– Â鶹AV (Â鶹AV), a nationally accredited career school with three campuses in Maine, recently launched an innovative, leading edge virtual admissions tool that helps prospective students to make more informed decisions about their education and career path.

Â鶹AV’s ‘Virtual Career and Education Planner’ (VCEP) is a sophisticated web-based application built for the school by Shane Sparks and his developers at Enrollment Resources, Inc., an admissions research firm based in BC, Canada. The application is used by Â鶹AV Advisors during the initial admissions interview with each prospective student. The VCEP takes the prospect through a series of targeted questions which help to more clearly identify education and career goals, personal strengths, motivation and social style. Identifying social styles helps prospective students understand how well their nature fits with certain career types. For example, Analytical people thrive in jobs that appeal to their logical nature, Expressives do well in careers that have interaction with customers and Amiables make great care givers.

At the conclusion of the interview, a detailed ‘Education and Career Readiness’ score is  generated for the candidate.  The report’s analytics  help to determine if there’s a school and program match for the potential  student.  This unique admissions process  also  helps Â鶹AV to maintain the highest possible completion rates and ensure graduates are highly employable in their field of study.

“We developed the VCEP application with Â鶹AV specifically in mind.”
Shane Sparks, Co-founder,  Enrollment Resources

Shane Sparks of Enrollment Resources said, “Â鶹AV was the ideal partner to pilot the VCEP application. They’ve been a trusted partner for over 10 years, and have an industry leading approach to admissions and retention with the utmost emphasis on student employability and placement. In fact, we developed the VCEP application with Â鶹AV specifically in mind. We believe the future of student recruitment will be in tools that ensure qualification and fit, so schools meet placement and student outcome goals.”

About Â鶹AV

Â鶹AV is Maine’s only locally owned and operated accredited career training school with campuses in Bangor, Scarborough and an extension campus in Lewiston. Â鶹AV is a VA approved school in Bangor and Scarborough and offers Federal Financial Aid, grants and scholarships for many of its programs and for those who qualify. With its short-term, hands-on approach to training, Â鶹AV graduates are job-ready, may earn national certification and are prepared to meet the industry’s staffing needs for qualified professionals. The school offers in-demand training for a range of medical programs, including Medical Assistant, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing and Phlebotomy.  HVAC/R and CDL Truck Driving are offered at the school’s Scarborough and Bangor campuses. The Scarborough and Lewiston campuses also offer Information Technology (PC Repair, Network Administration). Classes start each week or month for most programs.

Scarborough, ME | April 5, 2016 | – – Â鶹AV, a career school with campuses in Scarborough, Bangor and Lewiston, once again lives up to its commitment to support those less fortunate in Maine. Effective April 15th and continuing through the year, Â鶹AV will contribute half of all application fees to . The students and staff at Â鶹AV take their civic responsibility seriously and hold regular events to highlight and support others.

Camp Sunshine is located on Sebago Lake in Casco. They inspire hope in families from all over Maine affected by life-threatening childhood illness through their unique, supportive programs and are the only full time facility in the nation whose sole purpose is to provide respite for the entire family. Their programs are all offered free of charge to the families. They  remain grateful to their donors and are committed to showing the utmost respect for every dollar contributed by ensuring the greatest possible impact on children and their families.

This ongoing contribution follows a recent generous contribution to Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston. Each year, Trinity helps thousands of hungry people by providing not only hot meals and healthy groceries, but assists their clients in addressing the reasons they are hungry and helping people find jobs, housing and to negotiate the challenges in their lives.

Â鶹AV’s staff, students and alumni are committed to helping those in need and supporting our local community.

Â鶹AV also sponsored and donated to the WCYY Mark-A-Thon to benefit the Telethon. Â鶹AV has participated in the Mark-A-Thon since 2012 in support of the Center for Grieving Children and this year Â鶹AV donated $1000.00. The Center, based in Portland, Maine, serves more than 4,000 grieving children, teens, families, and young adults annually through peer support, outreach, and education.

About Â鶹AV
Â鶹AV is Maine’s only locally owned and operated accredited career training school with campuses in Bangor, Scarborough and an extension campus in Lewiston. Â鶹AV is a VA approved school in Bangor and Scarborough and offers Federal Financial Aid, grants and scholarships for many of its programs and for those who qualify. With its short-term, hands-on approach to training, Â鶹AV graduates are job-ready, may earn national certification and are prepared to meet the industry’s staffing needs for qualified professionals. The school offers in-demand training for a range of medical programs, including Medical Assistant, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing, Phlebotomy.  HVAC/R and CDL Truck Driving are offered at the school’s Scarborough and Bangor campuses. The Scarborough and Lewiston campuses also offer Information Technology (PC Repair, Network Administration). Classes start each week or month for most programs.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran at your work or deciding what field you’d like to pursue, the prospect of job security looms us all. Choosing a sustainable career in a field with prospective job growth and opportunity is vital to ensuring the stability of your income. Maine’s department of Labor has compiled a list of the top “High-wage, In-Demand Jobs in Maine” classified by education. In this graph (click here) you’ll see high demand careers which require less than a bachelor’s degree. Many of these careers can be obtained through fast paced and accredited post-secondary education schools.

Though a Registered Nurse is categorized under “Post-Secondary Education Less Than Bachelor’s Degree” according to the Maine State Board of Nursing, half of the programs in Maine are Bachelor’s degree programs while the ladder half are associate degree programs. While associate degree programs are right for some individuals, those who are looking to enter the work force in less than 2-3 years will choose more trade oriented career programs to achieve their career goals. Some of the top Technical Trade careers include Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (CDL Drivers), Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (HVAC Technicians), and Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (such as Medical Assistants, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Phlebotomists).

Summary

If you’re considering a career which has potential to grow as well as job security in the state of Maine, yet cannot commit to the length of an Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree Program, consider a trade school that has the potential to achieve your career goals yet train you to enter the work force in a relatively short amount of time. To see if a trade school in one of these high demand industries is right for you, take this fun and free job personality assessment.

Free Job Personality Assessment

Works Cited
Labor, M. D. (2014, June 27th). High-Wage, In-Demand Jobs in Maine by Education. Retrieved July 14th, 2015, from
Nursing, M. S. (n.d.). Approved Maine RN Programs. Retrieved July 14th, 2015, from

Scarborough, ME – April 7, 2015  – :   For some among the many graduates of Â鶹AV (Â鶹AV) over the past year, getting to graduation took a lot of hard work and determination.   In some cases, conquering the academics was the easy part:   family responsibilities, health issues and financial pressures are just some of the challenges Â鶹AV students have overcome.

From earthquake survivor to Phlebotomist

Kesner ‘Salvi’ Salvent was working in construction in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to help support his 10 younger siblings in 2010 when a 7.0 earthquake struck.   He was in a crowded store that was collapsing all around him.   “I tried to get out, but it was too late,” Salvi said.   “People in front of me had already started dying.”   He awoke on his stomach much later, pinned beneath the heavy debris and unable to move. He lay there for four days before rescuers heard his cries for help.

Salvi is the best friend of Gabison Boisrond, a current Â鶹AV HVAC Technician student who lives in Kennebunkport with his wife, Erin.   Boisrond kept in cellphone contact with his family and friends in Port-au-Prince as they frantically searched for Salvi, who no one had seen since the earthquake.   Gabison Boisrond’s in-laws intervened when he was finally located and after several days of paperwork, logistics management and assistance from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s office, Salvi was evacuated to a nearby Navy Hospital ship. With the help and support of untold numbers of caring people, Salvi was brought to the United States.   After a year of medical care and recovery, he made it to Maine in the back of an SUV.

Finally, two years after the earthquake, Salvi enrolled in the Clinical Medical Assistant Program at Â鶹AV which includes phlebotomy training.   He hopes to continue his medical training in the future to help other Haitians, but in the meantime is happy in his new role as a Phlebotomy Technician with NorDx Labs at Maine Medical Center.

From production worker to information technology

When Nam Phan graduated from high school, he secured a production job at Hostess Brands. Nam was confident that a large food manufacturing company that had been successful for many years would provide job security.   But after 10 years with Hostess and with no warning, the company closed and Nam had no marketable skills, certifications or experience in anything but production. He didn’t know where to turn.

Nam was referred to Â鶹AV by a friend and soon after interviewing, enrolled in the computer networking program. In a very short time and with the help of Â鶹AV’s unique ‘Flex-Train’ scheduling (students customize their own schedule), combined with hands-on training, Nam has been able to secure a position in the IT department at Maine Medical Center. Nam credits the courseware and lab simulations for rounding out his program and preparing him to pass his industry certifications with CompTIA and Microsoft. The Career Services Team at Â鶹AV worked with Nam to find part time work in the IT field while he completed his program and assisted with placement through their connections at Maine Medical Center. Nam says, “Thanks, Â鶹AV, for opening the path to a successful future for me and my family.”

From chaos to confidence

Current Â鶹AV student Jessica Sullivan is attending the Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) program at the Scarborough campus.   She’s the mother of 3 children – Isaac, 9; Noah, 2, and Olivia, 6 months and thought it unlikely she’d have the time or resources to go back to school.   But with Â鶹AV’s unique ‘Flex-Train’ system, Jessica was able to custom design her own training schedule to fit the classes into her busy life.

When Jessica began attending Â鶹AV, she was  working 50-60 hours a week at two different jobs and was pregnant with Olivia.   Jessica isn’t even due to graduate until July 2015, but she recently accepted a position as a Medical Assistant at Chest Medicine Associates.

Â鶹AV’s staff and faculty are proud of Salvi, Nam, Jessica and the thousands of Â鶹AV students and alumni who have conquered their personal challenges to achieve a better life through education.

About Â鶹AV

Â鶹AV is Maine’s only locally owned and operated accredited career training school with campuses in Bangor, Scarborough and an extension campus in Lewiston. Â鶹AV is a VA approved school in Bangor and Scarborough and offers Federal Financial Aid for many of its programs and for those who qualify in all campuses. With its short-term, hands-on approach to training, Â鶹AV graduates are job-ready, may earn national certification and are prepared to meet the industry’s overwhelming needs and demands for qualified professionals. The school offers in-demand training for a range of medical programs, including Medical Assistant, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing, Phlebotomy, Information Technology (PC Repair, Network Administration), HVAC/R and CDL Truck Driving. Classes start each week or month for most programs.