When Mid-South Electronics closed in 2000, it was a major blow to Jackson and Clay Counties. But many local residents were determined to turn tragedy into triumph and responded to the layoffs by training for new careers.

For Jeff Tyree the slamming doors of Mid-South sounded like opportunity knocking, once he learned about the assistance available for workers who have been laid off under the Trade Act program.

Trade Act services are provided in Clay and Jackson Counties by Daniel Boone Community Action Agency (DBCAA) under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), which administers the program in 23 eastern Kentucky counties. The Trade Act program has helped hundreds of former Mid-South workers transition into training, further education, or new careers since the layoffs.

“When I became dislocated I knew it was my opportunity to go to college,” Jeff said. “I knew it was an opportunity for me to better myself.”

“Jeff came into my office in November of 2006 as a determined individual wanting to succeed in the physical therapist assistant profession,” said Alesia Brewer, a career adviser at DBCAA. “As he has pursued his career he has came across several hurdles. None of those have stopped him from succeeding,” Brewer said.

Going back to college was not easy. First, Jeff had to take tutoring classes as a refresher. However, his wife and family were very supportive, and when he began taking courses at Somerset Community College (SCC) he found he really enjoyed his physical therapy courses and things began falling into place. He also found that several of his former co-workers were also taking classes there.

Jeff, 31, chose to train to be a physical therapist assistant (PTA) at SCC, making him the first person in his immediate family to go to college.

Although he hasn’t yet completed his studies, he has already managed to claim several accomplishments. At the (American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) National Student Conclave Oct. 30-31 in Miami, Jeff was elected to the position of National Student PTA Delegate.

Jeff became involved in the student PTA organization at SCC and became its treasurer, working on fundraisers such as bake sales, fund drives and car washes. He also represented the SCC PTA program at the APTA National Conference and Exposition in Baltimore, where the SCC PTA program received the award for “Most Successful PTA Program” for the second year in a row.

Jeff’s fellow APTA members nominated him for the national APTA Student Assembly Board of Directors, hoping he would follow in the footsteps of current national board member and Somerset PTA program graduate Jeff Buis of Liberty.

“Jeff Tyree is well-respected by his classmates and is and excellent representation of our program and our field. I am sure he will be a great success in the future and look forward to his participation in the APTA on a national level,” said Dr. Steve Hammons, the SCC PTA program’s academic coordinator of clinical education.

Jeff is scheduled to graduate from the SCC PTA program in May. He is considering becoming a traveling PTA because it would allow him and his wife to see more of the country. He also would like to go back to school and finish his bachelor’s degree and become a physical therapist, with hopes of one day running his own clinic.

“Jeff is a man of great character and makes good decisions,” Brewer said. “When I heard of all that he has accomplished I had tears of joy in my eyes.  It has been a great honor to know Jeff as a person and a client,” she said.