Pictured at the PVJOBS awards event are (from left) PVJOBS Board President Jim Bickhart; PVJOBS Core Worker of the Year Christopher Washington; and PVJOBS Executive Director Ernest Roberts. Washington, was one of the individuals recently honored for his exceptionally job performance at the Transforming Lives and Communities awards program organized by PVJOBS. This nonprofit program provides construction job opportunities to the at-risk community. Nearly 300 business, labor and community service representatives attended the event, which was held at the Center at Cathedral Plaza in downtown Los Angeles.
Hensel Phelps Construction was also honored as the Contractor of the Year for the company’s work in implementing a successful local hiring program while redeveloping the Martin Luther King Jr. Inpatient Tower in Watts. A final award was presented to John Reamer, L.A. Director of the Bureau of Contract Administration, for advocating hiring programs that benefit at-risk residents.
The award recipients who were recognized for their job performances received perfect scores rated by their construction employers. What makes their awards particularly special is that these positions are the first construction jobs that these workers have ever held. The other award recipients were: Shawn Fuller, Veteran of the Year; Da’Quan Thomas-Giles, Positive Pathways Program Worker of the Year; and Anabel Soriano, Intern of the Year.
