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  Abby Adam has her job interview with Kerry Mihalko, UPMC Chautauqua’s director of nutrition and food services, and Joet Biekert, food services supervisor. Geise marveled at the scope of work the graduates undertook and shared a partial list of the job skills Adam, Holsinger and Kenzie learned: sanitation of spaces; stocking and replenishing supplies; making beds; laundering; preparing and delivering patient trays; serving food in the cafe; operating the cash register; transporting patients; and monitoring oxygen tanks. She said that in addition to learning the physical skills of the job, the interns demonstrated the soft skills people need to be successful at work. “That they show up, do their jobs to the best of their ability, and work well with other people,” Geise said. “Having a positive attitude, being willing to learn, being willing to put your best foot forward. It doesn’t mean you’re always going to do it perfectly, but you’re willing to try.” Kerry Mihalko, the hospital’...

  Project SEARCH graduate Nick Kenzie, Abby Adam and Josh Holsinger. Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s chief executive officer, thanked TRC’s employment services team and UPMC for their commitment to Project SEARCH. “I’m very excited to see this program grow in Chautauqua County,” she said. Addressing the graduates , Jones told them, “I’ve seen so much growth and confidence in the three of you as you’ve gone through this project.” Katie Geise, executive director of Chautauqua Works, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. She praised TRC and UPMC for partnering on a program that can help diversify the local economy . “What we need in Chautauqua County is to have every, single person feel welcomed and have a place in the workforce,” she said. “Project SEARCH did exactly that.”