Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2006

BY KHADIJA BATUTA

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce partnered with Good Shepherd Services to help businesses reach their short-term staffing goals while providing students with employment and educational opportunities.

For the spring 2006 session, the Chamber matched about 25 businesses – including many Brooklyn Chamber Members – to 40 high school students aged 16 to 21 through Good Shepherd Services’ Learning to Work Program, and is receiving positive feedback.

Member Sees Boost in Sales
LRS Communications, Inc. that specializes in wireless technology and communications for businesses, signed up for the program after receiving the notice included in the Chamber’s January Member-to-Member mailing.  The company, located in Sunset Industrial Park, is currently working with four students who are involved in updating their marketing materials and Web site, developing a technology service and repair program for the NYC school system, and more.  LRS is hoping for three additional placements, as their goal is to work with a total of seven students this year.

“Our goal is to work with six students in marketing and one student in technology repair and service.  We were hoping to get more female students since women are underrepresented in the world of technology and are missing out on a great career path that pays well,” explained Manuel Burgos, LRS’ Director of Marketing.

Mr. Burgos has a background in youth training and development and is excited about getting more involved with students through the Good Shepherd Services program.

“The biggest advantage of the program is that these young minds are making a clear connection between the importance of their studies and the world of work using real life examples. They've had to proof text, write copy, do budget estimates, meet deadlines and much more,” stated Mr. Burgos.  “I hope that the internship program becomes a permanent fixture of the Chamber, Good Shepherd Services and the Department of Education.  We are very happy to provide meaningful apprenticeships to these students.”

LRS Communications has seen a 20% jump in sales of Motorola add-on accessories since the students have taken on customer service and quality control work for the company.  The students will be applying for the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) directly through Good Shepherd Services in order to extend their internships with LRS through the end of the summer.

“I was a one-man marketing department, but now I have an additional 36 hours of free staff time to devote to our company’s marketing initiatives,” said Mr. Burgos.

Chamber Interns
The Chamber has taken in two student interns, both from Good Shepherd’s Lincoln Young Adult Borough Center (YABC) high school program, to work in its Business Services department.  William Johnson, a nineteen year-old Brooklyn resident is working with Bomi Kim, Manager of the Chamber’s Brooklyn Connects procurement assistance program.  With his eye on his career goal of owning his own construction company, William is also enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship construction program.

Rebecca Rojas of Sunset Park has teamed up with Shauna Wheatt, Senior Workforce Development Specialist of the Chamber’s Good Help program.  Rebecca is looking forward to graduating in June and pursuing her career goals in social work or psychology.

“I love working with teens.  This program gives these young people a great opportunity to experience the real world of work,” says Shauna Wheatt, Senior Workforce Development Specialist who managed the program at the Chamber.  “Good Help’s intern Rebecca Rojas has learned data entry, customer service skills and business etiquette.”

Good Shepherd Services is a citywide nonprofit social service and youth development agency.  Through its high school programs, Good Shepherd works with employers to provide internship opportunities for its students.  For more information about Good Shepherd Services, visit the organization’s Web site at http://www.goodshepherds.org/.

To learn more about the Chamber’s Good Help program and its other human resources services, please contact Michael Rosenthal at mrosenthal@brooklynchamber.com or at 718-246-5219 ext. 2024.