For the second time in as many weeks, Kirkwood Community College has earned recognition as a top area place to work. The Arc of East Central Iowa named The Hotel at Kirkwood Center as its Employer of the Year Award winner for 2012.
The Hotel was nominated by Karey Hagerman, who works with the Career Connections program at Goodwill Industries of the Heartland in Cedar Rapids.
“The Hotel gives the adult population we serve at Goodwill a chance to realize their potential in the work-world,” said Hagerman. “The Hotel staff has been great working with the various needs of the clients we serve, helping with full- and part-time employment.”
Hagerman said she nominated The Hotel for this award for more than simply hiring the adults in her program.
“They allow us to bring in large tour groups of 18-19 year olds, to see if the work is something they may be interested in. That’s not something that’s easy to accommodate,” added Hagerman. “A Hotel employee takes us on the tour, showing these young adults what the work will be like, even letting them give it a try themselves.”
“The employees we’ve hired through Goodwill have been a great part of our team at The Hotel,” said General Manager Lee Belfield. “The work they do, frees up the rest of our staff to complete their tasks. It’s a win-win for us and Goodwill.”
“Everyone at The Hotel is warm and welcoming,” said Hagerman. “I wish more companies could work with us like The Hotel at Kirkwood Center does.”
The Arc of East Central Iowa seeks nominations in the community for its Employer of the Year Award. Hagerman’s nomination of The Hotel was chosen as this year’s winner.
The Arc offers programming and services in eight counties in Iowa. The Arc seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by epilepsy, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, ADHD and brain injury.
Earlier in September, Kirkwood was named a Top Workplace in Iowa by the Des Moines Register. A national research firm polled employees at companies and organizations around the state. Kirkwood was rated #11 in the state for organizations with more than 500 employees, the highest-ranked educational entity in the state.