Strictly Business

An annual luncheon for JVS is getting its name into the business community.

SUSAN TAUBER
Special to the Jewish News

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T

he Jewish Vocational
Service Networking
and Awards
,Luncheon on May
12 served just the right amount
of business to the 500 atten-
dees.
They left the T-Iyatt Regency-
Dearborn with renewed feelings
for those who need vocational
assistance and an increased
respect for JVS.
"We developed the awards
luncheon as a tool for reaching
out to the general community
in a very businesslike way," said
Dorie Shwedel.
She and Ken Eisenberg were
co-chairs for the second annual
event. "We are well-knowil in
the Jewish community and we
have an excellent reputation
among employees and employ-
ers. This luncheon helps us
inform businesspeople inside
and outside the Jewish commu-
nity of how we assist employers
and employees.
In 1998, JVS helped more
than 1,800 individuals find
employment. Some 300 stu-
dents received financial aid to
continue their education,
either here or in Israel. Some
1,625 improved their job skills
through JVS and 616 emigres
turned to JVS for assistance in find-
ing employment and in learning the
skills needed to live in their new
country.
JVS gave work to 1,500 in shel-
tered workshops and assisted 1,200
employers seeking job candidates.
Those who attended Strictly
Business didn't come because of those
statistics. They came to rub shoulders
with other business people, to learn
how JVS can help them and to show
their financial support for the 57-
year-old, non-profit agency.

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Adrienne Sheinwald of Hachette Filipacchi Magazines.

Meijer Inc. received the JVS
Business Leadership Award for its
commitment to the vocational success
of its employees.
Verne G. Istock was the honorary
chairman and guest speaker for
Strictly Business. He's chairman of
NBD Bank and Bank One
Corporation. JVS President Donald
M. Lansky welcomed the guests and
Lila Lazarus, anchor for WDIV-TV4,
served as master of ceremonies.
Sharing the podium were the four
recipients of JVS's Employee of the
Year awards.

"These employees of the year rep-
resent the guts of our operation," said
Shwedel, who has a public relations
business in Franklin. "Our commit-
ment is to help people be self-suffi-
cient and independent through
work."
Seventy-five local businesses helped
sponsor the event. Kenwal Steel
Corporation was the award under-
writer; Star Tax Corporate Events was
the video underwriter. NBD Bank
underwrote the event.
Following are profiles of the four
winners of JVS Employee of the Year:

Adrienne
Sheinwald

When asked, Adrienne Sheinwald
counsels others on the benefits of work-
ing as an older adult. She emphasizes
these points, particularly to women
who find themselves alone, divorced
and with no job background.
"I've told women not to be afraid of
their age," said the 52-year-old. "I've
told them that maturity is a plus for us.
We're going into the work-world field
because we are serious about it.
"I tell them that our generation
has a better work ethic than the
younger kids today. We can use our
age and life experiences to help us be
even more valuable employees."
Sheinwald knows this because she's
experienced it. At one point in her
life, she was divorced with two sons
to raise. She had never worked out-
side her home.
Jewish Vocational Service's Women
to Work program "helped me recognize
the things I did as a housewife and vol-
unteer can be valuable experience in the
work world. They showed me how to
turn what I did at home and volunteer-
ing into marketable skills. They helped
me build up my confidence and believe
in myself again."
Sheinwald started her first job
while involved in Women to Work.
She also began honing her computer
skills. When she was laid off, she soon
found another job.
Sheinwald now is the advertising
sales office manager and promotions
director for Hachette Filipacchi
Magazines in Troy. She's worked there
for almost seven years.
She's become a valuable asset to
the firm, according to Senior Vice
President James M. Main, who nomi-
nated her for the JVS award.
She was the sales secretary in an
office of three sales people when she
joined the company. She now works
with three assistants and nine sales
directors.

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5/21

1999

72 Detroit Jewish News