Taheem came to CFBNJ’s Warehouse Logistics Training Academy (WLTA) with a clear goal: to build a more stable future by getting into warehouse work.
“I wanted to work in warehouses because I heard that that that’s where the money’s at,” he said with a laugh. But every time he applied for warehouse jobs, he ran into the same obstacle – he lacked the certifications employers were looking for.
Throughout his time in the program, Taheem also worked as a cook at Chili’s, attending his classes at CFBNJ all day and working long shifts at the restaurant during nights and weekends.
Cooking has long been familiar territory for him, and Taheem first discovered CFBNJ’s Workforce Development offerings through the Food Service Training Academy (FSTA), which he learned about while spending time in a halfway house during a period of incarceration. At first, he planned to enroll in the culinary arts program, building on years of experience in restaurant kitchens and a love of cooking – especially breakfast, his favorite meal to make. But after learning about WLTA, he decided that it was a better fit for the life he wanted to build.
The program gave him exactly what he’d hoped for. A quick learner, Taheem excelled and graduated among the top five in his cohort, earning him the opportunity to participate in a week of specialized reach truck training. Along the way, he also developed skills in forklift and pallet jack operation, warehouse safety, and logistics practices – including a Lean Six Sigma certification.
And for Taheem, the experience was about more than technical training. During the program, he had the chance to ride along with one of CFBNJ’s truck drivers, assisting with donation pick-ups and pantry deliveries to get a firsthand look at how the organization supports New Jersey neighbors in need.
“I saw what all this is for – giving it to people in need,” he said about the food he’d spent weeks training around inside the warehouse. This sense of purpose made a lasting impression and inspired a new goal – to return to CFBNJ as an employee if an opportunity becomes available.
“I already know the building and the people, and the environment is a good environment,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience, the program offered Taheem lessons beyond warehouse operations, and his accomplishments as a graduate represent profound professional and personal success.
“Finishing the WLTA program means that now I’m on the right path. I’m doing good, working, learning, and things like that,” he said. “This is a great experience and a good program to be part of because it even teaches you things outside of work. You come in to get certified for forklift, but it teaches you other things that can impact your whole life.”