Our History
Stimac Youths & Associates (SYA) is an organization focused on providing career development opportunities for young people. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, SYA offers programs that aim to prepare youth for the workforce by enhancing their skills, providing job experiences, and helping them gain the confidence needed to succeed in professional environments.
Key initiatives of SYA include:
⦁ Summer Youth Program: SYA connects local businesses with young people aged 16 to 25, providing them with 8 weeks of on-the-job experience.This program helps young people gain valuable work experience and build their professional networks.
⦁ Career Preparation Services: SYA provides career readiness training to help youth develop important skills such as resume writing, interview preparation, communication, and goal setting. Their programs focus on self-awareness, appearance, and other factors that contribute to success in job interviews.
⦁ Job Placement Services: SYA offers a job posting platform for employers to list open positions and connect them with qualified young candidates. They also offer various membership options for employers to advertise job openings.
⦁ Competitions: One of SYA’s major initiatives is organizing events like the “Ace My Job Interview Competition,” a competition that searches for top high school seniors across the Atlanta area, offering – CASH PRIZES – INTERNSHIPS -access to our ONLINE JOB READINESS platform.
SYA is committed to empowering youth, especially in underserved communities, by providing valuable resources and opportunities for growth, self-improvement, and future career success.
Breaking Barriers, Setting Standards
The Ace My Job Interview Competition is looking for 12th-grade students who demonstrate the following qualities to enter:
⦁ Strong Communication Skills – Ability to express thoughts clearly and professionally.
⦁ Confidence & Professionalism – Poise, self-assurance, and readiness for the workforce.
⦁ Career Readiness – Understanding of resume development, interview techniques, and workplace etiquette.
⦁ Leadership & Initiative – Ability to take charge, think critically, and problem-solve.
⦁ Goal-Oriented Mindset – Clear career aspirations and a plan to achieve them.
⦁ Work Ethic & Dedication – Commitment to learning, improving, and preparing for future opportunities.
⦁ Self-Awareness & Presentation – Understanding strengths, weaknesses, and the importance of appearance in professional settings.
The competition aims to identify top-performing students who are prepared for professional success, with the winners receiving cash prizes and a six-month paid internship opportunity.
If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact us through our Contact Us page. One of our team members will reach out to you soon!
By donating to our cause or giving your time, you can help us make a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Your support allows us to provide career development programs, job readiness training, and mentorship opportunities for youth striving for a brighter future. Join us in empowering the next generation!
The Visionary Behind Stimac Youths & Associates (SYA)
Sherquel S. Sands-Stimac - Founder
In the heart of Atlanta, a dedicated leader with 30 years’ experience with a strong background in recruiting, workforce development, and business strategy saw a critical gap—young people struggling to transition into the workforce due to a lack of career guidance, experience, and confidence. Having worked across security, customer service, media, medical, aviation, and project management, the founder understood both the needs of employers and the challenges job seekers faced.
With years of experience in roles such as Project Manager, Executive Sales Consultant, Aviation Specialist, Recruitment Expert, and Career Development Coach, they realized that many talented young individuals were missing out on opportunities simply because they lacked the right mentorship and professional training. Instead of waiting for a solution, they created one.
This vision led to the founding of Stimac Youths & Associates (SYA), an organization committed to empowering youth aged 16-25 with job readiness skills, professional certifications, and real-world work experience. Through initiatives like the summer youth work program, career preparation courses, digital business card services, and the “Ace My Job Interview” competition, SYA has become a steppingstone for young people entering the workforce.
Drawing from experiences in Marksman Security Corporation, Allied Universal Security, Maximus (Census Project), Coloplast (Medical Industry), Centerfield Media (Wireless Industry), ABM Industries (Aviation Division), and Island Executive Co., the founder built a platform where education meets opportunity. SYA not only helps young people land jobs but also equips them with lifelong career skills, confidence, and professional resilience.
Building this organization came with its challenges—securing funding, gaining business partnerships, and ensuring every student receives quality training. But every success story, every student who aced an interview, every young adult who found a career path, and every business that benefited from a well-prepared employee—made the journey worthwhile.
Today, SYA continues to grow, helping young professionals secure brighter futures. And behind it all stands a leader whose dedication, industry expertise, and passion for career development continue to change lives, one opportunity at a time.
Our program covers
- Introduction
- Career Preparation
- Getting to know yourself
- Who are you? • Self-Reflection
- Strengths & Weaknesses
- Benefits in having confidence
- What is confidence
- What are your focus points
- Level of awareness
- Life purpose, Gifts, Skills & Talents
- What do you want for your life?
- I messed up-Can I start over
- Your personal Style and goal setting
- Skills leaders have
- Goal setting
- Application and interview process
- Let’s get ready for your first interview
- How do you manage your nervousness in a job interview?
- The interview processes
- Before the interview
- Common interview questions
- Interview Do`s and Don’ts
- After the interview
- Additional questions you need to consider
- Customer service
- The path to success • Five characteristics of a successful businessperson
- What characteristic describes your personality!
- Reasons why people are afraid to succeed
- Why do people fail?
Reasons why you should be successful
Vulnerable young people who are trafficked and exploited by gangs to distribute drugs are still too often perceived to have ‘made a choice’ and are therefore criminalized rather than safeguarded and recognized as victims of the gangs who control them.
Graduation is over now what?
Before I started college, I spent months deciding between majoring in graphic design or political science. I chose graphic design. I did that for a semester before realizing it wasn’t my thing, then transferred schools and started a political science program. I did that for a couple of years before moving over to creative writing. I graduated seven years later with 40 more credits than I needed and a solid case of burnout. I had no idea what I wanted to do, and nobody told me it’d be okay to take some time off or just skip declaring a major until I figured things out.
What if You Can’t Get a Job After College?
College graduates leave school with a degree in their hands and enthusiasm for the career they want to build. But when they start looking for employment in earnest, sometimes getting that career started doesn’t go as well as planned. Fortunately, there are things you can do if your job hunt stalls. Find out why you may be having trouble landing a job after graduation. Plus, get expert perspectives on common mistakes recent grads make, and discover tips to stay motivated when morale is low.
Everything starts with you
The single most important attribute to becoming successful is self-discipline. It helps you stay focused on reaching your goals, gives you the gumption to stick with difficult tasks, and allows you to overcome obstacles and discomfort as you push yourself to new heights.
What to expect from career coaching?
From a good career coaching service, you should develop the tools and methodologies to solve any conflict or doubt regarding your career. In general terms and depending on the program objective, after going through a career coaching program, you should be able to: Find your sweet spot Gain career confidence and inspiration Be able to pitch yourself in a compelling manner Know your next career step and how to work towards it Be able to highlight your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
