Junior Achievement of Central Ohio JA Career Success

An Ohio native and resident, Michele Niklaus is a former pharmaceutical professional and served in the past as an executive sales consultant at Novartis. Currently, she is interested in charitable companies and is a volunteer at Mommies Matter. Michele Niklaus also served in the past as an event coordinator and assistant to vice president of development at Junior Achievement of Central Ohio.

Junior Achievement of Central Ohio is a company that wants to help and prepare the youth for successful lives and careers. The company created a JA Career Success program, which gives young people the tools and skills needed to earn a career in a high-growth industry. In this program teens can learn critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. They can also learn how to apply to jobs and acquire knowledge into job hunting and what is required to present at a job interview or application such as resumes and cover letters.

The JA Career Success consists of seven classes of 45 minutes with learning activities and digital assets. There are also digital books, apps, and games for teens to try, play, and learn simultaneously. Teens acquire research skills through the program, as well as how to pick a valid source for their research.

Mommies Matter Partners with Walking with Moms in Need

Formerly a pharmaceutical industry professional, Michele Niklaus spent 7 years as an executive sales consultant with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in the 2000s. Michele Niklaus currently focuses her efforts in the non-profit sector and has served as a fundraising and community outreach volunteer with Mommies Matter since 2019.

Working closely with local pregnancy centers and social organizations, Mommies Matter empowers and supports women through pregnancy and beyond. The organization plans to partner with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus in its new program, Walking with Moms in Need, which recognizes the need for counseling, spiritual guidance, and financial assistance for women with children. The planned year-long initiative marks a Catholic commitment to action-oriented, pro-life work.

Developed by the diocese’s Pro-Life Committee, Walking with Moms in Need involves creating tools to document and inventory local resources for mothers, as well as improving individual parish responses to women in need. The program also focuses on prayer and reflection on the Bible’s call to bring help and hope to individuals in need.