| The Annual Strictly Business Awards Luncheon |
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April 18, 2002 marked the 10th anniversary of Strictly Business. More than 950 business and community leaders attended the luncheon and awards ceremony to celebrate successes in the workplace and support JVS' mission to provide employment services to our community. The event raised $290,000 that will be used for job placement, career counseling, tecnhology and skills training programs - services that are critical in today's economy. As
part of our special 10th anniversary celebration, JVS commemorated
award winners from past years and showcased the successes they
have accomplished in their careers. In some cases, the partnership
between JVS and their clients has continued through several generations. Strictly Business 2002 honored three "Employees of the Year" who tackled personal hardships, poverty, homelessness and domestic violence, to find meaningful employment during difficult economic times. This year's "Business Leadership Award" was presented to Sieger Engineering for its commitment to hire people with barriers to employment and for setting an example for other corporations to follow.
Sieger Engineering, Inc. is a fast-growing pioneer in the rapidly emerging manufacturing outsourcing marketplace. The company combines the skills of supply chain management, contract assembly and component fabrication in a one-stop manufacturing service. Sieger Engineering was chosen from seven Bay Area businesses by a committee of business and community leaders. The committee members reviewed the qualifications of each company based on the company’s role in assisting people with barriers to employment and its outstanding membership in the business community. Sieger Engineering has been an exemplary employer and business partner with JVS since 1992, has hired several former JVS clients as machinists and engineers in the programming field, and has provided all of them with full-time, long-term positions with benefits. Over the past ten years, Sieger has hired over nineteen JVS clients. President and CEO, Leonard Mezhvinsky, himself a Jewish Russian émigré, used to be a JVS client. Twenty years ago he learned to speak English and found his first job thanks to JVS. Today, he turns to JVS to find qualified, hard-working employees with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn and grow with the company. "Since
I came through JVS, I knew what kind of quality people JVS will
put out on the market. Obviously, I’m one of the believers that
immigrants make excellent employees... so we took our chances with
employees from JVS and certainly that was a big success." Employee
of the Year Awards 2002 JVS celebrates the successes of all of our clients who tackled personal hardships and barriers to find meaningful employment and achieve triumphs in the workplace. Strictly Business 2002 honored three outstanding former JVS clients whose stories of courage and commitment serve as an inspiration to us all. Mercedes Abraham found herself and her young son homeless after they relocated to the Bay Area in 1998. While working as a café manager, Mercedes began taking classes at JVS to update her computer skills, prepare for interviews, develop a resume and guide her to the right career. JVS helped her find a job at the Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostel, Inc., providing customer service and information to travelers across the world. Although the organization went through lay-offs following the September 11th attacks, she received a promotion to office manager. "My deepest thanks to the entire organization of JVS. First, for this amazing affirmation of the changes they helped me to bring to my and my son's lives. And then for the fact that they exist simply to help others, like myself, who have a dream in their heart, but don't exactly know how to begin to make it come to pass. In many ways JVS is a key to life."Alice Hawkins resorted to selling drugs while struggling to survive and provide for her three children. After her arrest, she was given the chance to avoid conviction by going through a training program and getting a job that would support her family. Through JVS' Unit Coordinator training program run in collaboration with UCSF, Alice received medical training, mentoring support and a three-month paid internship. She currently works as the Unit Coordinator in a transitional intensive care unit at the UCSF Medical Center. Her success has inspired the judge and defense attorney to set up a new program to give other mothers in the same situation a chance to receive training and support instead of incarceration. "I would like to thank all the wonderful people that are here supporting us today. Most of all, I would like to thank the beautiful strong women that saw me through my journey to get here. I would like to recognize all the JVS staff and directors." Svetlana Chernitskaya, a Jewish Russian émigré, came to the U.S. four years ago as a single mom with a 14-year old daughter and a 10-year old son. Upon arrival in the US, she applied for welfare to support herself and children and came to JVS to seek work. Her desire to work within the Jewish community led JVS to find Svetlana a position as the Activities and Food Coordinator for L'Chaim, a Jewish Family and Children's Services program providing health care for elderly and disabled adults. Her love of music and her experience as a music teacher in Russia, led her to implement music activities, such as karaoke, folk orchestra and singing, at the center. "Four years ago, I didn't speak English, I felt scared and intimidated. I came to JVS for help. I am so grateful to all of you who helped me realize my dreams in this country and helped me feel at home here."
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