Employers, Participants and Partnerships Receive BAC Awards

11/4/2005

The winners of the 2005 Awards of Excellence were announced today at the Wake Area Business Advisory Council’s (BAC) 3rd-annual banquet. Employees, employers, community partnerships and participants were honored for their excellence and accomplishments in the area of workforce development in Wake County employment and training programs.

Two Wake County Human Services employees, two area employers, two outstanding participants and one innovative partnership were among those recognized. Innovation, determination and inspiration were a few of the terms that describe the winners.

Carolyn Beatty, senior case manager with Human Services’ Workforce Investment Act (WIA) team, was presented the Outstanding Employee award. Beatty was cited for her extra effort in helping clients who experience the many obstacles the can befall individuals seeking to improve themselves, including training, transportation and housing. During the 2004 program year, Carolyn helped 25 individuals move through training to employment, with wages averaging $18.01 per hour. Carolyn brought 22 new cases into the program while providing educational/training assistance to 90 persons, the highest total of the WIA team.

McLaurin Parking Company and Time Warner Cable were named as Outstanding Businesses. McLaurin Parking was commended for its dedication to hiring persons with disabilities, illustrated by the fact more than 50 percent of its cashiers have a disability. The company has formed partnerships with organizations that assist people with disabilities. McLaurin President Kristy Eubanks promotes educating job counselors about available positions to make quality job matches.

Time Warner Cable (TWC) was honored for its hiring of four visually impaired participants who are involved with the N.C. Division of Services for the Blind (DSB). TWC made arrangements for special training classes to accommodate the new hires and implemented a mentor program to support them. The State was pleased to be able to make job placements through TWC because of the competitive wages and benefits TWC offers.

Outstanding Participant awards were presented to James Cooley and Ana Lillian Olortegui. Cooley, nominated by Human Services’ Working for Kids (WFK) program, was noted for his determination to become self-sufficient and to be a better parent. Cooley came into the program with a variety of issues, including years of substance abuse, poor job history, a criminal record and ongoing child support obligations. With the support of the WFK program and other sponsors, he has managed to stay drug-free throughout the last year and has stayed employed to earn money to pay toward his child support obligations.

The PRO-Familia program nominated Olortegui. Having little previous work experience, limited English skills and a variety of health issues, she was cited for achieving a job as a well-respected child care provider. She also went on to work on other goals, enrolling in childcare development classes at Wake Tech and has begun computer training with the Global Learning Center.

The North Carolina Justice Center - Immigrants Legal Assistance Project (NCJC) received the Outstanding Partnership award. The NCJC assists immigrants in obtaining and maintaining proper immigration documentation so that they can live and work in the United States. NCJC paralegal Cristin Ruggles has worked tirelessly with PRO-Familia in order to assist immigrants with legal issues. Its excellent customer service and quick response time is rare in the field, and the superior service offered is free of charge. The NCJC’s commitment is especially appreciated given the dramatic growth in Wake County’s Spanish-speaking population over the last few years.

Guests and honorees included Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb, who helped present the awards, and Wake County Deputy Manager Joe Durham provided welcoming comments. Heather Collier, chair of the BAC, offered opening remarks, and Maria Spaulding, Human Services' executive director, provided the closing remarks.

The Wake Area Business Advisory Council is a Human Services initiative established in 1997 to promote partnership between local businesses/employers and vocational services programs in Wake County. For more information, call Janny Flynt, WCHS Work Force development coordinator, at 212-7594

back to current news items