JobShop, Inc., has been proudly serving the workforce development industry since 1976. The company has had offices in Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina providing job training and placement services to youth, displaced workers, businesses and for the Disadvantaged Worker Program (unemployed adults, offenders, welfare clients, Native Americans, etc.).


Tom J. Irwin, Ph. D., CWDP

The company was founded by Tom J. Irwin, Ph. D., CWDP, a pioneer in the field of career counseling and workforce development.  He was the first person awarded the Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) designation by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) and was the recipient of the prestigious Professional Development award in 2002.   A former board member of NAWDP, Dr. Irwin founded and was the first editor of the Journal of Workforce Development.

In 1998, JobShop first published the Job-Search Briefs and Forms, which were renamed JobSearch Guides in 2006.  Under the guidance of Dr. Irwin, the 76 English Guides and 76 Spanish Guides were written by professionals to be used in career centers to provide information to job seekers of all ages and backgrounds.  In 2006, JobShop introduced the Youth Guides that target job seekers 15 to 22 years of age.  In 2008, JobShop Publishing, LLC, was formed to serve as the copyright holder and publisher of the Guides.  JobShop, Inc., continues to market the Guides.

In August 2008, the Job Assistance Center, Inc., purchased JobShop, Inc., to market the JobSearch Guides and Youth Guides.   In addition to marketing the Guides, the Job Assistance Center operates a Workforce Development One Stop Center, Youth and TANF programs.  As an active Workforce Development program, the Job Assistance Center has a vested interest in providing quality, effective resources for the Workforce Development community.


Sherry S. Pearson, CWDP

Sherry S. Pearson, CWDP, is president of JobShop, Inc.  She has been involved in Workforce Development for more than 30 years.  Sherry has been the Virginia National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) board representative since 2000.  She has a degree in Marketing Education.


Deborah S. Santrock, CWDP

Deborah S. Santrock, CWDP, is vice-president of JobShop, Inc.  She has been involved in Workforce Development for more than 20 years.  She has a degree in Business Management and authored two of the JobSearch Guides.