The Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians has named Medical Assistant Yvon Farmer, of the Mannford Vision Clinic, 2019 Paraoptometric of the Year. 

Paraoptometrics are health professionals who assist optometric physicians in providing health care to patients. The annual award goes to a paraoptometric who displays outstanding professional leadership and service to patients.

As a native of Stillwater, Yvon worked in home health for over 20 years, and then spent time working in other industries before deciding it was time to return to the medical field. Upon making that life-changing decision, Yvon earned her Medical Assistant degree through Central Tech, Drumright, in 2012 and became a licensed phlebotomist. She performed her clinicals at Mannford Vision Clinic where she was offered a full-time job before she graduated. Yvon has now worked at the Mannford Vision Clinic for six years as a technician and compliance officer.

Yvon was also her grandmother’s caretaker and felt she wanted to provide that same type of love and care to others. “I want to take care of people and treat them all like they were my grandparents,” she said, adding that this is how she views every patient she cares for. “It’s a rewarding career,” she said. “Every day there is something new. You have your normal patients and maybe an emergency where you have the opportunity to sooth someone’s anxiety or calm them down.”

She also volunteers with Dr. Barbara Murphy at the Tulsa Day Center for the homeless, and volunteers with Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes program. Working at the homeless shelter has taught Yvon that homeless people cannot be stereotyped. She believes many people with addictions or mental health issues have nowhere to turn and cannot help themselves. The ability to survive is a heavy enough load. “Don’t judge the book by its cover or even the preface and table of contents,” she said. “That doesn’t give you the whole story or tell you how the book will end.” Her work at the shelter is 100-percent volunteer and she receives no compensation for it. Yvon said the look on a patients’ face after having their vision restored is reward enough.

With the goal of improving lives for others, Yvon enjoys serving as an advisory committee member for Central Tech and as a judge for Health Occupations Education Student Organization (HOSA) contests. When speaking to students, she encourages them to focus not only on progressing in their current area of study, but to also consider where their future career path can take them. She relates that half the time she barely had enough gas money to get to school, but she did not give up and is reaping the reward for her determination.

Yvon also shared that returning to a learning environment as an adult was accompanied by anxiety and insecurities that were hard to overcome.  Persistence despite her fears resulted in good grades and a deep appreciation for the education she was investing in out of her own pocket.

Yvon completed Medical Assisting with honors as part of the National Technical Honor Society and was also involved in the HOSA. “Central Tech gave me the opportunity to better myself in my career,” she said. “Tech was a vital part of giving me the tools I needed to succeed. My instructor, Mrs. Silkwood was able to teach what it’s like to work in the industry because or her experience in the field. Tech offered me a shorter time to a career and the ability to reach my goals. Remember… you can do it, and you’re not alone. Through class and HOSA you make many friends and contacts that support you through school and beyond.”

For some people, retirement is the time to enjoy the spoils of a lifetime of work.

It’s the time to buy an RV and travel across the country, to take up a new hobby or to re-connect with family.

MonyaMarie Black, a 64-year-old Central Tech Construction Trades student, has something else in mind. Her story began in New York City.

“Before I retired two years ago, I taught low-income women how to build furniture in their apartments.” A little help and a lot of ambition allowed her to start making a difference in her city. “I met one gentleman when I first got to New York; he was an architect,” said Black. “Every once in a while I would ask him a question. Other than that, I was self-taught.”

Nearly 30 years later, Black has been retired for two years. She decided that now is the best time to pursue something bigger. Following a friend’s intuition, she and a group of families headed west and wound up in Oklahoma.“I’ve been working since I was 16, but now I have the opportunity,” she said. “Here we are 20, 30 years later and I have the opportunity to learn to do it right.”

Her first step was enrolling in Central Tech’s Construction Trades class. “It’s been a great experience to learn from professionals, and I like how hands-on it is,” said Black. “We get to spend a lot of time in the class learning about OSHA and using all the equipment.”

After learning the basics, the class spends most of their course term at a construction site, building a house from the ground-up. “It’s been interesting coming to school with high school students; most of these guys are younger than my adult children,” said Black. “They’re very respectful and very helpful, but they also let me do the work even though I may have to waddle to do it because the tool belt weighs more than me!”

Black plans to return next year to finish the two-year program, and she already has plans for when she graduates. “My ultimate goal is to relocate to Jamaica and work with the underserved population there in the country, she said.”

Part of her inspiration came from her pastor, who moved back to her home in Jamaica to use her counseling experience. Black has her own reasons for going to Jamaica.

One of the main projects she plans to start is building houses for prison detention officers. “They do a terrifying job because they don’t have weapons,” said Black. “They go in and are responsible for 110 inmates with sometimes only a radio to call for help. I would like to build something where they could come to Jamaica and enjoy being in the country or being in that natural environment on their salary.”

Even now when Black is in school learning a new trade, her mind is still focused on how to make an impact on her surroundings. “It’ll be about five years before I go to Jamaica,” said Black. “I would love to come up with a program (while I’m here) where we’re not just building one house, but actually having many construction projects around the community. There are a lot of houses that can be fixed up here.”

Behind all of her ambition are inspiring, selfless core values that would benefit anyone looking for more out of life. “I want to be firm, fair and consistent,” she said. “It’s always about communication and accuracy, because I think that’s sorely missing, and a good sense of humor; I’ve got to be able to laugh at myself.”

“Shortly after high school there was a lady who bagged groceries at a store near where I worked,” said Cole Reece, a Practical Nursing student at Central Tech.

“One day, on her way home from work, she was crossing the street and got hit by a car. Nobody could help and it seemed like it took forever for the fire department to show up; so I went out there and helped drag her out from under the car. I helped her out until the ambulance got there, and I thought ‘I could do this.’”

So, he did. Reece’s path to Central Tech hasn’t been a short one, but his start in the medical field came early when he joined the Army.

“My dad served in Vietnam and my grandfather served in World War II, so I kinda felt a sense of duty.”

Reece spent eight years in the Army as a medic and flight medic, and after deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he decided to separate from the military and pursue nursing. At the time, he was living in Tennessee and one of Central Tech’s veteran’s programs pushed him to make the move to Oklahoma.

“Central Tech takes part in a military medic to nursing program. They give you more credit for your military experience, so I decided to move out here this summer.”

He started the Practical Nursing program in September and, in a class with a 12 to 15-month average completion time, graduated in only five months. Part of that fast pace is due to his solid military foundation.

“It helps a lot in the clinical aspect. We got to treat and take care of a lot of different patients, from kids all the way up to geriatric patients.”

His pace is also driven by the help he gets in and out of the classroom.

“Everybody seems really willing to help you any chance they can. Whether it’s the admin with financial aid or teachers in the class; other programs I’ve seen are more sink-or-swim,” said Reece. “You know, I’m 36. But they give me the opportunity to get this done quicker and move on and get to my ultimate goal sooner.”

Even outside the nursing aspect of his education, Reece feels like he’s being prepared for a future after Central Tech.

“The last portion of our nursing program is building a resume and dealing with job interviews. Instead of just giving me a degree and kicking me out the door, all the steps are in place to put me into a job.”

Reece already has multiple job offers. His immediate plans are to work part-time as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) while continuing his education in registered nurse (RN) school.

Kelby Thompson, like many Oklahomans in the early 1980’s, jumped with both feet into the industry so often described as “feast or famine” – the oil and gas industry. The Ada native’s college degree couldn’t entice him away from the prospect of what of was promised in the patch.

Fortunately, for many years Thompson’s career in oilfield sales and various other capacities thrived. However, after 16 years, he found himself experiencing famine. The oilfield went bust and he was unemployed. “I lost everything I owned when I lost my job,” Thompson said. “I ended up basically homeless and hopeless.”

Faced with starting over, Thompson decided to begin a new career with the help of Central Technology Center’s Truck Driver Training program. “I chose Central Tech based on the school and the program’s outstanding reputation,” he said. “Being a part of the program only proved what I had heard from others. The training I received was top-notch and very professional.”

Located at the Central Tech campus in Drumright, the Truck Driver Training program has been in operation since 1988. Today, the school has a placement rate of 98.7 percent and a reputation for producing professional, employable trainees. In only 23 days, students receive hands-on training that gives them the opportunity to go directly into the trucking industry.

“Kelby came to school as a student with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and gain he did,” said Central Tech’s Transportation Safety and Education Director, John Thorpe. “He is the kind of person who everyone likes and wants to be around. As a student in our school he gained the respect of our instructors from the very beginning due to his great attitude and willingness to get along with everyone. He also demonstrated a dedicated work ethic which made him and others around him very successful while at Central Tech.”

Thompson completed the program and went straight to work for Aero Trucking out of Tulsa, where he worked for a decade, moving up from driver into operations and sales for the company. From there he was hired to work for one of the nation’s premier Trucking companies, TMC Trucking, where he has worked for the last 14 years.

Headquartered in Des Moines, IA, TMC Trucking is an employee-owned company, hauling freight primarily in the Eastern United States, east of I-35. TMC is the largest privately-held flatbed carrier in the nation.

Now, 24 years after completing Central Tech’s program, Thompson’s role as a recruiter allows him to give back to the school that gave him the opportunity to start a new career. Thompson speculates that he’s recruited between 100 and 200 drivers from Central Tech’s program over the years, and estimates that around 60 or 70 percent of those remain employed with TMC.

“TMC is a great company to work for. Once drivers come to work for us, they don’t usually leave. They treat their employees well, and that’s important.”

Thorpe further praises Thompson for his efforts to continue to be involved with the Central Tech program. “I have worked at Central Tech Truck Driver Training for the last five years in which Kelby has been recruiting at our school. I have met hundreds of recruiters who have come to our school over the past years, and I can say without a doubt that Kelby is one of the finest. He’s able to speak to our student’s and relate to them simply because he’s been in their shoes.”

Today, Thompson reflects on how his life has changed and what an impact his training from Central Tech has made. “Central Tech’s program is professional and regimented. The instructors and people involved with the program genuinely care about the students, their well-being, and helping them find jobs. They want students to succeed. That’s the bottom line for the people involved with Central Tech’s program.”

“I am proud to be a product of the training program and know that it’s a place where I can find quality employees for a company I genuinely love working for.”

The mission and vision of a company are sometimes lost in the day-to-day busyness, but for one department at Central Tech, the mission, “change lives with technical education and services,” and the vision, “everyone achieves success,” are demonstrated, every day.

Braden Warner, a client from Sapulpa, Okla., is a prime example of Central Tech’s Mission and Vision, and the Employment Services department helped him.

“I needed a job after high school,” Warner said. “The people at Central Tech worked with me to find a job and stayed with me until I was trained in that job. They still check on me and support me when I need them. I have been at my job for one year thanks to Tech and my job coaches.”

With the services provided by Central Tech, Warner has worked at Inverness Village in Tulsa since November 2016. At first, he worked three days per week, and has since increased to four days per week.

“Braden’s exceptional work ethic and excellent attitude makes him a great addition to our team,” said Paul Herder, director of dining room services at Inverness Village.

Kris Pruitt, Central Tech Employment Services Consultant, who works with Warner said he accomplishes his tasks in record time, and continues to do an amazing job.

Since he began working at Inverness Village, Warner has gained confidence, and his income allows him independence and the ability to go to sporting events with friends.

In addition to being a dedicated employee, Warner also volunteers at the food bank, plays golf and attends a local church.

Warner’s life has certainly been changed, and success achieved, with the help of Central Tech’s Employment Services.

Central Tech Employment Services is a unique employment service that provides on-going support services in the competitive workforce to individuals with a mental, physical, medical or cognitive disability. An employment consultant performs specialized assessments to determine an appropriate job match. Once employment has been located, on-the-job training and follow-up services are provided by the training specialist on an as-needed basis. Employment Services provides excellence in assessment, job development, training and employment support.

For more information about Central Tech Employment Services, please call 918.227.9262.