NEWS
Firekeepers Casino Hotel Recognized as Employer of the Year by Michigan Works! Association
The Michigan Works! Association honored FireKeepers Casino Hotel on Tuesday for its commitment to training and developing a pipeline of skilled and competent talent in Michigan. Named the Michigan Works! Association Employer of the Year, FireKeepers received its award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
Contact: Steph Willis
p: 517.371.1100 ext. 204
cell: 517.420.5137
communications@michiganworks.org
Firekeepers Casino Hotel Recognized as Employer of the Year by Michigan Works! Association
KALAMAZOO, MI (Sep 10, 2019) – The Michigan Works! Association honored FireKeepers Casino Hotel on Tuesday for its commitment to training and developing a pipeline of skilled and competent talent in Michigan. Named the Michigan Works! Association Employer of the Year, FireKeepers received its award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo.
“FireKeepers has been a vital partner of Michigan Works! Southwest in building a workforce of proficient and satisfied individuals in Calhoun County and beyond,” said Luann Dunsford, CEO of the Michigan Works! Association.
Ben Damerow, Director, Michigan Works! Southwest, echoed Dunsford’s sentiments.
“FireKeepers’ contributions to building a strong workforce development system throughout the Southwest Michigan area have been both innovative and effective,” said Damerow. “Whether it’s through their ample and diverse employment opportunities, participation in community engagement efforts or support of Michigan Works! Southwest, FireKeepers’ commitment to increasing local prosperity has been a valuable asset to our community.”
An employer who believes in supporting equitable prosperity for all, FireKeepers recently gave $5.75 million to local governments, school districts and other public bodies in Calhoun County as part of their local revenue sharing, and an additional $18,494,687 to the state of Michigan. This is the tenth time FireKeepers has distributed revenue sharing checks since its opening in 2009.
“FireKeepers also owns The Fire Hub, a restaurant located in a historic fire station that gives back to the community through multiple programs,” Dunsford said. “One program, the Kendall Street Pantry, works in conjunction with the Food Bank of South Central Michigan to distribute food to the less fortunate. The second program is a large greenhouse that is utilized to grow food with the goal of providing a free salad bar for schools in downtown Battle Creek. The last program is a fund that receives 80 percent of all restaurant profits to support local charities.”
Additionally, FireKeepers is actively supportive of Aequitas Mobility Services, a new transportation start-up focused on alleviating transportation barriers that prevent individuals from obtaining and retaining employment.
Frank Tecumseh, Vice President of Human Resource for FireKeepers, said the company is honored to receive this award.
“On behalf of our 1,800 team members, we are so excited to have been selected as Employer of the Year,” said Tecumseh. “Our continued vision is to be an employer of choice in the Midwest and to receive this award is truly validation of our goal. Being recognized by Michigan Equal opportunity employer/trainer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Works! is also special as we have immense respect for what they do to support the Michigan workforce and the services they provide to the community.”
FireKeepers has created a unique gaming destination in the Midwest, which currently provides over 1,800 jobs for the local community.
# # #
Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's talent development system. For more information, visit http://www.michiganworks.org, or call (517) 371-1100.
Rey Guzman Recognized as Collaborator of the year by Michigan Works! Association
The Michigan Works! Association honored Rey Guzman, talent development liaison for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development, on Tuesday for his commitment to workforce and economic development. Named the Michigan Works! Association 2019 Collaborator of the Year, Guzman received the award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
Contact: Steph Willis
p: 517.371.1100 ext. 204
cell: 517.420.5137
communications@michiganworks.org
Rey Guzman Recognized as Collaborator of the Year by Michigan Works! Association
KALAMAZOO, MI (Sep 10, 2019) – The Michigan Works! Association honored Rey Guzman, talent development liaison for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development, on Tuesday for his commitment to workforce and economic development. Named the Michigan Works! Association 2019 Collaborator of the Year, Guzman received the award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo.
In his role as talent development liaison, Guzman is responsible for engaging employers and educators to comprehensively address talent needs focused on mid- and long-term development skill gaps in key industries in each region statewide.
Rey always works hand-in-hand with his local Michigan Works! partners,” said Luann Dunsford, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Works! Association. “He has a commitment to excellence and drive for getting the job done that not many people possess. Rey epitomizes the definition of leadership, by inspiring others and influencing outcomes through his service-based leadership skills.”
Guzman is also a member of the Capital Area Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board where he actively engages with private and public sector board members to discuss talentrelated
topics. He also participates in career exploration and planning activities that are crucial to building the talent pipeline.
Guzman was nominated for Collaborator of the Year Award by the Capital Area Michigan Works!.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award and to be recognized by the Michigan Works! Association and all the Michigan Works! Agencies that are our most valued partners,” said Guzman.
# # #
Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's talent development system. For more information, visit http://www.michiganworks.org, or call (517) 371-1100.
Chris Holman Recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Michigan Works! Association
The Michigan Works! Association honored Chris Holman, director of Michigan Business Network, on Tuesday for his dedication to the growth and promotion of Michigan Works!. Named the Michigan Works! Association 2019 Volunteer of the Year, Holman received the award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo today.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
Contact: Steph Willis
p: 517.371.1100 ext. 204
cell: 517.420.5137
communications@michiganworks.org
Chris Holman Recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Michigan Works! Association
KALAMAZOO, MI (Sep 10, 2019) – The Michigan Works! Association honored Chris Holman, director of Michigan Business Network, on Tuesday for his dedication to the growth and promotion of Michigan Works!. Named the Michigan Works! Association 2019 Volunteer of the Year, Holman received the award at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo today.
“In addition to his long-standing service to the Workforce Development Board, Chris has served on a number of committees and executive committees,” said Luann Dunsford, Chief Executive
Officer of the Michigan Works! Association. “Through his role with the Michigan Future Business Index and Michigan Business Network, he has ensured our team members are connected with
businesses and has worked to educate the business community of the role and value of Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW) in talent attraction and growth in the region. Chris’s hard work
and dedication make him the perfect choice for the Volunteer of the Year Award.”
Holman is the founder and CEO of Michigan Business Network. For over 40 years, Holman has used his skills as an entrepreneur to successfully start businesses, launch magazines, run companies, serve on community boards, and host various talk show programs on both radio and the internet. He currently hosts Michigan Business Network’s Michigan Business Beat.
Holman was nominated for Volunteer of the Year Award by CAMW!.
“In 2006, when CAMW! approached Chris about a possible initiative to provide business leadership for the region’s education community, he accepted his then unknown responsibilities without a moment’s hesitation,” said Dunsford. “For the past 12 years, Chris has served as the official, and at times, unofficial chair of T3: Teach. Talent. Thrive, CAMW’s Career Educational Advisory Council. As the region and its needs have evolved, Chris donated countless hours to the realignment and reinvention of Keep Learning. He rallied fellow business leaders to serve as the founders of the organization’s business council and still serves a co-chair.”
Holman said he is honored to receive this award.
“I am accepting this award on behalf of so many others, many of whom are much more deserving,” said Holman. “The true award however, is being able to give my time and energy and be part of such a great team working on behalf of such a marvelous cause. To give people their livelihoods is to give them back their value and self-worth. This is noble work and I am gratified to have been a small part of it.”
# # #
Established in 1987, the Michigan Works! Association fosters high-quality employment and training programs serving employers and workers by providing support activities and a forum for information exchange for Michigan's talent development system. For more information, visit http://www.michiganworks.org, or call (517) 371-1100.