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
June 8, 2023
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

DWD, West Bend Mutual Insurance, Celebrate Graduation of Nine Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

Bennett Bares participated in three different job rotations through the West Bend Mutual Insurance Project SEARCH program. This is the sixth group of interns with disabilities that West Bend Mutual Insurance has hosted. — Bennett Bares participated in three different job rotations through the West Bend Mutual Insurance Project SEARCH program.

WEST BEND – Bennett Bares is an exceptional young man with an amazing work ethic. Over the last nine months at Project SEARCH including three internship rotations, he's been asked by his supervisors, mentors, and co-workers to stay in their respective departments.

Bares first learned about Project SEARCH from his high school teacher and his state vocational rehabilitation counselor. During the program, he came to love the different jobs he experienced, and he learned that he likes variety in his day and that sitting at a desk is not for him. One of the most important skills he has learned at the West Bend Mutual Insurance Project SEARCH site is how to work as part of a team.

"Good communication is a necessity to make a team work well," he says. "The guidance I received will help me the rest of my life."

Bares worked in business and customer support services. He now has a job with Delta Defense in West Bend.

"The Department of Workforce Development this year is excited to celebrate Wisconsin's nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates, who pushed themselves to explore new opportunities, develop additional life skills, and take pride in the work they have done over the past nine months," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, more employers are tapping the state's diverse talent pool. Successful programs like Project SEARCH reaffirm that workers with disabilities can bring tremendous skills and abilities to any employer's workforce."

Bennett Bares accepts congratulations after completing Project SEARCH. A graduation ceremony was held June 7, 2023, at West Bend Mutual Insurance with family, friends, and educational and workforce mentors.

The graduation ceremony at West Bend Mutual Insurance on Wednesday, June 7 in West Bend, marked the completion of a nine- to 12-month immersive work experience. The interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, West Bend School District, TMG Wisconsin, My Choice, and The Threshold. Statewide, 28 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among 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 and learn 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 approximately 1,500 Wisconsin residents since its statewide launch in 2008. For more, visit Project SEARCH Wisconsin.

Nine Project SEARCH interns graduated and were honored in a ceremony at West Bend Mutual Insurance June 7, 2023. This is the sixth group of interns with disabilities that West Bend Mutual Insurance has hosted.

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 Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.