When Zade Webber sat down across from Jamie Schaeffer during his senior year at Blue Mountain High School, he had no idea the moment would help change the course of his life.
It was mock interview day in Mrs. Cook’s YES class—a signature experience of the Your Employability Skills (YES) Program, where students get a taste of real-world job preparation. For Jamie, General Manager of Metal Sales, it was his first time participating. Following the Council’s advice, he brought along a business card to hand out to students after each interview. That simple gesture left a lasting impression.
Zade still has the card.
“I held onto it because the interview went so well,” he says. “It just stuck with me. It wasn’t like any other—it felt real, like a conversation that actually meant something.”
At the time, Zade had plans to attend lineman school after graduation. But life took an unexpected turn. An accident left him injured and sidelined—his original plans suddenly out of reach. It was a difficult time, full of uncertainty. But as he thought about what to do next, he remembered that interview in Mrs. Cook’s classroom.
“I remembered how it didn’t even feel like an interview. Jamie and I just talked, connected. We really clicked. It stuck with me.”
So Zade reached back out. He still had the business card Jamie gave him that day—and this time, it opened a door.
Zade was hired as a Maintenance Technician at Metal Sales’ Orwigsburg facility, just minutes from where he lives. Over the past two years, he’s thrown himself into the role, proving himself to be reliable, hard-working, and eager to grow. He’s completed multiple training programs, the most recent of which took him all the way to St. Louis. His supervisors note his initiative, his positive attitude, and his ability to troubleshoot complex systems.
“Every day I walk into work with a smile on my face,” Zade says. “It doesn’t even feel like a job—and that says something about the place and the people here.”
Looking back, Zade says he’s especially grateful for the YES Program—and that one day in particular.
“I don’t think I’d be where I am without YES, and without that interview. It gave me the confidence I needed—and the connection that led me here. That’s something I’ll always be thankful for.”
Jamie Schaeffer agrees. “Programs like YES matter. They bridge the gap between classroom and career. That one conversation helped turn a tough situation into a long-term opportunity—and Zade’s made the most of it.”
From a high school interview to a promising career path just down the road, Zade’s story is proof that preparation, resilience, and a little encouragement can make all the difference.