CASSADAGA – Ask Academy Director Ann And-erson what makes Cassadaga Job Corps such a special place, and she is quick to answer.

“Our staff. The staff at Cassadaga is good, good people working hard to mentor, teach and help our students reach a brighter future,” she said.

A recent ceremony recognized several of those special people marking career milestones and put the spotlight on several standouts, and honoring two with employee of the year awards.

Catherine Doty, human resources manager, opened the program and thanked all those in attendance for coming. She went on to introduce the department directors who each recognized employees celebrating five, 10 and 15 years of service to career systems development, the contracted operator at the Cassadaga Job Corps Academy.

Those being recognized for five years of service were Jean Gustafson, Christopher Johnson, Timothy Leasure and Jenna Roberge-Karns. Marking 10 years were Robert Benjamin and Louise Lindquist. The lone recipient of the 15-year recognition was Edward Guziec, safety and security officer at the Academy.

Following the longevity awards, driver Mike Keefe was acknowledged for his retirement in 2013. He served the Academy over many years transporting students and was noted as having a demeanor that was always happy and calm no matter what was happening around him.

Many of the employees recognized as employee of the month throughout 2013 were on hand and one of them was selected as the 2013 Employee of the Year. The past year’s employees of the month were Stacey Povich, Colleen Schwane-kamp, Jillian Lindstrom, Ad-rean Scott, Danielle Boggs, Cecelia McCoy, Vicki Ehm-ke, Alicia Learn, Stan Kelly, Dwight Damcott and Leah Marsala-Chase. The honorees were selected by their peers throughout the year to receive this recognition, with department directors selecting the employee of the year from among this group. The 2013 Employee of the Year was Leah Marsala Chase, career transition counselor.

Marsala-Chase has been employed by the Academy since 2002, starting at Job Corps as a recreation specialist. She has worked in career services since 2011. In addition to her normal duties, she has acted as an SGA adviser, volunteered numerous hours for community service projects, and has spent many hours volunteering for on-center dinners, dances and events.

“As a community, we, the staff at Cassadaga Job Corps Academy, strive to help our students to better themselves and, in turn, create brighter futures. I know how much my co-workers put in every day, and am really honored to have been singled out for this recognition,” she said.

Job Corps is a federal program which provides young people age 16-24 with career technical and academic training to ensure they are prepared to compete in the workforce upon graduation.

For more information about employment opportunities available at Cassadaga Job Corps, you may contact the human resources department at 595-4218 or email Catherine Doty, HR manager, at doty.catherine@jobcorps.org.