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Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary-designee

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2022
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

DWD, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center Celebrate Graduation of Seven Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH program prepares young adults with disabilities for rewarding careers

Brady Keefe is eager to start his new job as a cashier in the ThedaCare cafeteria. He was joined by DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek at the recent ThedaCare Project SEARCH graduation event in Appleton.

APPLETON – Brady Keefe, a local student from Kimberly High School, will tell you what he enjoyed most during his time with Project SEARCH: "Learning new skills that helped me to do my job."

Brady says Project SEARCH helped him become more confident about doing jobs that are hard. And now, thanks to the program and the skills he learned, including stocking inventory, operating a cash register, and properly wrapping up vacuum cords, Brady has been hired at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton as a cashier in the cafeteria.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development celebrates over 180 Project SEARCH graduates throughout the state who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a sense of pride through rewarding work," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, some 171,000 people with disabilities are not attached to the labor market, yet we know many want to work. With our record-low unemployment rate, supporting these individuals in achieving their employment potential has never been more important."

The graduation ceremony held at Poplar Hall in Appleton on Tuesday, May 31, marked the completion of an immersive work experience. The seven interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site and DWD's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including Goodwill of North Central Wisconsin, Lakeland Care, TMG, and Kimberly Area Public Schools. Statewide, 25 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among DWD, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, area schools, local employers, and long-term care organizations to help interns acquire marketable, competitive, and transferable skills that lead to employment. The interns complete multiple 10-week rotations to maximize exposure to different career paths, learning employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills within the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to nearly 1,500 Wisconsinites since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit the Project SEARCH Wisconsin website.

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.