Nicole Keyes, business solutions professional at Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, was the guest speaker at the Alpena Lions Club meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Keyes has been with Michigan Works! for approximately one year, having worked for Habitat for Humanity previously.

Keyes discussed Michigan Works!, a nonprofit, and the services it provides. She said it is a networking resource for the community for both job seekers and employers. She stressed that Michigan Works! is not the unemployment office. She said job seekers can come to Michigan Works! and use the unemployment hotline and register to work at the same time.

Among the services Michigan Works! offers for job seekers are resume assistance, interview coaching, job search guidance and career counseling. They also have access to the Pure Michigan Talent Connect, as well as potential classroom or on-the-job training programs.

For employers it offers several services like qualified applicant referrals, employee recruitment, and interview space by appointment. It also works with companies through an apprenticeship program.

Keyes also said that Michigan Works! houses the GED program, but it doesn’t run the program. It also works with Project Connect.

Also during the meeting, club President Tom Woizeschke gave a brief summary of the October board meeting. He said the board had a discussion about options for using money available through the diabetes grant, and approved a new member who will be inducted during the Nov. 12 meeting.