Grit and Growth:
Success Stories

For Brandon Parker and Jonathan Hedgepeth, the journey to a fulfilling career wasn't straightforward—but it was paved with determination, opportunity, and hands-on training through South Central Mississippi Works' Reconnect program.

Both young men, in their early 20s, came to Key Constructors from different backgrounds. Jonathan, a Columbia native and East Marion High School graduate, had tried everything from home remodeling to working on tugboats. Brandon, from Morton, Mississippi, traveled the country transporting campers and working in natural gas pipelines. While they each brought valuable work experience to the table, what they were both missing was the opportunity to grow a lasting career close to home—without having to travel the country chasing a paycheck.

That's where Reconnect came in.

Key Constructors recognized the potential in both young workers and nominated them for upskill training. Funded by Accelerate MS and supported through WIOA, the Reconnect program offered Brandon and Jonathan more than just a paycheck—it provided a pathway to a sustainable career.

At the training site, Brandon and Jonathan didn't just sit in classrooms—they climbed into the seats of skid steers, telehandlers, and scissor lifts, learning the ropes of heavy equipment operation. "Getting certified on the machines—that was my favorite part," said Brandon. For Jonathan, the training opened the door to a dream he hadn't yet pursued: becoming a crane operator. “My foreman told me once I finish this class, I can get more seat time and eventually go to school for it,” he shared. “That’s the route I want to take.”

The Reconnect program, a short-term, high-impact training initiative focusing on equipping individuals for high-wage, high-demand jobs, is designed to serve underemployed but motivated individuals like Brandon and Jonathan. Through partnerships with Holmes Community College, Hinds Community College, and Build MS, and with oversight from CMPDD, the program offers not just classroom skills but real-world credentials and work-based learning.

Participants received hands-on training in road and bridge construction, covering equipment operation, site work, safety practices, and paving. They also developed soft skills and resume-building tools to support their job search. The program offered certifications in OSHA 10, ATSSA Flagger, equipment operation (telehandlers, skid-steers, aerial lifts), fall protection, rigging, and signalman duties.

“A lot of jobs have come to Mississippi—and more are on the way—and we want Mississippians to be the ones filling them,” said Robin Parker, Workforce Director at CMPDD. “We don’t have two or four years to get people ready. We have eight weeks to get them into a program, train them up, and connect them with a company that’s hiring. From there, we can continue growing their skills through earn-and-learn training models.”

For both young men, what started as just another job has grown into something more. “When I first got this job, it was just a job,” said Jonathan. “But now, I see it as a career. I want to move up.” Brandon echoed the same sentiment, already setting his sights on becoming a foreman.

Breanna Poole, People & Culture Manager at Key Constructors, emphasized the company's commitment to employee development: “This is the perfect opportunity to invest in them, and they’re doing a great job—so we want to give back.”

From hands-on experience to life-changing outcomes, Brandon and Jonathan's story is a clear example of how workforce development succeeds when training, support, and opportunity align.

They're not just working—they're building Mississippi's future, one job site at a time.