Challenge Works Fall-Winter Newsletter 2017

A message from Executive Director Joe Sammons

Greetings, everyone! I am excited and proud to share our latest Challenge Works newsletter with you, and to keep you up to date on the positive impact Challenge is having on our community.

There are many positive stories to tell about the direction Challenge is headed as we wrap up the first month of 2017. As you may have read in a previous newsletter, Challenge was honored to serve more than 1,200 individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment in 2016, and to assist them as they became valued and integral parts of our workforce. With over 125 business partners in our community, Challenge continues to play an integral role as the link between those businesses and a workforce they can rely on.

In this newsletter, for instance, you’ll read how Rebecka received assistance from Employment Specialists at Challenge to gain the independence and training she needed to be a valuable member of the staff at Cayuga Medical Center during a recent work experience. You’ll also read about two exciting new programs. The first is a partnership with BOCES to prepare individuals to enter the workforce by providing them the self-confidence and skills they need. The second is a job development class designed as a “next step” for individuals who have been working in Challenge-run dish rooms at Ithaca College and Cornell.

We are incredibly thankful to be in a community that understands the need for the vital programs we provide, and are eager to continue to tell our story and to expand on the rich history of success here at Challenge! Thank you for your continued support.

Warmly, Joe

Where There’s A Challenge, We Have A Solution! Find us on Facebook, Twitter and at ChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org!

Why give to Challenge? In 2016, we assisted over 1,200 individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment.

Your support helps us continue these important programs.

950 Danby Suite 179Ithaca, NY 14850

www.ChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org607-272-8990

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To support our work, visit www.ChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org.

7WorksChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org | Fall 2015 |

Challenge Partners with BOCES

ProSkills is a one-week job readiness course that prepares individuals to enter the workforce by fostering self-confidence and learning comprehensive start-to-finish employment basics.

Since 2014, facilitators have hosted ProSkills at Challenge’s main building but beginning this year, they are bringing the class out to the community. Emily Koester, Jennifer Northrop, and Frances Mulberry are presenting ProSkills to BOCES classes as part of a youth services pilot program to help bridge the gap between school and employment. With an emphasis on transferrable skills, the ProSkills team aims to customize employment basics for young people with limited or no work history.

One goal of being at BOCES is to break down intimidating or seemingly enigmatic information about employment in a digestible way. ProSkills will be at BOCES on a weekly basis to present common interview, job preparation, and work place fundamentals through discussion-based activities.

Multiple BOCES teachers have expressed interest in Challenge’s job readiness services – the ProSkills team hopes this pilot program is the first step to a lasting partnership and presence with BOCES!

Why Challenge Works!

Inside the dish room at Robert Purcell Community Center at Cornell University

The Next Step

A new class, "Job Development with Resume Creation," is being developed at Challenge. The session is designed to "bridge the gap" for individuals who have been working in Challenge-run dish rooms, and who are deemed to be ready for community placement.

The goal is to give the individual confidence, reassure them that they will have support from Challenge, and help them to create a resume they can use to seek employment.

Staff are working to develop a class that can be taught annually during winter break when individuals are temporarily away from their positions, in addition to a ProSkills class that is offered to Contract Staffing crew members during the summer months.

Challenge Workforce Solutions, a non-profit committed to creating pathways to employment for people with disabilities or barriers, has announced the members who will serve aso its Board of Directors for 2017.

Challenge is pleased to announce that for a second consecutive year, Beth Mielbrecht, Partner and Senior Engineer at Taitem Engineering in Ithaca, will serve as the Chairperson for Challenge’s Board of Directors. Steve Savage, Associate Vice President in Ithaca College’s Office of Institutional Advancement, will serve as the Board’s Vice Chair. Kelley Yeomans, Senior Director of Finance & IT in Facilities Services at Cornell University, will serve in the role of Treasurer. Jacob Yale, a teacher in the Ithaca City School District, will serve as the Board’s Secretary.

Challenge has also welcomed the following members to its Board of Directors for 2017; Todd Baker, Principal, Empowerment Ergonomics; Derek Burrows, General Counsel, GrammaTech, Inc.; David Filiberto, Research Associate, Employment & Disability Institute, Cornell University; Sheila McEnery, Director of Special Education, Ithaca City School District; Kellie Page, Associate Vice President, Student and Campus Life, Cornell University; Matthew Valaik, Vice President and Branch Manager, Tompkins Trust Company.

“We are so pleased to have such an incredible mix of talents, skills, and experience on our Board of Directors at such a crucial time in the history of Challenge,” said Joe Sammons, Executive Director at Challenge. “Challenge served over 1,200 individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment in 2016, and we couldn’t do that work without the leadership and service of our Board.”

BOARD MEMBERSCHAIR

Beth Mielbrecht

VICE CHAIRSteve Savage

SECRETARYKelley Yeomans

TREASURER Jacob Yale

BOARDTodd Baker

Derek BurrowsDavid FilibertoSheila McEnery

Kellie PageMatthew Valaik

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORJoe Sammons

DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYMENT & VOCATIONAL SUPPORTS

Marty Gold

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONSEthan Mancil

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENTKimberly Pugliese

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES & COMPLIANCE

Melissa Chiusano

Challenge Workforce Solutions950 Danby Road

Suite 179Ithaca, NY 14850

607-272-8990

Challenge Announces 2017 Board

Beth MielbrechtChairperson

2 Works | Fall-Winter 2017 | ChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org

Steve SavageVice Chairperson

Kelley YeomansTreasurer

Jacob YaleSecretary

3WorksChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org | Fall - Winter 2017 |

It’s pretty rare these days to get everyone in a room to agree on a specific subject. The

world seems more divided than ever on almost every topic.

So when Challenge held its annual dinner on October 11, 2016,

we did what we always do – we stood out from the crowd. Not everyone who attended the dinner at Ithaca College’s Emerson Suites was voting for the same politician. Not everyone had

the same favorite sports teams.

But everyone in that room that night was inspired. They were inspired by the stories of our participants,

who have overcome a number of barriers in their lives to grow their skills and secure employment. They were

inspired by the stories of staff members – some who have been with Challenge for decades – who spoke with passion about their programs, and the people

they were so proud to introduce.

“It’s a full evening,” Executive Director Joe Sammons remarked to the crowd. “A lot of stories, and a lot of

heart in this room.”

Exceptional Achievement Awards were handed out to five consumers: Lillian Demko (presented by Sally

Neuhauser), Muironda Sanderson (presented by Harrison Rumsey), Conner Henderson (presented by

Ryan Notarpole), Douglas Bingham (presented by Dawn Boronkay), and Ismanuel Dilan (presented by

Jessica Regis).

We were thrilled to have a representative from Wegmans, which was named Challenge’s

Employer of the Year, as well as from the Maguire Family of Dealerships, which was recognized as our Business Partner of the Year. Challenge also

recognized community partners, including Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT), and the Tompkins

County Public Library.

“I would like to thank Challenge for providing me with this opportunity at Cornell,” Conner said, before finishing up with an inspirational quote for everyone in the room. “If you ever encounter a hardship in life,

I encourage you to never give up,” he said.

Challenge Welcomes The Community For Annual Dinner!

6 Works | Fall - Winter 2017 | ChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org

Rising To the Challenge! Meet Rebecka M.

Rebecka recently wrapped up an extremely positive work experience at Cayuga Medical Center. She

started there in March of 2016, and held a number of responsibilities, including preparing surgery care packets and filing on the third floor at CMC.

Rebecka said she loved the work there and says everyone was friendly. Her favorite part was socializing with the people she worked with, and helping people throughout her day.

Her positive experience was partly because of the staff she worked with at Challenge, who assisted her in becoming more independent.

“They’re very helpful, and they really taught me a lot,” Rebecka says.

With a positive experience to grow from, Rebecka has a new focus – she wants to pursue acting. She has a number of ideas about how to make that happen. Her first steps are to explore joining an actors workshop, and even exploring the Community School of Music and Arts in Ithaca.

Rebecka has a number of hobbies, including gardening, and says she loves going to the Ithaca Farmers Market. She also loves to cook when she gets the chance.

Want to read more success stories like Rebecka’s? Be sure to like us on Facebook by searching Challenge Workforce Solutions!

And look for us on Twitter! @ChallengeWS

4 Works | Fall - Winter 2017 | ChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org

The Faces of Challenge

Frances Mulberry Employment Specialist

Mike Barry Business Outreach Coordinator

Ethan MancilDirector of Finance & Operations

Pat FrazierData Entry/File Clerk

From Left to Right: Matt Dankanich, Medicaid Service Coordinator; Natasha Schreib, Medicaid Service Coordinator; Sarah House, Assistant MSC Supervisor; Melissa Dorward Mann, Manager of Service Coordination & Managed Care

Challenge has been featured in the media on multiple occasions in recent months.

Look at how we’re making news! In December, Challenge’s Executive Director, Joe Sammons, was featured in a radio segment titled “People You Should Know,” which airs on the stations of the Cayuga Radio Group. Listen online at:

http://whcuradio.com/podcasts/people-you-should-know-joe-sammons/

Also, be sure to search for past interviews with Challenge at whcuradio.com!

In late December, Tompkins Weekly put the spotlight on Challenge, asking questions about the organization and our mission to our Director of Development, Kim Pugliese. Read more at:

http://tompkinsweekly.com/news/2016/12/26/spotlight-challenge-workforce-solutions/

Challenge was also mentioned in a January story about Greenfork, a meal-delivery service company that partners with Finger Lakes Fresh, a division of Challenge.

http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/greenfork-makes-house-calls-with-eclectic-menus/

5WorksChallengeWorkforceSolutions.org | Fall - Winter 2017 |

Challenge In The News!