Life changing success story

ST. PETERSBURG — Imagine learning that after 23 years of corporate employment with a company your job would end due to outsourcing. As a baby boomer, what would you do? That’s exactly what happened to St. Petersburg native, Valencia Nettles who as an entrepreneur managed her own floral business in the city while employed full-time at Verizon Directories.

Nettles did not let this discourage her. With hard work, faith and determination she decided to seek higher education. She left the business to go to school fulltime while gaining fulltime employment experience as a Registered and Certified Pharmacy Technician in a long term care pharmacy.

While in the St. Petersburg College (SPC) Healthcare Services Program, Valencia was able to land a Capstone internship with the Florida Department of Health. She gained experience in Community Health and networked with bay area partners such as Healthy Start Coalition, JWB and All Children’s Infectious Disease pediatricians.

She was blessed to have mentors such as Samantha Staley and Andrea Peaten from the Florida Department of Health – Immunization Disease Control and Prevention Division to lead and guide her as she completed her learning contract from SPC’s program.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” said Nettles who graduated from SPC with honors last month and looks forward to working on a Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare at Capella University. She is a proud recipient of the Gibbs Jr. College Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation.

Congratulations Valencia! You are an inspiration to all.