Joey Dunlap is about to celebrate three years at NW Works and he couldn’t be happier in his current position as Employment Service Coordinator/ProjectSEARCH Skills Trainer. He spends his days at Valley Health Medical Center with ProjectSEARCH students, teaching young adults with disabilities how to enter the workforce. The students spend a school year with Joey learning job skills, soft skills, and fulfilling internships for the medical center.
“Everyone at the hospital loves the ProjectSEARCH students, Valley Health employees are interested in helping the students succeed.” Joey also notes that his students are like family and he continues to invest in their future long after graduation.
This year, Joey was asked by the founders of ProjectSEARCH to submit a class outline for presentation at the ProjectSEARCH National Conference in California. He submitted an outline for developing relationships with the ProjectSEARCH host site, something Joey feels is very important.
“If you can have the host site (Valley Health, in Winchester) invested in your program and your people, you can make the whole experience beneficial for everyone involved,” Joey explained. He is passionate about effective communication and following up. Joey was asked to present his knowledge as a break-out session to help educate and train other ProjectSEARCH location managers.
Thanks Joey for your dedication to ProjectSEARCH students and NW Works.