Originally from Vietnam, Natalie Lam has lived in the United States for nearly 15 years.  Formerly employed at CarboMedics, which moved its operations from Texas to Italy, Ms. Lam turned to the Workforce Investment Act program for job training and employment assistance. 

Ms. Lam attended a WIA Orientation in June of 2007 requesting assistance for tuition and textbooks was eligible for the Trade Adjustment Act, which provides additional assistance to dislocated workers under certain conditions, such as jobs moved overseas.  When deciding on her career path, Ms. Lam thought of her father, an Accountant in her homeland of Vietnam, and realized she was particularly good at attention to detail and had always loved Math.  Because of this, Ms Lam chose to pursue career as an Accounting Technician.

Jo Ann Rogerio, WIA Senior Program Specialist at Workforce Solutions Capital Area – East, assisted Ms. Lam throughout her WIA program experience, requesting funding for tuition, textbooks and transportation so that Ms. Lam could fully concentrate on the Accounting Technician program at Austin Community College.  In May 2009, she graduated with honors from ACC with an Associate of Applied Science - Accounting Technician degree.  In August 2009, Ms. Lam accepted full-time employment as an Accountant with the Texas Department of Public Safety.