Robin Gooden selected as new center manager for Kentucky Career Center 

The Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail (KCC-LT) has announced the hiring of Robin Gooden as career center manager. An Elizabethtown native, Gooden has an extensive background in program coordination, employee relations, project and team management, human relations, strategic planning and more.

Before becoming career center manager, Gooden worked in human resources for a variety of organizations and worked for a local nonprofit agency assisting victims of sexual assault. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology/Criminology from Western Kentucky University. 

“I was attracted to this position because it afforded me an opportunity to use my skills in community development, HR and helping others,” Gooden said. “The Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail offers a variety of services, through collaborative partnerships with a variety of agencies, to help job seekers, out-of-school youth and veterans attain gainful employment.” 

The career center manager plays a crucial role as part of the One Stop System Operations (OSSO) team for the Lincoln Trail workforce development region. In her new role, Gooden oversees the operations of the comprehensive center in Elizabethtown, three affiliate sites in Bardstown, Leitchfield and Lebanon, and an access point at Fort Knox. Gooden is responsible for coordinating partner programs to make the Kentucky Career Center a true “One-Stop Center” for customers seeking jobs and training as well as employers seeking talented employees. 

“The Kentucky Career Center strives to ensure that customers receive high quality workforce-related services in a seamless manner,” Gooden said. “My goal for this position is to make local connections to encourage employers and job seekers alike to leverage the services offered at no cost by the Kentucky Career Center.”

The Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board provides oversight of KCC-LT and the employment and training activities funded by the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act. KCC-LT operates in collaboration with various agencies to provide a range of services aimed at assisting job seekers in their pursuit of meaningful employment. These services encompass career counseling designed to facilitate individuals in returning to the workforce, exploring new career paths or addressing any barriers they may encounter in securing employment. The center also offers vocational rehabilitation services, Job Corp services, community action support and resources for unemployment assistance.

The center provides dedicated interview rooms, conference spaces, and the option for employers to set up information tables to advertise, interview and recruit qualified candidates. Virtual job fairs, which create a digital platform for employers to connect with jobseekers, are offered the first and third Tuesdays of each month. To learn more about KCC-LT, visit ltcareercenter.org. 

The Kentucky Career Center is a partner of the American Job Center Network. Programs are funded with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I funds through the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet and the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board. The One Stop System Operations team is a partnership of Hightower Workforce Initiatives and Strumpf Associates.