Women's Resource Center Huntington Pillar Awards honor workplaces that value women

By Kaitlin Shawgo | The Grand Rapids Press

March 08, 2010, 7:53AM

Octavian Cantilli | The Grand Rapids Press

Bobbi Wilson, left, is a community liason and mentor and Paula Montes-Garcia is a home health aid at AngelCare Health Care Inc. AngelCare is one of three organizations that received an award for empowering women in the workplace.

GRAND RAPIDS -- As Paula Montes-Garcia helped an elderly man move and stretch his legs, he gave her a compliment that made her realize she'd found her calling.

"You have a very good touch, thank you," he said.

Two years ago, Montes-Garcia was referred by the Grand Rapids Women's Resource Center for a job at AngelCare Inc. Home Health Care.

She was a single mother and rode the bus to clients' houses.

Montes-Garcia, 21, now owns a car and is working to get into the Grand Rapids Community College nursing program. She's thinking about training to be a physical therapist.

AngelCare is one of three employers to be honored by the Women's Resource Center for supporting their women employees .

A March 17 luncheon will recognize the three Huntington Pillar Award recipients: Grand Valley State University, the law firm Varnum Riddering Schmidt & Howlett and AngelCare.

Joyce Lovse, owner and founder of the Grand Rapids-based AngelCare, said employees are trained in skills such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to work with Alzheimer's patients.

The company also loans money to employees who need help with car repair, since having transportation is essential for them to reach their clients. There are also monthly employee appreciation days.

GVSU is being recognized for programs such as Work Life and its Women's Center that helps women succeed in their careers. Work Life links college employees with resources and referrals for services including child care, parenting, divorce, and financial and legal services.

Varnum, based in downtown Grand Rapids, was recognized for its flexible scheduling program that allows partners and attorneys to continue their career paths while working a reduced schedule.

AngelCare is proud to be one of the honorees for the 2010 Pillar Awards from the Women's Resource Center.  This award is given to three companies per year and celebrates employers who empower women in the workplace.  AngelCare proudly joins Grand Valley State University and Varnum law in this prestigious recognition.  Congratulations GVSU and Varnum!

Event recap and photo gallery provided by the Grand Rapids Social Diary.

AngelCare has been recognized as a Top Area Home Health Care Agency for West Michigan since 2004,  as reported by the Grand Rapids Buisness Journal.

Retrained Grand Rapids mother thanks Governor Granholm for Michigan's No Worker Left Behind program

By Aaron Ogg | The Grand Rapids Press

October 28, 2009, 11:08PM

 Delbridge Langdon Jr. | The Grand Rapids PressGov. Jennifer Granholm visited Grand Rapids Community College's Tassell M-TEC campus on Wednesday.GRAND RAPIDS -- Datasha Merritt said a state career training program helped get her back on her feet after she lost a human resources job two years ago.

"It feels good," the 37-year-old Grand Rapids woman said. "I don't have the false sense of comfort I had before. I know things could change at any time."

Merritt got her help through the state's No Worker Left Behind program, which helps finance education for unemployed and underemployed workers seeking high-demand jobs.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm visited Grand Rapids Community College's Tassell M-TEC campus, 622 Godfrey Ave. SW, to tout the program's strides and discuss its future.

Of 34,355 people who completed training through the program between August 2007 and February 2008, 72 percent retained jobs or got new ones, according to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.

"We've got more work to do," Granholm told more than 50 people gathered Wednesday. "We want it to be 100 percent.

"We're not stopping. We're going to make No Worker Left Behind a permanent part of our infrastructure."

More than 102,000 people have entered the program for training to date, according to the state.

"The bottom line is it is so important for people to see you as an example of what they can do," Granholm told graduates in attendance.

Merritt's $61,000-per-year position at Praxis Packaging Solutions, 7650 Caterpillar Ct. SW, was eliminated after two years there.

The single mother of three looked to cushion the blow for her children, who were 15, 13 and 8 years old at the time.

"They wanted to know why Mommy wasn't going to work anymore," she said. "But you don't want to get them stressed out about adult issues."

The father of her children, Leroy Robinson Jr., died in 2005 at age 35 after being fatally shot outside a South Division Avenue building.

After drawing unemployment, food money from her parents and eventually government assistance, she received financial assistance through the state's No Worker Left Behind program and went back to school.

In December 2008, she completed a bachelor's degree in business administration at Davenport University.

Two months later, Merritt took a human resources job with AngelCare Home Health Care, 2422 Burton St. SE,.

While she's making less than she was, she appreciates the help she got to get her life back on track.

She thanked Granholm for the program's getting her to "become a self-sufficient, productive resident of the state of Michigan."

Maureen Downer, program manager for employment service agency Michigan Works! in Kent and Allegan counties, estimated its five locations help between 3,000 and 4,000 people annually through the program.

Participants are eligible if they do not have a job; have been laid off or terminated; or are employed, but make less than $40,000 annually and have a family of four.

Interest in the program "overwhelmed" Michigan Works! until it the agency was able to increase staff to meet the demand, Downer said.

Those who eye a pricier education sometimes can gain funding above the allotted $10,000 via a state-authorized waiver, she said.

"It's called get people prepared and get people prepared for jobs."

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Business Update Publication - Women In Business June 2009