Draka - Dennis S. Anweiler
Robert Dalke February 28, 2011 Kansas Works – Local Area One
Dear Bob,
In a few weeks Draka will have completed our first 3 months of “official” production at our Draka-Hutch Assembly Plant in Hutchinson. The process to start-up production and produce our first cable sets have been fairly smooth and fast to get us to this point. Your group’s efforts, and especially Tucky Allen, have contributed much to this initial success and our ability to be in the position we are. More...
“We had our first video sign language appointment in the Johnson County Workforce Center on Wednesday, April 14th which lasted just under 2 hours. Everything went very well with no issues. At the end of the appointment, while the sign language interpreter was still online, our Disability Program Navigator asked the workforce center customer how he felt the video sign language session went. The customer stated that he was very pleased. This was the first time he used video sign language services and he didn’t notice any difference from using the video sign language interpreter than having a real interpreter there. He said the video was very clear and his needs were met. He also stated that he would use the service again and would recommend it to others.
Kudos to the Johnson County Workforce Center Staff, and to the Local Area III Disability Program Navigator, Jerry Daskoski, for providing quality services to meet the needed accommodations!!”
Jeff Schroeder -Disability Program Navigator Coordinator
Kansas Department of Commerce
"The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Workforce Centers throughout Kansas now have a great new way to link the correctional population to workforce development services using remote access virtual technology sites. KDOC is eager to apply the use of this technology by linking incarcerated offenders to services in their home communities and there is great potential to use this technology to set the stage for interviews with prospective employers all prior to their release. In corrections we know that the earlier these services are available the better the chances are for a smooth and successful transition back to the community.
Recently we had the opportunity to use this technology to bring offender panels into training for workforce professionals. Using this technology was a powerful way to put real faces to the people we all serve. Working together we can make our state safer and more productive by extending the highest quality services to all Kansas citizens including persons with criminal histories who are looking for a second chance through meaningful employment.
Thanks for making this innovative technology available to reach out to those who are hardest to reach.'
Jim Chastain – Offender Workforce Development Program Manager
Kansas Department of Correction
"On Nov 16, we had a non-English speaking customer come to the GB office. We do not have bi-lingual staff here. Thanks to a “Eureka moment”, we realized that we had 2 bi-lingual staff in Salina. So, we used our VS equipment which allowed the customer to receive a full range of services in Spanish. I shared this with the other ROM’s and Wichita said they have a couple of Vietnamese staff than could use the system to translate in this language. "
Matt Hoisington
Regional Operations Manager, West Region
"Our staff will be completing Offender Workforce Development Specialist training in January and Jim Chastain plans to use the VS equipment to allow offenders in Hutch to serve on a virtual panel so staff can hear from them, first hand, the many struggles that offenders face in securing employment. "
Matt Hoisington
Regional Operations Manager, West Region
"As you may know, our veteran representative had a mild stroke a couple of months ago. He is now back to work but has been prohibited from highway driving by his doctor. Previously, he had been traveling to Hutchinson on Thursdays to provide DVOP services. Thanks to video conferencing, he will still be able to serve his customers in Hutchinson."
Matt Hoisington
Regional Operations Manager, West Region