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Two Men Walk Through A Warehouse At Cullman Sanitation And Recycling In Cullman, Alabama — City of Cullman Sanitation Supervisor Sam Dillender and driver Anthony Steele check in after Steele’s early morning route. (Ben Johnson / The Bama Buzz)

Four years ago, Anthony Steele of Holly Pond did not see a clear path ahead. Today, he enjoys a life of many blessings, including a new home he shares with his family and a job with great benefits driving a half-million-dollar truck on the toughest route for the City of Cullman.

Steele credits all of it to his faith, family and the Skills for Success program through the ACCS Innovation Center (IC), a workforce accelerator that connects Alabamians to high-quality training for in-demand jobs. The program closes the gap between businesses and communities that need great people eager to learn, work and thrive.

One of those people is Steele, who completed the Skills for Success CDL Class A course at Wallace State Community College Hanceville to earn a commercial driver’s license, which opened doors to new opportunities right away.

Keep reading to learn how the IC’s Skills for Success program works, the 60+ course options available and which may be the perfect fit for you.

Skills for Success Alabama career training highlights

What is the Skills for Success program?

City Of Cullman Employee Anthony Steele Behind The Wheel Of A Heil® Half/Pack® Front-Load Garbage Truck At The City Of Cullman Sanitation &Amp; Recycling Department — Steele works one of the most challenging daily refuse routes in Cullman, operating a Heil front-load truck made in Fort Payne, Alabama. (Ben Johnson / The Bama Buzz)

The IC’s Skills for Success program delivers short-term training through community colleges statewide, with no-cost options available across more than 60 courses, including:

🚛 CDL Class A + CDL Class B
🍽️ Food + Beverage
🌐 Fiber Optics Technician and Installer
🏥 Nursing Support Technician
⚡ Electrical Helper
🪚 Carpentry Helper
🏨 Hotel Operations
🪴 Nursery Landscape Worker
🐾 Veterinary Assistant

👉 See all job training courses on the IC website TrainForAlabama.com.

How Skills for Success training opens doors

City Of Cullman Employee Anthony Steele With The Heil® Half/Pack® Front-Load Garbage Truck He Operates For The City Of Cullman Sanitation &Amp; Recycling Department — City of Cullman Sanitation Superintendent Sam Dillender (far left) hired Skills for Success CDL course graduate Anthony Steele and soon promoted him to the department’s most challenging truck and route. (Ben Johnson / The Bama Buzz)

Two Men Have A Discussion In An Office At Cullman Sanitation And Recycling In Cullman, Alabama — City of Cullman Sanitation Superintendent Sam Dillender (far left) hired Skills for Success CDL course graduate Anthony Steele and soon promoted him to the department’s most challenging truck and route. (Ben Johnson / The Bama Buzz)

For many participants, earning course credentials leads to immediate promotions or new job opportunities. It also often inspires them to pursue a college degree.

Here’s a snapshot of Steele’s experience with the IC’s Skills for Success program:

Learned about the program while working as a team lead for a Cullman County manufacturer
Kept a full-time work schedule while committing to four weeks of evening classes
Walked in “nervous,” he said, having never driven a semi-truck
Received training at Wallace State, cost-free + completed the course feeling far more confident
Committed about $400 total for permitting + test fees to obtain the actual license
Co-enrolled as an adult education student + completed his GED
Moved into a new role at work, applying his new skills + gaining real-world experience

Then, when he saw an opening to drive for the City of Cullman, he went for it. Today, he’s proud of his position with the city’s sanitation and recycling department, adding that he especially appreciates the excellent health and retirement benefits on top of a good income.

Gain experience, confidence + thrive with Skills for Success

A Man Wearing A Pink Shirt And Jeans Kneels By His Toddler Daughter Near A Flower Bed Of Irises In Alabama — While Steele’s days start very early with work, he makes the most of the rest, enjoying time with his family. (Anthony Steele)

A Man And His Toddler Daughter Pet A Lamb At A Petting Zoo In Alabama — While Steele’s days start very early with work, he makes the most of the rest, enjoying time with his family. (Anthony Steele)

Steele’s experience with the Skills for Success program is a critical part of a greater arc when he shares his story about recovery and thriving after addiction with church and community groups.

City of Cullman Sanitation Supervisor Sam Dillender said that while having the CDL got Anthony the interview, two other things made him stand out: his transparency about his personal story and clear earnestness about doing the job well.

In just a few months, Dillender promoted Steele to the department’s most demanding trucks, which require precision skills and focus to navigate tight alleys, bays, low-hanging power lines and more. On Steele’s daily 100+ mile route, the margin of error is slim in safely maneuvering to protect the truck and property, Dillender told us. He added that much of that work is done in reverse during the pitch-dark hours of the early morning, since the shift starts at 3:45AM.

“This is a whole different life for me these days. Some people will say, ‘Oh, you’re a garbage man?’ I am like, ‘Yeah, it pays my bills; it takes care of my family. I have a great retirement started.’ It’s really something that I never really thought of or expected to have.”
_{– Anthony Steele, Skills for Success Graduate}

Ready to take the next step toward new opportunities to thrive in work and life? Go to TrainForAlabama.com to explore courses and get started today!

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