Kim Zoeller, President and CEO of Ray Graham Association, was the featured speaker at our February Friday Forum event. Kim’s presentation discussed the importance of employment; how it raises confidence and self-esteem, puts money in the pocket and contributes to the community.
Kim also talked about the Employment First initiative and the efforts to rebalance the system to place greater emphasis on employment.
In terms of finding employment, Kim focused on the importance of social capital and how 41% of all job-seekers find their jobs through networking. Who we know, and more importantly, who knows us, can lead to employment opportunities. Families who are willing to use their connections will maximize the potential for success during the job search process.
In 2014, Ray Graham Association supported 193 individuals in finding employment and brought in 62 new employers. Even better, people work on average 20 hours per week at $10.15 per hour.
Thank you to Kim Zoeller for sharing her time and expertise with our group. Thanks also to the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) for partnering with us on this educational series.
Kim’s PowerPoint presentation from this event can be accessed here: