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Robert S.
Taubman, chairman, president and CEO of Taubman Centers, Inc.,
headlined the twelfth annual JVS Strictly Business Awards and
Networking Luncheon at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn on May 12.
Before an audience of nearly 600 business and community leaders,
Taubman spoke about the current economic crisis and offered
winning strategies businesses execute to emerge as stronger, more
competitive companies. The event raised $255,000 to support JVS
employment programs and services.
Plum Market
and four employees of local companies were also honored. Marc
Jonna, Co-founder of Plum Market accepted the JVS Business
Leadership Award for bringing 150 new jobs to Oakland County.
Jonna attributes his company’s success to its ability to offer
natural, organic, local, and specialty items, superior guest
relations and its diverse workforce of people from all ages,
backgrounds, and abilities. 2008 Business Leadership honoree
Joshua Linker, Founder and CEO of ePrize presented the Award to
Plum Market.
The four individuals who received the JVS Employee of
the Year Awards were Detroit residents Melony Colvin and Samuel
Farmer, Gila Gelfond of Beverly Hills, and Milford resident Tina
Rusas. The honorees were recognized for overcoming obstacles to
employment and becoming exemplary employees.
Honoree Gila Gelfond, who has a learning disability, worked hard
to finish high school. The summer before she was supposed to start
college, however, she was struck down by a truck. She suffered a
double skull fracture and was in a coma for three weeks. When she
woke up, she had to learn to speak and move again.
Although Gila never made a full recovery, she has been
able to work independently with the help of the JVS Supported
Employment program which helps people with disabilities
successfully obtain and maintain employment.
Today, Gila is
a dining room attendant at Jewish Home & Aging Services’ Fleishman
Residence, where she rolls silverware and helps before the daily
meal services. She also serves as a goodwill ambassador to the
seniors who live at the residence.
According to
her supervisor, Lanny LeBlanc, Gila is an excellent work. “She’s
dependable, loyal and thorough. She really cares about the people
who live here and that makes a huge difference to the residents.”
Samuel Farmer was living the good life in a nice
house on a lake when his wife and step daughter were killed in a
car accident. To cope, Samuel began drinking and stopped taking
his medication for bipolar disorder.
When his employer told him to take all the time he
needed, Samuel took it too literally and lost his job. He also
lost his house after he stopped paying his bills. Samuel was
forced to live in his car, but still continued to drink and
received three drunk driving tickets and a jail sentence.
When he was release from prison, Samuel was ordered
to receive inpatient treatment at Operation Get Down in Detroit.
It was there that he heard about JVS and reached out for help.
Through the JVS Career Initiative Center, Samuel landed some
internship positions and began putting his life back together.
With newfound confidence, Samuel asked Operation Get
Down for a chance to volunteer as a job developer to help others
find employment. Samuel excelled at the job and was offered a full
time position. Today he’s proud of how far he has come. “I love
being able to do something that affects people’s lives in such a
positive way. It’s a new beginning for me.”
Yellow Book Media Consultant Tina Rusas sought help
from the JVS Women to Work program after separating from her
husband. “I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years and suddenly I was
getting divorced,” explained Rusas. “I had a degree in Information
Technology, but my skills were no longer applicable. I felt like a
dinosaur.”
With help from JVS, Tina evaluated her skills and
interests and discovered she would be well suited for sales. After
pursuing this new avenue, she landed a sales position at Yellow
Book. “Tina was very eager to learn,” said Yellow Book District
Sales Manager Kristen Henson. “During her first year, she exceeded
her sales objectives by 106%, which is pretty remarkable for a
first-year sales rep.”
According to Tina, her success has also taught her kids
the value of hard work. “Being back in the workforce has helped my
kids see what they need to strive for themselves. I hope they are
proud of me.”
Melony Colvin is a Dressing Room Attendant at A.J.
Wright in Southgate where she monitors the fitting rooms and
places sensors on clothes. She was honored for her being a
reliable worker with excellent customer service skills.
Colvin has excelled in the workplace with help from the
JVS Supported Employment Program, which provides the necessary
assistance to ensure that individuals with disabilities succeed on
the job.
“Melony is an excellent employee. I can count on her to
get the job done,” said Store Manager James Glister. “I wish I had
100 Melony’s!”
Strictly Business is an annual fundraising event for
JVS, a nonprofit human service organization. The organization is a
leading provider of career placement, counseling and training to
individuals with disabilities, breadwinners seeking a job or
career change, at-risk students, frail seniors and metro Detroit
employers. From its four locations in Detroit, Roseville,
Southfield and West Bloomfield, JVS serves over 10,000 people
annually to help them realize their life’s potential. |