St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano’s CareerCare Group Hosted the Reveal of the Winners,

Which Also Included a Presentation by Kohut, Providing Tips and Strategies to Job Seekers

Tracey Mutz of Hurst and Chuck Baugh of Arlington were announced on May 21 as the winners of nationally known Absolutely Abby’s  North Texas Total Career Makeover Contest at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, in Plano.  The church’s CareerCare Group, a free, weekly support/coaching group helping those who are out of work or “mis-employed” and seeking a career change, hosted the event.  Both winners have found themselves unemployed for the second time in the last few years, which has been difficult on them, their families and their confidence. As the winners of the Total Career Makeover Contest, they have now received physical makeovers provided by Smith and Abbey Salon in Dallas and will have a private career consulting session with Career Guru Abby Kohut.

Tracey Mutz is a marketing manager specializing in event management of large corporate events. Chuck Baugh’s career has included sports marketing and health care sales, and he is now concentrating on finding a health care marketing position.

Over 180 job seekers attended the reveal and presentation, during which Kohut shared her tips on interviewing and dressing for success and also conducted an interactive mock interview with the audience.  Kohut,  widely known for her website AbsolutelyAbby.com, one of Forbes.com’s “Top 100 Websites for Your Career” in 2013, sold her home and spends her days traveling across America with her husband to reach and teach 1 million job seekers how to stand out in a crowd of over 14 million unemployed.   This is her third Total Career Makeover Contest with the previous two held in California and New Jersey.  Job seekers across North Texas entered the contest, 10 semi-finalists were determined by a committee, and then America voted.  One male and one female winner are selected in each contest.

“In 2012 my husband and business partner Ken and I left our home in New Jersey in an RV to embark on an 8,000 mile journey to help job seekers,” said Abby Kohut.  “We do not earn an income from speaking and do not have a sponsor for the tour.  It is truly a labor of love!”

Since then she has educated more than 200,000 job seekers in libraries, schools, YMCAs, military bases, and houses of worship in 27 states how to stand out in a crowd.  Kohut launched her national Total Career Makeover contest in 2011 and plans to do them in many of the other cities she travels to.    The winners receive a new look including a physical makeover, an individual consulting session with Kohut and copies of her books and teleseminars. 

“St. Andrew’s CareerCare Group was delighted to welcome back Abby Kohut as she always has wonderful advice for anyone seeking new employment,” added Bill Brewer, Ministry Director, CareerCare, St. Andrew UMC.  “It’s also been great to be a part of her North Texas Career Makeover contest.”

Kohut was rated by Fast Company magazine as one of the Top 100 Influential People Online and was one of the “Monster 11” according to Monster.com in 2011.  She has been highlighted as a job search expert on Fox 5, NBC, CBS, ABC, LinkedIn, Monster, Real Simple, The Ladders, Bloomberg Radio, and now Forbes. She is also the author of “Absolutely Abby’s 101 Job Search Secrets.”

CareerCare is a free, weekly support/coaching group helping those who are out of work or “mis-employed” and seeking a career change. Career Care provides comprehensive support: job postings; networking to build job leads/contacts, including LinkedIn group; speakers teaching search skills (resumé, interviewing, etc.); free, volunteer coaches to assist one-on-one with resumés, etc. (by appointment for those attending our weekly meetings, and who don't have professional outplacement package); career assessment testing; private budget/debt counseling at no charge.  Over 500 jobs were landed within this group from 2010 to 2013.

For more information on the CareerCare, visit the CareerCare Website at http://www.standrewumc.org/connect/ministries/learning/career-care/ or call the church office at 214-291-8082. To schedule an interview with the winners or with Absolutely Abby, please call 917-209-2973.

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St. Andrew United Methodist Church is a vibrant, growing, intergenerational church.  Begun in 1986, St. Andrew is located on a 21.214 acre campus at the corner of Plano Parkway and Mira Vista and includes a sanctuary, education, music and nursery wing, completed in 2003.  Nearly 2,000 come together every weekend through six different worship services: Saturday Night Alive!-5:30 p.m.; Sunday Early Service-8:00 a.m.; Teaching Service-9:30 a.m.; and progressive traditional Service-11:00 a.m.; The Well contemporary worship at 9:09 a.m. and 10:39 a.m.  St. Andrew is an outward-focused church striving to lift the world around us toward God and provides a number of local and global mission opportunities including the Seven Loaves Community Center, which provides a myriad of services to qualifying residents of all Collin County zip codes directed at improving lives and breaking the poverty cycle.  A number of caring ministries are in place to support members in all phases of life from support groups to career care in addition to ministries focused on each age group.  Additional ministries include a strong music program with choirs, instrumental groups, as well as the Academy of Music, offering private lessons.  St. Andrew provides each individual with opportunities to connect to the community and contribute their unique gifts to the congregation's spirit. St. Andrew United Methodist Church is located at 5801 Plano Parkway, Plano, TX  75093.  Additional information can be found at www.standrewumc.org