Employment Spotlight: Dragonfly Pond Works and American Conservation Experience

StepUp Ministry continued to prepare participants for sustainable jobs and develop new employer partnerships as employment trends shifted in the past year. 

Dragonfly Pond Works, an environmental service company specializing in stormwater management, including pond and lake maintenance, began hiring from StepUp in early 2021. 

StepUp readied employees to work for Dragonfly and similar companies by collaborating with the American Conservation Experience (ACE) and the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN). StepUp provided employment training for the ACE participants, who then gained hands-on sustainable landscaping experience working in the Walnut Creek Wetlands. Several StepUp participants advanced to apprenticeships with SSDN to learn more about the impact of climate change.

Tay McClaude gained experience from ACE and SSDN and now works for Dragonfly. StepUp’s portion of the ACE training helped him build a resume and learn to interview with confidence. “I learned about the environment through working in the Walnut Creek Wetland Park,” he adds 

Tay enjoys his job at Dragonfly. “It’s a great job, and I like working outside and making a difference in the environment.”