Cynthia Motley is embarking on a new career in hospitality. After 20 years in the information technology industry, Cynthia was laid off and decided to make a career change. She learned about Wake Tech’s new 10-week START (Skills, Tasks and Results Training) hospitality course after visiting an Employment Security Commission office, and thought she would give it a try. It wasn’t easy.  “I had to do a lot of studying and the exams were tough,” Cynthia says, “but it was very rewarding.”

Cynthia’s dedication paid off. She landed a part-time job as a front desk associate two weeks before she completed the course, and once she finished the program, additional offers flooded in. “I was able to pick and choose where I wanted to work, thanks to Wake Tech’s START program,” Cynthia says. She settled on a position as a full-time room service attendant at a hotel in Raleigh and is making plans for her future. “This is a great opportunity and gets my foot in the door to get involved in banquets and events,” Cynthia says. “I want to move up the corporate ladder and hopefully become a sales director or even a divisional manager.”