Willie Brown

On April 1, Cassadaga Job Corps Academy officially became part of Dynamic Educational Systems, Inc. after being operated by Career Systems Development Inc. for over 20 years.

The man at the helm of the transition is Willie Brown, whose Job Corps career began back in 1988 as a residential advisor at Turner Job Corps Center in Albany, Ga. Since then, Brown has served as center director at Job Corps campuses in Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida, West Virginia and Michigan.

“My good friend and mentor, Rick Myers, asked me to come out of retirement in February 2022, to work for DESI as a Consultant at the Dayton Center. When we were awarded this contract,” Brown said. “Rick offered the Academy Director’s position to me when it became vacant.”

Stepping back into the Job Corps world has been easier for Brown, because of the culture and location of Cassadaga Job Corps.

“My overall reaction has been totally positive,” he said.

“The scenic views here are more beautiful than any I’ve ever seen on a Job Corps campus. And from what I’ve seen, most of the staff and students are willing to make the changes necessary to once again become a high-performing center.”

But becoming a high-performing center won’t be easy, and won’t happen overnight. Brown says the biggest challenge in positioning Cassadaga Job Corps Academy to meet the challenges of today’s work environment, will be adjusting to life post COVID-19.

“The protocols that existed during the pandemic are no longer in place,” he said. “Unfortunately COVID-19 led to a decline in work ethics, job commitment and self-improvement unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The notion that you can get paid to do nothing — or the absolute minimum — is no longer a reality in today’s workplace.”

While the pandemic may have hindered Cassadaga Job Corps Academy, it will not stop it from fulfilling its mission of equipping young people today.

“My goal here is to establish an environment where students and staff want to live, learn and work,” he said.