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Like a lot of Alabamians, Ryan Ales spent years working hard in the service industry. But after nearly two decades of waiting tables and tending bar, he was ready for a career change.
That’s when a friend told him about a new kind of workforce training program through the ACCS Innovation Center, a division of the Alabama Community College System.
Read on to learn how Ryan scored a top job in a new field (and how you can, too).
How ACCS Innovation Center helps Alabamians find jobs
Ryan’s story is just one example of how the ACCS Innovation Center is partnering with our state’s community colleges to help Alabamians transition into high-demand careers.
The Innovation Center works hand-in-hand with businesses and industries across the state to design training programs that directly meet workforce needs. Instead of years of schooling, participants can complete targeted certifications that prepare them to step into well-paying jobs quickly.
It offers Alabamians a way to gain practical, industry-recognized skills that employers are actively looking for in a variety of fields, including:
- Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
- Construction Trades
- Heavy Equipment Construction
- Healthcare
- Hospitality and Tourism
It’s an approach that doesn’t just benefit individuals like Ryan—it strengthens Alabama’s economy by ensuring local businesses have access to the skilled workers they need.
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How Ryan scored a new job in tech
The ACCS Innovation Center connects Alabamians with fast, industry-recognized training in some of the state’s most in-demand career fields—without the time or cost of a full degree.
“I had been desperate for a career change for a while. I’m 40 now, and I had already tried enrolling in community college classes and applying for jobs in the tech field, but I wasn’t having much luck.”
Ryan signed up for the Fiber Optic Technician and Installer course offered through Coastal Alabama Community College’s Skills for Success program.
The course entailed a few weeks of online training, then three days on campus with an instructor—a crash course in the basics of fiber optics, how to build ethernet cables and the technology behind it all.
It turned out to be the turning point he needed.
“I had applied for the company I work at now several times and couldn’t even get an interview. The certification is what made me stand out and made them want to at least have a conversation with me.”
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Landing the role
He landed a job as a technician, helping troubleshoot and resolve customer issues.
From there, he kept learning, pushing himself to grow. Before long, he earned a promotion to Network Change Control Analyst, where he now oversees planned maintenance on critical infrastructure—making sure essential services like hospitals and 911 centers stay connected.
And he’s not stopping there.
“Now I’m studying for the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification, that’ll give me a solid foundation in networking and open even more opportunities down the line.”
For Ryan, the certification course was more than a class, it was the bridge to a whole new career.
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Ready to take the next step in your career? Learn more about workforce training opportunities through the ACCS Innovation Center + find the right program for you at a community college near you
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2025-08-26 16:25:00