Local companies investing in OKC's future workforce

Students at a local high school are discovering their true potential and receiving valuable on-the-job experience thanks to more than 50 Oklahoma City-area companies.

Located in northwest Oklahoma City, Chamber member Cristo Rey High School offers a unique blend of educational opportunities for students and families of limited economic means. Students receive four years of college preparatory courses and, thanks to the school’s Corporate Work Study program, the opportunity to share their talents while gaining real-world experience and preparation for life after high school.

The Oklahoma City campus is one of 37 Catholic college and career preparatory schools in the Cristo Rey network. Locally, the school has 237 students and 55 corporate work study partners and proudly, a 100% college acceptance rate.

“It’s an opportunity for any company to see the talent we have within our own community and build relationships with that talent. We are all competing for labor, and I look at it as that we are recruiting these all-star kids to come work for us when they graduate,” said Nico Gomez, chief executive officer of Chamber member The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital.

The Children's Center and students at the 2019 Share the Love event

The Children’s Center has been a part of the work study program for two years. While at the center, students participate in everything from creating picture boards for non-verbal patients to development of therapy activities and translation of materials to Spanish. “The kids come with lots to offer and we leverage that,” said Gomez. “They learn from us and we learn from them, and that is what makes this such an important partnership.”

Students prepare for their time in the program long before the school year begins. During the summer success program, students spend 10 days training and learning about what to expect when they walk through the door at their assigned company.

Love's representatives, school leadership and students at the 2019 Draft Day event

“The students make our company better. Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and they bring a new perspective that helps us sharpen our focus,” said Carl Martincich, vice president of human resources, risk management and government affairs for Chamber member Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores.

Not only is Love’s a part of the work study program, Love’s co-founder Judy Love is a founding board member of Cristo Rey in Oklahoma City. “Love’s has always embraced the educational community and helping establish Cristo Rey in Oklahoma City was a natural fit,” added Martincich.

Students working at Love’s receive a broad perspective of what it’s like to work in a corporate environment and with that perspective comes growth. Martincich said seeing the changes in the students is one of the biggest rewards. “Seeing them grow and mature as they have these experiences, their confidence just soars. They feel the care and support of those around them and know they are valued.”

 

Tony Yanda, senior director with Chamber member Boldt Construction, said as a company they are always looking for community opportunities. While the work study program is a new concept for Boldt, it's proven to be a win-win. “We are helping students grow and learn and as a company, we are learning and growing too. They give us back more than we give them, they come with great energy and a strong work ethic and that is motivational for our team.”

And while COVID restrictions has hampered in-person office work, students have continued to work remotely. Yanda shared they tasked students with a specific construction-related project that was then presented via Zoom to the Boldt staff. “They took it seriously, they showed problem-solving skills, communicated professionally and achieved the task with flying colors. They are an impressive group of young people.”