Workforce Challenge

When Senita Robinson, a licensed foodservice manager, became unemployed in September 2010, she started visiting the Northwest One Stop Career Center at Mondawmin Mall every day to search for open positions and apply for jobs.

Workforce Solution

Through the Career Center, she engaged with Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) staff, including a business services representative, who suggested that she would be a good fit for the new Lenny’s Deli Harborplace opening in Summer 2011. At the start of the partnership between Lenny’s and MOED, Brian described his open positions and the type of people he was looking to hire, and MOED screened job applicants. Once a week, he would receive a fax from MOED with all the recent applications that seemed a good fit for the restaurant. Brian would then call and meet with those applicants he wanted to interview.

Outcomes & Benefits

Senita was initially hired as a cashier and promoted to shift manager within a month, in advance of the deli’s grand opening. “I really like working in food service,” Senita said, “and I really like the attitude here at Lenny’s.”