Springfield Hospital Honored at Employer Appreciation Breakfast

The Occupational Development Program, in conjunction with Creative Workforce Solutions, (HCRS) Health Care & Rehabilitation Services and Lincoln Street Inc., recently held it's annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast where 3 Springfield Hospital workers were presented with awards.
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Springfield Hospital Honored at Employer Appreciation Breakfast Posted on 6/4/2014 Chris DeLong poses for a photo with Arlene Runnells and Julie Snide at the annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast in Springfield. Delong is a River Valley Technical student and has trained at the hospital for eight months and will return for further training next year. The Occupational Development Program, in conjunction with Creative Workforce Solutions, (HCRS) Health Care & Rehabilitation Services and Lincoln Street Inc., held it's annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast at the River Valley Technical Center Cafe on April 25. Sixty community business people and Occupational Development Program students shared breakfast. The businesses that were represented spent most of this school year training one or more Occupational Development students on the job in their place of business. Due to the generosity of spirit and hands on training, the ODP students gained experience with the realism of the workplace environment and job skills. It's a win for the students and a win for the employers. Many of the businesses hire their trainees upon graduation. This year 25 ODP students worked in 19 various businesses and 8 of our 13 seniors were offered employment upon graduation. The businesses who participated in the Occupational Development Program’s Job Training Program this year are: Springfield Cinema 3, Collectibles on the Landing, Tina's Hallmark, Bond Auto Body, Ephraim Mountain Farm, Springfield Recycling Center, Black River Produce, WinCycle, The Good Buy Store, LaValley's Building Supply, The Springfield High School Library, Mail Delivery, and Cafe Services, The Penguin Market, World of Discovery Childcare, Springfield Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, Riverside Restaurant , Springfield Humane Society, Singleton’s General Store and, last but not least, Springfield Hospital. Kimberly Farrar, Transition Coordinator and teacher for Occupational Development Program, selected Springfield Hospital and honored them with the Occupational Development Employer Appreciation Award this year. Sisters, Julie Snide, Director of Environment & Nutritional Services and Arlene Runnells, Nutrition Services Supervisor, received this award for their efforts with our students over the last six years. Julie and Arlene have given our students a rigorous job training experience, beginning with an interview, reference check, hospital safety and confidentiality training. They then receive a full orientation and an official hospital name tag. After beginning work, they receive training in a wide variety of food preparation skills from making jello and dicing vegetables to cooking food on the grill. Pictured between Julie and Arlene is Chris DeLong, who is also a River Valley Technical Student. He has trained at the hospital for eight months and will return for further training next year. Chris said, "Job training at the hospital is the best. Everyone is kind and patient and takes the time to help me do a good job. I would like to be hired by the hospital in the future. Julie and Arlene are awesome!" Past winners of the Occupational Development Program's plaque are The Dish on Main, in Saxton's River, VT, Sonnax Industries, and VERMED, both in Rockingham, VT, Jake's Market and Ephraim Mountain Farm, both in Springfield, VT. Springfield Hospital joins these revered leaders in equal employment opportunity for all people. “Creative Workforce Solutions and Springfield High School Occupational Development Program are natural partners in the sense that they are both passionate about developing the current and future workforce. Creative Workforce Solutions is an initiative of the Agency of Human Services that offers a coordinated approach to employment services that provides equal access to meaningful work in the competitive job market for all job seekers. Creative Workforce Solutions offers the business community a service that helps them access qualified candidates for free. Anyone who is interested in learning more can contact Karin Thomas at 802-343-4729.” As mentioned, Creative Workforce Solutions also teams with the post graduate developmental service agencies; Lincoln Street Inc. and Health Care & Rehabilitation Services. During the breakfast, these agencies also singled out 3 businesses for awards. HCRS awarded their Annual Appreciation framed certificates to Cafe Services, managed by Food Services Director Carloyn Scully, F.W. Webb managed by Mike Nachajski and Sonnax Industries Supervisor Kim Hallock. Lincoln Street Inc. recognized Gillingham’s with a framed certificate. These business people and companies were honored for their continued commitment to training, employment and equal access to meaningful work in the competitive job market.