UC Aspire Named Nehemiah Manufacturing Partner of the Year

The College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies (CCPS) at the University of Cincinnati is excited to announce that UC Aspire has been honored as Nehemiah Manufacturing’s Social Services Partner of the Year. This prestigious recognition celebrates the impactful collaboration between UC Aspire and Nehemiah Manufacturing, a Cincinnati-based company renowned for its commitment to second-chance employment. As we mark this achievement, it underscores CCPS’s unwavering dedication to workforce development and aligns seamlessly with our strategic vision for advancing educational and professional opportunities in our community.

UC Aspire, a cornerstone program within CCPS, is designed to empower unemployed and underemployed adults by providing essential skills training, adult basic education, English language classes, and workplace education programs. Through flexible, accessible offerings like GED preparation and career transition support, UC Aspire helps individuals build the foundations needed for sustainable employment and personal growth.

Our partnership with Nehemiah Manufacturing exemplifies this mission in action. Nehemiah, a leader in providing opportunities for justice-impacted individuals—those reentering society after incarceration or rehabilitation—has collaborated with UC Aspire to pilot innovative Workplace Education Programs (WEP). These initiatives deliver on-site training, skill-building workshops, and resources that directly address barriers to employment, helping participants break the cycle of incarceration and thrive in the workforce.

Being named Partner of the Year by Nehemiah Manufacturing is more than an accolade; it’s a testament to the tangible outcomes of our joint efforts. Over the past few years, this collaboration has equipped dozens of Nehemiah employees with critical skills in literacy, digital proficiency, and professional development, leading to higher retention rates, promotions, and overall job satisfaction.

As Eric Wellinghoff, President of Nehemiah Manufacturing, noted during the award ceremony, “Nehemiah has significantly grown its partnership with the UC Aspire program over the past two years and we are thrilled with the results! We are currently partnering on four programs tailored specifically to our Family Members at Nehemiah. UC Aspire has been instrumental in empowering our team members to reach their full potential—driving our business results and helping them to achieve their personal dreams. We are honored to have them as partners and recognize UC Aspire as our 2025 Social Service Partner of the Year.”

Adding to this recognition, Sara Betts, director of UC Aspire, has been selected for the 2026 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship by COABE - The Voice of Adult Education. This fellowship highlights her dedication to advancing adult literacy and education, further amplifying CCPS’s impact on workforce development at local, state, and national levels. “It is an incredible honor to be selected as the Ohio SAAEF Fellow,” said Betts. “In this role, I will serve as a point of contact for adult education advocacy in Ohio and will support national advocacy efforts alongside COABE. I’ll be collaborating closely with the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education and other partners to keep adult education part of the conversation where decisions are made.”

As the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies continues to advance, honors like this inspire us to push boundaries and create even greater impact. We extend our gratitude to Nehemiah Manufacturing for this recognition and to our dedicated faculty, staff, and learners who make UC Aspire’s success possible. Together, we are not just building careers—we are transforming lives and communities.

For more information on UC Aspire or to explore partnership opportunities, visit skills.uc.edu or contact CCPS at ccps@uc.edu.

Featured image at top: Nehemiah Manufacturing’s Social Services Partner of the Year Awards. Nehemiah team members (back row, L to R): Geneva Clark, Kristen Schumacher , Dana Merida, Stacy Everingham, Kristin Bush, Kristina Courtland, Chis Lahni, Eric Wellinghoff (President), Dan Meyer (Co-founder and CEO). CCPS team members (front row, L to R): Elizabeth Kerr, Assistant Dean, Professional and Continuing Education; Sara Betts, Director, UC Aspire; and Jodi Sleyo, Director, Implementation Sciences. Photo/provided by Nehemiah.