehicle. He’s increased his job responsibilities and built new friendships with his coworkers. “I like my co-workers, they’re friendly and fun to work with,” Kyle said.
Job Point would also like to recognize our incredible sponsors. Presenting sponsors: KOMU 8 and Columbia Cosmopolitan Luncheon Club helped underwrite the costs of the evening. Joe Machens Toyota sponsored the Award of Excellence Videos. MEM sponsored Dinner, Walmart – West Broadway sponsored Dessert. Shelter Mutual Insurance Company sponsored our Volunteer of the Year Award. Hy-Vee donated floral arrangements.
Table of Excellence Sponsors which made this event possible:
Central Bank of Boone County, City of Columbia, Columbia Safety and Supply, Emery Sapp & Sons, First Mid Bank & Trust, Heartland Business Systems, Mary Carnahan & Marjorie Krug, Moberly Area Community College, MPIX, Missouri Charter School Association, MU Health Care, Simmons Bank, TIG Advisors, Veterans United Home Loans, Veterans United Foundation, Reinhardt Construction.
Thank you to EquipmentShare and Plaza Commercial Realty for giving in honor of our 60th Anniversary and helping us reach our goal of raising $60,000 to serve the greatest needs of the organization, our students and job seekers.
