Monthly Archives November 2015

The KRA Alameda County Business Development Group (BDG) has been uniquely positioned to spearhead the Alameda County WIB’s effort to assist Tesla Motors with filling 400 production-assembly positions. Tesla, one of the largest employers in the Bay area, is an automotive and energy-storage firm that designs, manufactures, and sells luxury electric cars, electric-vehicle power-train components, and battery products. Pamela Carnes, Program Manager, reports, “This project provides an exciting opportunity for KRA/BDG to coordinate a large recruitment and screening effort, locally with the East Bay Works Regional group’s 15 locations, providing great service to a new business customer, and boosting the Alameda
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Deona Dorsey, Operations Manager-Special Projects, and Terrance Bowens, Workshop Facilitator, contacted three of the area’s largest employers…San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and SeaWorld…offering a creative, individualized strategy for filling open positions: Hiring Information Sessions. During each SeaWorld and MTS session at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Workforce Development Center (WDC)–one of five Career Centers operated for the San Diego Workforce Partnership–jobseekers met with recruiters to learn about available openings, the hiring process, and how to apply and follow-up. Diana Saldivar, Social Media Coordinator, commented, “In addition to traditional advertising methods used locally, we
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When Kimberly Smith-Bristow, Program Manager, learned that Kleenland LLC was the new maintenance contractor for the building housing the Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Program, KRA-operated for the Camden County WIB, she lost no time requesting a meeting with Mark Benson, owner. Within days, Kimberly met with Mr. Benson to discuss a business partnership, wherein KRA/Camden would provide Kleenland with a pipeline of qualified workers to fill open positions.  She reports, “Most of our jobseeker-customers are TANF recipients–which struck a personal chord with Mr. Benson, who was once a public-assistance recipient himself.” Dedicated to helping others achieve self-sufficiency, and
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In January 2014, the Baltimore Horseshoe Casino announced it was launching a citywide outreach effort to fill 1,700 jobs for a new $442-million entertainment complex. According to Ernestine Chambers, Operations Manager for the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, “Casino staff-hiring and -replacement is a continuous industry challenge, with some establishments reporting turnover rates as high as 80 percent!” However, statistics indicate that pre-hire, work-readiness programs, such as the Horseshoe Legendary Academy, reduce turnover significantly, e.g., since the August 2014 Grand Opening, 53 percent–964–of the original Academy graduates are still on-the-job!” From the beginning of the outreach program, KRA/Baltimore–operated for the Baltimore
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As reported previously, the KRA Knowledge2Career Academy (K2C) is a comprehensive workforce development program for Out-of-School Youth (OSY), 17-24, operated for the Pacific Gateway Workforce Development Board (PGWDB), in collaboration with the City of Long Beach and other key public- and private-sector partners. Shawna Wright, KRA Program Manager and K2C Project Director, reports, “To combat a local youth-unemployment rate twice the national average, Mr. JP Elma, WIA/WIOA Program Coordinator, PGWDB; Racquel Welch-Kitchen, College/Career Coordinator, Educational Partnership High School (EPHS); and I have been strategically planning K2C expansion and promotion.” Subsequently, K2C has evolved into a results-oriented pathway to successful employment,
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KRA TO PROVIDE
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At only 19, single-mom Taniqua  Fenwick already had more than her fair share of life’s challenges.  For one, her major job-hunting asset,  a high school diploma, was just not enough to offset several obstacles to employment. Michelle Alston, Career Agent, KRA/DC TANF Employment Program (TEP)–operated for the Department of Human Services–reports, “Taniqua  enrolled in TEP in October 2014, with no  work experience, and no safe place to call ‘home’ due to episodes of domestic violence.” Even before KRA/TEP was able to get Taniqua and her child relocated to a shelter in January, she was already working hard to prepare herself
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