Chesapeake Job Club Leader on a Mission

Nov. 24, 2008 — -- Laurie Baggett is helping people find jobs with a career club called the IT Factor and she's got a lot of members who need help.

"I have 12 people in my job club and I can tell you when I go to sleep at night, I am thinking about them. I will do what it takes. I am committed to them until every person has a job," Baggett said.

Baggett has already helped Rachel Judy become a stay-at-home virtual assistant.

"I knew our savings was going to run out and I would have to make something and I refused to go back to work traditional," Judy said.

Patricia Carawan needed work because of big changes in her life.

"To be going through a divorce, raising two kids, have no retirement, no money put aside, yeah it's scary," she said.

Carawan is now a freelance accountant.

Baggett established her career club thanks to the efforts of Tori Johnson, a workplace correspondent on "Good Morning America."

Baggett recently arranged for unemployed club members to have haircuts and makeovers and get confidence-building tips -- all donated by local companies that want to help.

Shee Lee Rock, a new club member, was laid off three weeks ago and she's got a child and bills to pay.

"It was quite devastating," Rock said. "I think I am still in shock and I am trying to move forward."

Baggett is determined to help Rock and others like her.