The National Workforce Day of Action (NWDA) was the impetus for the KRA Somerset Youth Services Program (YSP) Open House on March 22, 2011. The event presented an opportunity to shine the spotlight on, and to thank, the more than 250 employers who had provided worksites for more than 600 youth program participants during KRA’s 2010 Summer Work Program, as well as to heighten local awareness of the NWDA. Attendees included employers from our entire seven-county service area; Youth Services Coordinators from Adair, Clinton, and Somerset County schools; other school personnel, including the Adair County Schools Technology Director; community partners; local, State, and Federal elected officials; and our YSP participants. Other guests included representatives from the Pulaski County Judges Office and the Somerset Mayors Office. A PowerPoint presentation ran continuously during the Open House, highlighting program participants’ achievements, college campus tours conducted by KRA staff, various training programs available to participants, and community volunteer projects. Also, scrapbooks with photos of students from the previous 2 years’ summer work programs were available for guests to view while enjoying refreshments. Linda Cooper, KRA Program Manger, stated “the Open House presented an ideal opportunity for KRA to remind the community-at-large of the many services we provide, and to showcase our many youth success stories. And, we were very pleased that Patrick Boxall, KRA Corporation COO, was able to attend the celebration.” KRA Career Counselors Danelle Coomer, Donna Grant, Barb Hettmansperger, and Kristy Tarter were on hand to greet and chat with guests, answer questions, and in general, make everyone feel welcome.
Dr. Boone’s 20+ years’ experience in the industry is extensive and her expertise in private-, public-, and non-profit sector workforce-services organizations is unparalleled, particularly in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area.
