CASSADAGA – The two newest members of the management team at the Cassadaga Job Corps Academy bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion to the staff and students they now serve.

Cassadaga Job Corps announced at the most recent Community Rela-tions meeting that Crystal Bennett is in the role of counseling manager and Mary Jo McConnaughey is the health and wellness manager.

Bennett is new to Job Corps, while McConnau-ghey was a longtime Job Corps staffer, who has now returned to the Academy.

In her role as the counseling manager, Bennett is responsible for supervision of the counseling team, case management of the students, assistance with group counseling, maintenance of individual caseloads when necessary, and to provide in-service trainings. The counseling de-partment serve as the student’s career advisors and advocates and assist daily in the personal and professional development of the young people Job Corps serves.

Bennett has worked as a mobile therapist with a concentration in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behav-ioral Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, and Social Skills. She has also been a family-based mental health therapist utilizing the Structural Family Therapy Model and a behavioral health technician working on an acute-term psychiatric and detoxification unit.

She stated, “I look forward to continuing to build relationships with the students on center and my team. I am becoming more familiar with Job Corps values and the mission every day, and really believe in the work that we are doing.”

Bennett holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University.

McConnaughey is re-turning to the Academy after six years working as a staff developer and nurse manager in a long-term care facility. Previously, she was employed by the Academy as a CNA instructor and career-technical training manager. In addition, she has also been honored as an Employee of the Year, during her previous time at Job Corps.

Administrative Services Director Thayne Bodenmiller said, “It is great to have Mary Jo back on our team here at CJCA. She is a real asset to the students here, and will undoubtedly provide great care to the young men and women she is responsible for.”

The health and wellness manager is responsible for daily management and oversight of the Health and Wellness Program on center, which includes staff supervision, medical folder review, acting as a disability co-coordinator, provision of basic care to all Academy students for nursing, oral health, mental health, and the TEAP program.

McConnaughey is a graduate of Jamestown Community College’s Nursing Program and resides in Fredonia with her husband Allen and daughter Elizabeth.

Cassadaga Job Corps provides education and training to young people ages 16-24, that are seeking to start a career, enhance their employability skills, and obtain work experience.

To view a list of jobs currently available at the Academy, visit www.careersystems.com, or call Human Resources at 595-4218.