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| Cascade Engineering CEO Fred P. Keller Urges U.S. House Committee to Take Next Step in Welfare Reform Citing His Company’s Experience, Grand Rapids-Based Business Leader Says Sensible Incentives For Community Collaboration Are Key GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, April 2, 2002 – Fred P. Keller, chairman and CEO of Cascade Engineering, encouraged members of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee today to continue reforming the nation’s welfare system by introducing new incentives for employers, social service agencies and nonprofit groups to work together. He offered his comments during a meeting of the committee’s Human Resources Subcommittee in Saginaw. Keller cited Cascade Engineering’s successful Welfare-to-Career program as one potential model for Congress to use in crafting future reforms. The program recruits welfare clients for employment at the company, assisting newly hired employees with a combination of job training and ongoing social service support to help them successfully make the transition from welfare to career. Various support agencies, both public and private, operate on site at Cascade Engineering to help make the program successful. “We have demonstrated that, by working together in a systemic problem solving manner, we can effect a significant reduction not only in welfare rolls, but of the number of people actually in poverty,” Keller said. The keys to success, Keller said, are: 1) an accepting organizational culture; 2) education not only of new employees, but of existing employees about what it means to be in poverty; 3) a strong system of support for people moving from poverty to careers. The program has benefited Cascade Engineering’s business performance as well, Keller said. “The organization actually is more energized,” Keller said. “People are more focused because they know that the organization values everyone there and we actually get more done and make more progress because people like to work for an organization that they know cares.” House members invited Keller to testify as part of an effort to determine next steps in continuing to reform the nation’s welfare system. Gov. John Engler also offered testimony on Michigan’s successful Project Zero program. Cascade Engineering is a world leader in injection molding of systems and components for the automotive, solid waste and industrial markets. The company has an unswerving determination to achieve worthy goals. The Cascade Engineering Family of Companies, which employs more than 1,200 people, reported 2000 revenues of $215 million. Contact Brian Edwards 616-233-0500 mail@lambert-edwards.com < BACK |
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| Cascade Engineering Home < Press Room < Press Release Archives < 2002 < Cascade Engineering CEO Fred P. Keller Urges U.S. House Committee to Take Next Step in Welfare Reform | ||
