KRA Chosen as Horseshoe Casino Baltimore Legendary Academy Partner

KRA Corporation’s  Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, operated for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, offers jobseeker-customers a wide range of work-readiness activities, including comprehensive assessments, unsubsidized Community Work Experience opportunities, occupation-specific skills training for several local in-demand industries, and job placement services.

Recently, KRA/Baltimore received a high honor, when the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore chose the program to play a pivotal role—as a Legendary Candidates Academy* Partner—in a city-wide recruitment effort designed to ultimately fill 1,700 new positions resulting from a massive Casino expansion program.  KRA’s involvement began in August 2013, when Alex Dixon, Vice President & Assistant General Manager of the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, was invited to a KRA/Baltimore Summer Employment Appreciation Event, but was unable to attend.

Mr. Dixon followed-up with a message to Yvette Clark, KRA/Baltimore Business Services Manager, which read: “Thank You Yvette, I am sorry I was not able to attend, but I wanted to make sure I connected with what sounds like a great group of people. In terms of our hiring, we will begin to ramp up significantly in Q2 of next year, and will be working closely with a coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development.  She will begin next week and I look forward to connecting you two once she gets settled.  All the best, Alex.”

In January 2014, the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore “ramp up” plan was announced officially, when their Press Office released this statement: “Horseshoe Casino Baltimore today announced the details of an expansive program that will begin next month to educate city residents about the 1,700 new jobs that are being created by the $442-million casino entertainment complex.

Working in conjunction with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore City Council, Horseshoe Baltimore will conduct outreach in each of the City’s 14 districts to educate residents about available positions, qualifications and the application process.  By partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) and a wide range of community groups, neighborhood associations and civic organizations, the Horseshoe recruiting team will reach out to job seekers where they live to promote special neighborhood-based recruitment events.”

On February 20th, Clark, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, attended an invitation-only Horseshoe Legendary Academy Partner event co-sponsored by the MOED.  Clark commented, “This is one of the most exciting private-public partnership efforts that we have been involved with!  The entire leadership team of the Horseshoe Casino attended, as well as Karen Sitnick, Director of the MOED.

The atmosphere was positively ‘electric’ with all the Academy Partners so involved, on the same page, and totally committed to the success of this city-wide effort that will provide much-needed job opportunities for our residents.  Many  of our own KRA/Baltimore customers have demonstrated they are a good match for some of the Casino’s openings, and we will do all we can to ensure they are considered for employment.

On February 26th, Nate’ Gordon, KRA Corporate Operations Manager, and I will attend a Train-the-Trainer Seminar, so KRA can begin operating its own Horseshoe Baltimore Legendary Candidates Academy.  We look forward to reporting on the success of the Seminar just in time for the next KRA Company News posting on March 3rd! So, stay tuned!!”

*The Horseshoe Baltimore Legendary Candidates Academy consists of a series of 2-day, 6-hour training sessions that provide in-depth information about the requirements for various Casino positions, outline the pre-employment process, underscore Horseshoe Baltimore’s emphasis on exceptional customer service, and prepare candidates for position-specific interviews.