CAT Retiree Gives a "Lift" to the Unemployed

After 35 years at Cat, Patrick Connor embarks on a new career at Goodwill Industries, giving people skills they need to find work.

Patrick Cannon says his philosophy is to help people help themselves. He teaches people everything from filling out a job application, to dressing for an interview, to operatiing a forklift.  Patrick says he's helping people develop skills they'll have for life.

“When we give them something that they can then go out and get their own food and money and clothes, then we've succeeded, that's the important thing," Connor said. Many who come through the training have been laid off after working in one job for many years, and simply need to relearn the basics.

“They are all equal in here.  And they all deserve an opportunity.  I don't care what your past is.  You take these tools and you can change your future," Connor said.

The forklift training alone has helped many students land jobs and promotions.  There's a big demand in the area for the work and it pays well.  Robert Harris was one of Patrick's students.

“I had not obtained my forklift license, I’d be doing a lot manually," Patrick said. Patrick trained Robert on how to run a forklift, which helped earn him a promotion. “I was really grateful for his help," Robert said.

But Patrick says he benefits as much as anyone.  He says the work is far more rewarding than he could have imagined.

“I never realized the great satisfaction there is in this. This is tremendous,” Patrick said.