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14th
Annual Strictly Business
Awards Luncheon
Nearly
1,100 people attended the 14th Annual Strictly Business Awards Luncheon
on April 5, 2006, helping JVS raise more than $500,000 to help bring
people and work together in the Bay Area.
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Event
Underwriter 
Employee
of the Year Award Winners
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Rose
Pierre-Saint
Kaiser Permanente of
San Rafael Medical Center |
Sponsored
by Wells Fargo
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A
native of Haiti, Rose, was working in a low-wage health care
aide job in Massachusetts when she found out about JVS from
a friend. She moved to the Bay Area in 2001, to enter the
Licensed Vocational Nursing Refresher program and gain her
American nursing licensure. She now works as a registered
nurse at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael, where she specializes
in medical-surgical and has trained in pediatrics. Rose has
now recruited six other nurses from Haiti, who were living
across the United States, to participate in the JVS nursing
refresher programs. Rose is not only helping her friends survive
the demanding refresher courses and attain licensure in this
country, but she has ensured that they are fed and housed.
Rose's supervisor praises his employee by saying, "Rose
understands the vision of the nursing profession and demonstrates
integrity. She has not only achieved her own goals, but she
has opened up the door to success for many other Haitian nurses,
who would have not been able to accomplish what they have
without Rose's help."
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Danny
Wong
Evergreen Lodge |
 
Sponsored
by Macy's West and
California Pacific Medical Center
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| Growing
up, Danny's speech and language disabilities presented him with
many challenges both in school and work. An immigrant from China,
his single mother had difficulties helping him due to her lack
of English language skills. At JVS, Danny found the skills and
guidance he needed to make his way into the work world. Although
his efforts at finding work brought frustration as employers
turned him away, hesitant to give him a chance, he exceeded
his employers' expectations once he was hired-first at Evergreen
Lodge in Yosemite and then at Safeway here in San Francisco.
As Danny's employer at Evergreen Lodge writes, "Very few
have shown the commitment, reliability and self-reliance that
Danny has." Danny continues to remain involved with JVS
through his participation in the Youth Advisory Council, where
he is known as the engine of the council - he always keeps the
group on track and makes sure it meets its goals. |
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Tiliscia
McPeters
Bartko, Zankel,
Tarrant & Miller |
 
Sponsored
by
Forest City Development California, Inc.
and Sterling Bank & Trust / Seligman
Family Foundation
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| With
parents who were both substance abusers, Tiliscia lived in and
out of foster care and group homes until she was 18. She found
out about the JVS Legal Employment Action Program (LEAP) while
living in a transitional house for homeless families with her
son. Participating in LEAP gave Tiliscia the skills and confidence
she needed to change her life and find a competitive job in
the legal field as a file clerk for Bartko, Zankel, Tarrant
& Miller, Within a year, she was promoted to file room coordinator,
earning $21 per hour. When nominating her for this award, Tiliscia's
employer says: "When making the decision to hire Tiliscia,
I thought I was doing something good for the community, but
it turns out I was doing something good for myself and for our
law firm." Besides her position at the law firm, Tiliscia
inspires other participants with her perseverance, tenacity
and success story through the LEAP program. |
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Ammy
Johnson
Employment
Development Department |
Sponsored
by Bank of America
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| Ammy
Joseph's physical and learning disabilities have not stopped
her from pursuing her dreams. She first connected with JVS through
the Work Resource Program in 1999, as a sophomore at Abe Lincoln
High School, where she participated in career exploration, work
readiness and job search skills classes. Throughout her participation
in multiple JVS programs, Ammy's skills, self-confidence and
leadership abilities have grown. In 2002, Ammy began working
at the California EDD as a youth specialist, building on the
tools she gained at JVS, and now works as a peer counselor,
conducting job search workshops and helping other youths navigate
their own way into the workforce. Ammy also continues to participate
at JVS as the Improving Transition Outcomes Project (ITOP) intern
and is a founding member of the Youth Advisory Council, helping
JVS improve services to young people with disabilities. In all
that she does, Ammy seeks to transform her own challenges into
lessons that can help both her and her peers succeed. |
Business
Leadership Award Winner
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Morrison
& Foerster LLP |
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Morrison
& Foerster has been an exemplary employer and business
partner with JVS. Morrison & Foerster has supported the
Legal Action Employment Program (LEAP) by providing internships
for four JVS clients, three of whom became permanent hires,
with one advancing to the role of legal secretary. Since 2002,
two Morrison & Foerster employees, Sheila Thomas and Brenda
Dallman, have served as members of our LEAP Advisory Board.
They offer guest speakers for LEAP classes, host multiple
tours of the firm and set up job shadowing experiences for
LEAP participants. Morrison & Foerster helped develop
the Legal STAR program and encourages entry level employees
to participate in this career advancement program. The commitment
of Morrison & Foerster to the diversity of its employees
and to their professional development makes the firm a deserving
winner for this year's Business Leadership Award.
Sponsored
by San Francisco Business Times
and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
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Media
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Video
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Broadcast
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