The lineup: Pictured are (left to right) Anne Escobar, Bilal Jackson, Allan A. Myers representatives Lisa O’Connor, Bob Capps, Paul Ziegler, Russ Moyer and Ryan Federsel. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
JEVS Human Services last week honored two individuals and a company with local ties at its 16th annual Strictly Business Awards luncheon, held at the Sheraton hotel in Center City.
The honorees were:
• Anne Escobar, a Northeast resident nominated by JEVS Northeast EARN Center for overcoming home obstacles.
• Bilal Jackson, who has autism. He was nominated by Project Success, which is on Ashton Road. Jackson works for Sodexo, the food vendor at Temple University.
• Allan A. Myers, a company of American Infrastructure, received the Business Leadership Award for hiring graduates of Orleans Technical Institute.
JEVS Human Services, a social service agencies that offers skills training and career enhancement opportunities, made the presentations on Oct. 31.
Escobar won an Inspiration Award. She is a branch manager at Santander Bank, where she has multiple times won the New Customer Acquisition award.
Jackson came to Project Success from Olney High School. He completed several internships and gained seasonal employment before landing a position with Sodexo, the food service vendor for Temple. He is a part-time utility worker at the campus dining halls.
Family-owned Allan A. Myers, founded in 1939, is a longtime employment partner of Orleans Technical Institute. It’s a construction company and material supplier that hires Orleans graduates for construction and bridge projects. Through the company’s Continuous Learning Center, it offers education and training to all employees. The company works with Orleans Technical Institute’s building trades programs in carpentry, building maintenance and electrical programs to identify people for positions in the construction industry. Myers works closely with the Orleans Tech employment specialists to set up on-site interviews.
Also honored was Atlantic City Linen Supply, nominated by JEVS hireAbility. A commercial linen company specializing in serving the hotel industry, AC Linen offers second chances to individuals, a commitment that is on par with JEVS’ mission to enhance the employability, independence and quality of life of people. The company hires from JEVS’ Welfare to Work and hireAbility programs, hosts job clubs for those with disabilities and modifies jobs to provide accommodations and benefits for those who may have challenges in their abilities. The firm has an extremely high retention rate. Over the last year, it has hired 13 JEVS clients, many of whom work in the company’s South Philadelphia warehouse.
“Allan A. Myers/American Infrastructure and AC Linen are committed to providing quality work opportunities and career development for our clients. Our individual winners have overcome adversity — both internal and external challenges — to take strong steps in their own lives, while bettering the community through their own inspirational efforts,” said Jay Spector, president and CEO of JEVS Human Services.
For the third consecutive year, CBS 3 Eyewitness News This Morning co-anchor Erika von Tiehl served as emcee. Proceeds from the event will fund scholarships to JEVS’ vocational assessment, job readiness, skills training and career management services for individuals in need. ••
