Brooklyn's Progress
February/March 2007

BY KHADIJA BATUTA

After six years at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Shauna Wheatt, Senior Workforce Development Specialist with the Good Help program, left the organization on Jan. 19 to take a position working with underprivileged youth at Opportunities For A Better Tomorrow, Inc. (OBT).

OBT is a 24-year old nonprofit organization that provides job readiness and job placement services to at-risk youths and adults.  Based in Sunset Park, with a second location in South Williamsburg, the organization is headed up by Executive Director Randolph Peers, who previously served as Vice President of Economic Development at the Chamber.

“I look forward to working with the staff at OBT and am excited about assisting our youth clients throughout their development in OBT’s 20-week program in preparation for successful careers,” said Shauna, who began her position on Feb. 5 as Job Developer in OBT’s South Williamsburg office at 25 Thornton St. that also serves the Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant communities.

“Shauna’s work at Good Help has been critical in supporting our Members with their hiring needs.  She will be missed,” said Jeanette Nigro, Vice President of Workforce and Training, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Beginnings
Shauna joined the Chamber’s Good Help program in November 2000 as a Placement/Retention Specialist.  Formerly an assistant teacher at the Willoughby Waverly Day Care (now called BBCS Waverly Day Care) in Clinton Hill, Shauna’s enthusiasm, hard work and background working with young people led to her expanded role within the Good Help department.  In addition to working with community-based service providers to identify, screen and place qualified employees with Brooklyn-based companies, Shauna conducted pre-employment workshops for job seekers and high school students and coordinated the internship and employment services for young adults affiliated with Good Shepherd Services, Church Avenue Merchants Block Association (CAMBA) and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s Summer H.E.A.T. (Help Employ Ambitious Teens) program.

Shauna’s good work over the years led to several success stories, including one student intern’s temporary placement with Chamber Member LRS Communications, Inc. resulting in full-time employment, as was reported in the April/May 2006 issue of Brooklyn’s Progress.

Not surprisingly, Shauna used her skills to find talent for the Chamber, as well – Yuk Ling Lo, Project Manager for Marketing & Membership, and most recently new staffers Tiola Baker and Bernice Perez.

“I am very grateful for the years I spent serving the Brooklyn business community at such a great organization as the Chamber,” said Shauna, who is a born and bred Brooklynite and mother of two.  “It truly has been a pleasure working with the Good Help staff, especially Mike Rosenthal who not only hired me and served as my supervisor, but was also a mentor for me.”

“Shauna will be sorely missed at the Chamber.  Her expertise and compassion have helped Good Help successfully assist many job seekers in finding employment with Brooklyn businesses,” said Mike Rosenthal, Director of Good Help.

Good Help
The Brooklyn Chamber’s Good Help program is a free, business-driven employment service that was developed in response to the hiring challenges faced by Brooklyn business owners.  Visit http://www.ibrooklyn.com/ and click on “Business Support” to submit a job order using the online form, or call Mike Rosenthal, Good Help Director, at 718-246-5219 ext. 2024.