CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY The May 2011 spotlight is shining on KRA’s Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) and the impact it has had on a very special customer and an equally special CWEP employer. The Program – July 22, 2011, will mark the 2-year anniversary of the KRA/CWEP operation, which provides 120-to-300 hours of community-based job placement to assist participants in acquiring the general skills, training, knowledge, and work habits necessary to obtain permanent employment. CWEP participants are placed with non-profit organizations that (1) incorporate a community service and (2) improve the employability of participant-workers. KRA negotiates with Work Host sites to develop each CWEP placement
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On June 14, 2011, Don Scott, KRA Senior Vice President, Workforce Operations, will be a featured panelist as part of the prestigious Cox Business Executive Discussion Series. The symposium, moderated by Cathy Lewis, Host/Executive Editor, WHRO-TV (PBS), Norfolk, will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina, Hampton, Virginia. According to Cox Business, part of Cox Communications, a large broadband communications and entertainment company, “Many industries including ship repair, ship manufacturing and transportation expect to face a wave of retirements as the baby boomers start leaving their jobs. Other industries, such as health care and financial services, anticipate job growth
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Recently, Knowlton R. Atterbeary, KRA President &  CEO, visited KRA’s Waccamaw Region offices in  South Carolina. In addition to reviewing program operations with Program Manager, Mary Prince, and Operations Manager, Anthony Featherstone, Mr. Atterbeary held candid “Q&A with the CEO” sessions with both Adult and Youth services staff, which included a dozen KRA Career Agents and three KRA Business Service Representatives. In a follow-up note of appreciation, Mr. Featherstone wrote: “Mr. Atterbeary, on behalf of the Waccamaw staff I would like to thank you for taking the time to visit our area. The staff and I truly enjoyed and valued our time
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Like all KRA Career Agents, Nevaughan Moulds knows that merely having technical employability skills is not enough for workplace success. She knows that KRA Portsmouth YES (Youth Employability and Success) participants entering the job market also need behavioral skills to deal with disputes that arise in the workplace…conflict resolution skills that are critical to sustainable employment. To this end, she works diligently to equip YES students with the skills and techniques they need to avoid and/or resolve workplace conflicts effectively. Mrs. Moulds talks with them about the power of words and how “they can be an esteem builder or breaker
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On Wednesday, April 28th, the Hartford CTWorks One Stop Career Center (One Stop), operated by KRA, hosted U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut, who visited to participate in an extremely informative and productive Roundtable related to the positive impact that Workforce Development Act (WIA) education and training programs have on the local community, and how they benefit both the recipients of these services and the businesses that employ them. Senator Blumenthal and his staff interacted with Alex Johnson, COO, Capital Workforce Partners (CWP)…KRA’s client; Charles Smith, Chair, CWP Board; and Glenn Marshall and Dennis Murphy, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, respectively, CT
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On June 8, 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of Richmond will be hosting Governor Elizabeth Duke, a member of the Board of Governors (the Board) of the Federal Reserve System of the United States. As part of her visit, Ms. Valaryee Mitchell, One Stop Services Coordinator with the Virginia Community College System/Workforce Development Services, has arranged for Governor Duke and other FRB administrators to tour the White Pine Virginia Workforce Center, which is operated by KRA. The full agenda is still in the planning stage, but KRA will be providing space for the assemblage to meet for brief presentations
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CTWorks’ Pantry Points Program (PPP), a KRA incentive-based innovation, continues to be wildly successful. Since January 2010, the PPP has distributed more than 41,000 items (more than 7,100 orders!) to program participants. Here’s how it works: participants earn points by complying with certain JFES (Jobs First Employment Service) program requirements (appointments, employment-plan activities, orientations, etc.) and then redeem their points for items from the “pantry”, which stocks hundreds of products…from pacifiers to pencils and diapers to dish-washing detergent. A popular part of the PPP is “Diaper City @ CTWorks”, in which participants can redeem 5 pantry points for 1 pack of disposable
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On April 7th and 8th, 2011, “Mr. S”, a KRA Portsmouth Youth Employability and Success (YES) program participant from Lake Taylor High School, engaged in the Virginia Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition held at Virginia Commonwealth University.  The FIRST program gets high school students, 14-18, involved in projects that focus on engineering, science, and technology to increase their knowledge and skills and to encourage them to consider careers in these fields. FIRST students interact in challenging and exciting mentor-based projects that foster self-confidence, communication, and leadership skills. The April Competition was an engineering challenge; students
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Yet again, a KRA Portsmouth In-School Youth Employability & Success (YES) student is facing the future with anticipation, confidence, and high expectations… reflective of  the success she achieved through YES’ Work-Readiness Program. During her period of program participation, “Ms. F”, a senior at Booker T. Washington High School, took full advantage of the guidance provided by KRA Career Counselors, whose advice led Ms. F to enroll in YES classes that would serve her well in the future. She completed courses that emphasized workplace ethics and the importance of putting forth a positive attitude, maintaining good attendance and punctuality habits, being
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