Yessenia Brings Smiles During The Holidays

By -

Yessenia Tapia began services with The Choice Group in the early 2020 to complete situational assessments. Through these assessments, Yessenia determined that she’d like to pursue a job in a retail environment. Yessenia then began working with her Vocational Counselor, Gabby, to search for jobs that met her preferences. This was a difficult time because it was directly in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and many employers were limiting their hiring and/or still enduring lay offs. Above all of that, it was going to be Yessenia’s first job. 

Yessenia worked hard applying to various retail employers. With the support of her Vocational Counselor, Gabby, helping her to develop and prepare for interviews, she was able to successfully obtain employment with the Burlington in Hancock Village in Chesterfield as a part-time store associate. Yessenia began this position in October and worked with her Vocational Counselor on learning her assigned tasks including store markdowns, recovery, and greeting customers, increasing her confidence, developing interpersonal communication. Yessenia quickly acclimated to her tasks but needed a bit of additional time to come out of her shell. With support from her Vocational Counselor as well as many natural supports in the store, she also began mastering these skills and was becoming more independent. At this point, Yessenia began to truly shine. 

Yessenia started her position brand new to the world of work and shy when navigating conversations, and now successfully worked Black Friday, Christmas Eve, the Day after Christmas and is a frequent smiling face at Burlington. Many customers have appreciated Yessenia going above and beyond and helping them navigate item location by walking them over to the items. Yessenia’s managers have mentioned that she has been a key asset in helping them obtain store mark down compliance and she continues to be a valued member of their team every day. Yessenia says she is very happy in her position and is grateful for all the support she received from The Choice Group along the way! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts!

A Brother and Sister Team Find Independence with Supported Employment

By -
Image
Crystal and Steven MacArthur are the typical brother and sister: they enjoy watching football with their mom, attending their church, and spending time with their family, dog, and friends.  Despite some sibling eye-rolling, they look out for each other.  They also enjoy working.  When looking for part-time positions, they wanted an employer where they could stay long-term.  Crystal became a dishwasher for a staffing company at a Virginia university.  She initially worked in the Annex, a smaller cafeteria off campus.  She hand-washed dishes and eventually learned to use the automatic machine.  Because Crystal has a visual impairment, Crystal’s co-workers always looked out for her, letting her know when the floor was wet or if there were crates that might get in her way.  She became part of the team, discussing sports games and weekend plans while keeping up with the breakfast and lunch rush.  When the Annex closed and Crystal faced moving to the larger cafeteria on campus, she wa
Read more

Michael Powell: One Client’s Compassion in Action

By -
Image
In the normally calm aisles of Harris Teeter, where everyday tasks often revolve around groceries and daily routines, one employee stood out recently for his extraordinary act of compassion and quick thinking. Meet Michael Powell, a familiar face at the Hanbury Road Harris Teeter in Chesapeake, whose passion for helping others extends beyond the supermarket shelves. Michael, a seven-year veteran of The Choice Group, brings a unique blend of dedication and community spirit to both his work at Harris Teeter and his personal pursuits. When he's not bagging groceries, collecting shopping carts, or delivering groceries to customers' vehicles, you might find him engaged in a strategic card game with friends or lending a hand at the Hickory Trading Company coffee shop. When news broke of the disappearance of 82-year-old Janice Hall , who had wandered away from a dental appointment, Michael's immediate response was to offer his assistance. Without hesitation, Michael began searchin
Read more

2 billion people will need this tech by 2050: Injured vet shares the good and bad

By -
Image
Phil Swinford's house is full of tech that helps him live more independently, but he's betting it's also going to help him to walk again. (Phil Swinford plays music on his phone.Megan Wollerton/CNET) " OK Google , text Pamela ICE [in case of emergency]," says retired US Army Col. Phil Swinford from his home in the Virginia suburbs, roughly an hour's drive from Washington, DC. He's using Google Assistant on his Android phone to talk to his wife, Pam, who's working today at her consignment shop, the Copper Cricket, a few miles away. I'm listening in, which feels a little too invasive, but it's OK: This text is just for demo purposes. "Sure," Google's AI responds. "What's the message?" "Hey, babe. I love you," Phil says clearly and deliberately into his phone. "I got, 'Hey, babe. I love you,'" it speaks back to him. "Do you wanna send it or change it?" "Send i
Read more

Breaking Barriers in the Hospitality Industry

By -
Image
  Our Vocational counselor, Debby Henry, works in our Northwest area and is proud to have Alexander Marschall as a client. Debby and Alex embarked on their journey together in January of 2023, when Alex began working with his current employer. “Alex is outgoing and personable, he has such a charming personality!” said Debby. He is always willing to learn new tasks and different applications to accommodate some of his disabilities. It was evident to her that Alex's outgoing nature and adaptability would make him an excellent fit with his co-workers. So, they completed situational assessments to determine the ideal jobs for him to pursue. They focused on interview skills with DARS Placement Counselors to arm Alex with the confidence he would need to take on his first job with confidence, starting with the interview process. Since the beginning of the year, Alex has been working as a restaurant host. He welcomes customers, finds available tables to seat customers, provides menus, and
Read more