NEFBA is proud to announce the selection of a training director and a program coordinator to administer, organize and develop its highly successful Apprenticeship Program.
Christina Thomas is the training director and Laura Harrington is the program coordinator.
Both Thomas and Harrington have skills, training and experience ideally suited to their positions.
“We count ourselves extremely fortunate to have been able to secure such well qualified individuals for these positions,” said NEFBA President Chet Skinner. “Our Apprenticeship Program is, we believe, one of our best assets when it comes to serving the community and the industry, as well as the individuals who graduate from the program.”
Executive Director Corey Deal agrees.
“Christina and Laura are just who we need to fulfill the mission and purpose of our program,” Deal said.
“Our search was intense and we had high standards and high expectations. I am looking forward to continued growth and expansion with our program. Please join me in welcoming Christina and Laura to the NEFBA family,” he said.
Keith Ward, NEFBA’s training vice president, said Thomas and Harrington impressed the Apprenticeship Executive Committee.
“Experience and knowledge of vocational training were, of course, important qualities we were looking for,” Ward said. “In Christina and Laura we found that and more. They bring enthusiasm to the positions they hold, and they complement each other. I have every confidence the program will thrive with this team.”
Christina Thomas
Christina Thomas comes to NEFBA with a background in education and the financial industry.
Working her way through college while at Bank of America in Orange Park, Thomas began with an associate degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly Florida Community College at Jacksonville), then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in education from Saint Leo University.
For the past 10 years, she has served in Clay County Schools as a teacher and a district-level academic program coach in the career and technical education division.
She is an NCCER-certified proctor with direct experience coordinating high school vocational programs, including carpentry and HVCR.
Thomas describes herself as a “Navy brat originally from Camp LeJeune, N.C.,” who now calls Clay County home.
She graduated from Middleburg High School and lives in Fleming Island. She and her husband, Shawn, recently celebrated their 15-year wedding anniversary.
The couple has a 12-year-old daughter, Lana, who will be starting junior high in the fall.
They share their home with Roxy, a 14-year-old Shiba Inu.
Thomas enjoys boating, exploring Florida state parks and reading.
Laura Harrington
Laura Harrington’s experience as an AVID teacher/coordinator made her an ideal candidate for the apprenticeship coordinator position.
A graduate of the University of North Florida, Harrington helped prepare high school students for college entrance exams, write resumes, meet college entrance requirements and conduct campus tours with the goal of being accepted into a four-year college or university upon graduation.
The Advanced Via Individual Determination program is a college-readiness elective class at Sandalwood High School.
Harrington also volunteered with a committee of teachers, parents, students, community leaders and administrators to provide oversight of the school’s program including effective budgeting.
Her dedication to students was also evident in other volunteer activities, such as coordination of a clothing drive, establishment of a food pantry and leadership of three community clean ups.
With a family background in the building industry, she said her career choices were construction or education.
Harrington is excited and grateful those “two worlds collided” when she had the opportunity to join NEFBA as the Apprenticeship training coordinator.
Both she and her husband, Taylor, are Jacksonville natives, and Taylor, who served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, is also in the industry.
They enjoy fishing, kayaking, barbecuing and spending time at the pool with friends. They also enjoy learning about different cultures through travel and they were married in Germany.