Mar riot t Foundat ion Bridges . . . f rom school to work

Cabin John Ice RinkCity of GaithersburgColor Me MineColumbia Heights Community

CenterCommunity Child Develop-ment Center Community Pool Service IncCourtyard Vermont Ave., NW Courtyard Washington Convention CenterCVS Pharmacy District Dept of EnvironmentEmergence Community Arts

CollectiveFamily Dollar StoreFoot LockerForever 21

For Kids We CareGiant Food IncHoliday InnImagination StageInternal Medicine GroupJones Independent LivingJW Marriott KabloomKensington Park Retirement

Community Kmart Kohl’sLibrary of CongressLinda’s Unisex Hair SalonMajestic Regal Marriott InternationalMartin Luther King Library

Montgomery County GovernmentNationals ParkPopeye’s Potomac VideoRainbow ApparelResidence Inn by MarriottRita’s Italian IceS & P Auto RepairSafewayShoe City Smokey Glenn FarmTargetUrban Burger V & W Construction Washington Very Special ArtsWashingtonian MarriottWMATA

Volume 2, Issue 1

2 0 0 8 H I R I N G E M P L O Y E R S O F B R I D G E S S T U D E N T S

March 2009

B U I L D I N G B R I D G E S

Job Shadow Day

On February 2nd, 2009, Bridges students and employers partici-pated in Job Shadow Day which allowed stu-dents to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace. This event encourages young peo-ple across the country to explore their futures through career aware-ness and mentoring op-portunities.

Here is what the Bridges employers had to say about hosting the event:

“Participating in Job Shadow Day was our pleasure! I'm glad Aronson & Company was able to get involved and we’re hopeful that it was beneficial for the Bridges students. The team here at Aronson had a great time and was happy to contrib-ute.”Dorothy K. Ball, Profes-sional and Administrative Services Manager, Aronson & Company

“I was thoroughly im-pressed with the Bridges students! I found them to be respectful, alert, and inquisitive. I can’t wait to have them back next year!” Thomas Penny, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center, Washington DC

I N T E R V I E W W I T H L U C Y M A D E R T , S A F E W A Y R E C R U I T M E N T B Y C A R O L Y N T H O M A S

Lucy Madert is one of the newest members to join the DC Metro Team's Business Advisory Council (BAC). During her short tenure, she has done much to support the Bridges program.

Please tell us about your background and how you became involved with Bridges?

LM: I was raised in Montgomery County, Maryland and graduated from the Academy of the Holy Name. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Government and Politics. My entire career has been spent in human resources and retail. I spent 26 years with Hecht’s and employed many people with disabilities. For 12 years, I was a Human Resources Advisor with Safeway.

Two years ago I was promoted to Manager of Retail Recruitment, which is the position I now hold. I take care of retail recruitment at Safeway Stores in the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Genardi’s in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. Throughout the years, we’ve hired Bridges participants, but about one year ago we started a more formal partnership with the program.

We receive a lot of applications and wanted Bridges applications to flow more easily through the application maze. Therefore, a process was

implemented so that our students would not be lost in shuffle.

As a result of the easier application method, have there been any success stories?

LM: Yes, there was a Bridges participant who applied for a Starbucks position with the new DC Safeway, landed the job and was able to keep up with the fast pace that is quite normal for Starbucks. She was quite successful.

Why is diversity/inclusion important to you personally and also to Safeway?

LM: From a moral standpoint and my upbringing, it is my personal responsibility. It’s not to win an award; it just makes good business sense. It is an expectation to reflect the community which we serve. They know we are doing our part. Also, Bridges is there to support and follow up. Your efforts really make a difference.

What are your expectations of volunteering on the BAC when you accepted the charge?

LM: It’s a way for Safeway to expand its support role to students. We can provide more hands on training needed by students through workshops that are BAC driven. Finally, we have to give that student a chance. It makes me sleep better at night.

Marr iott Conf identia l and Propr ietary Information

8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 904Silver Spring, MD 20910Phone: 301-562-9146

Fax: 301-562-9149

We’re on the Web! www.marriottfoundation.org

S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T B Y K A Y W E E M S

Donald Thompson is a 2008 Graduate of Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, DC. He was referred to the Bridges Program by his teacher Deborah Green, who said that, “Donald would be a great young man for your program.”

I met with Donald and his Mom in May of 2008 and soon after that began working with Donald. I found Donald to be very polite, responsible and ex-tremely mature. I, too, knew that Don-ald was a great match for the Bridges program and that he was serious about his future. Donald was a joy to work with. He followed up with me when asked, he was always prepared and re-sponsible during our job search.

Donald mentioned to me that he was interested in working at a hotel. Although unsure of what he wanted to do at a hotel, Donald knew that it could be a great career path for him. Donald and I visited a few hotels in the area in

great opportunities within a hotel. I contacted Kathryn Lambert, Director of Human Resources at the JW Mar-riott. Washington D.C. After reviewing Donald’s background, he received an interview there and was hired as a “House Person” on July 18th 2008.

To say that Donald was excited would be an understatement. Donald arrived to work on his first day almost an hour early because he said he wanted to be prepared for emergencies.

Donald is now a full-time employee at Marriott and receives full benefits and all the perks that come with work-ing for this company. Donald was very excited to have the opportunity to work during the entire Inauguratal weekend. He was elated to tell me about all of the familiar faces he encountered. Donald told me that working at the JW Marriott is his “Dream Job!” Donald truly de-serves to be commended for a job well done!

Roy Albert, Deputy Director, D.C. Dept of Disability Services

Dorothy Ball, Professional and Admin Services Manager, Aronson & Company Gene Flick, Corporate Director, Donohoe Hospitality Tiffany Godbout, Hotel Association of Washington

D.C. Deidre Lee, Owner, Color Me MineMaggie Leedy, Lead Disability Navigator, Montgomery WorksAnn Lindsey, Transition Services, Montgomery

County Public SchoolsSalvatore Lombardi, Housekeeping Manager, Marriott InternationalLucy Madert, Manager, Retail Recruitment SafewayJohn McIlveen, Director of Human Resources and

Administration, American Institute for Cancer Research

GeMar Neloms, Director of Professional Development, Nat’l Youth Employment CoalitionSheila Ogilvie, President, Ogilvie Transportation ServicesThomas Penny, General Manager, Courtyard MarriottLydia D. Plummer-Alleyne, Director of Administrative Services, KevricMelanie Smallwood, Transition Services, DC Public

SchoolsBeth Tattar, Customer Service Manager, Giant Foods Tanya Walker, Director of Product Development,

Sunrise Assisted Living

Business Advisory Council:

Office Directory: Director — Shelby HillSenior Employer Rep — Kay Weems Office Administrator — Fay EtminanEmployer Representatives —

Mei Acuña

LaShane Crutchfield

Lawrence Garrison

Josh Marans

Sarah Schauffler

Carolyn Thomas

Rebecca VanGilder

The DC Metro Bridges team would like to welcome our two newest staff members:

Fay Etminan—Administrative Assistant Mei Acuña—Employer Representative

Fay and Mei both started employment with Bridges on February17th. We are very excited to have them on the team and as part of our upcoming, successful program years. Welcome!

On March 1st, the DC Metro Bridges office is moving up! We’re moving one floor up in our current office building—from Suite 801 to Suite 904.

Please be sure to note the change in your files!

Who’s New at Bridges?!? We’re moving!

Helpful Info... Checkout this weblink regarding legislation from the new administration sup-porting people with disabilities at http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/disabilities/

H O L I D A Y C E L E B R A T I O N W O R K S H O P B Y J O S H M A R A N S

Resumes" comprised of their collective skills, work experience, and demographic information.

The speaker, Dr. Patrick Madsen, Director of Career

On December 10th, 2008, Marriott Bridges hosted its annual Holiday Workshop at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Bridges students and staff were treated to a gourmet buffet by the courteous JW employees in the immaculate facilities.

Students began the day by mingling and creating "Group

Services for Johns Hopkins University, led the students in a challenging game of "Employment Jeopardy" against the overly-confident Bridges staff. Needless to the say, the students were the victors (due to their Bridges training, of course). Staff and students alike are already looking forward to next year's celebration!

Bridges’ staff and students at the Holiday Workshop, December 2008

Bridges’ Partnerships:

Marr iott Conf identia l and Propr ietary Information