NATIONAL EMPLOY THE OLDER WORKER WEEK

September 19 - 25, 2004

The Clearfield County Commissioners proclaimed the week of September 19 - 25, 2004, as Employ the Older Week in recognition of the contribution that older workers make to the county’s workforce.  Present at the signing were three local businesses recently named to the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame as Champions of Older Workers.  The businesses, Holiday Inn – DuBois, J A Kohlhepp Sons, Inc. of DuBois, and Young People Who Care’s Mercy Mission, were presented with certificates by those who nominated each organization.

Mike Garofalo, older worker, and Mary Jo Hughes, manager of the Holiday Inn – DuBois, presented the award to Joseph McManahan, General Manager of Holiday Inn.  Marcia Belin, Site Administrator for the DuBois CareerLink, accepted the award on behalf of J A Kohlhepp Sons, Inc.  Kohlhepp’s was nominated by Peggy Johnson, CareerLink employee.  Jeanne Urban, Program Operations Specialist for the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. presented the third certificate to Barbara Kessling of Mercy Mission.

The Hall of Fame of Champions of Older Workers was created to identify and recognize Pennsylvania employers who have made noteworthy efforts to hire older workers and to increase employment opportunities for those 55 and older.  Throughout Pennsylvania, older workers are bringing maturity, experience and a strong work ethic to the workplace with positive results.

Members of the Hall of Fame are employers who have actively recruited older workers, developed opportunities and training, provided flexible schedules, promoted older workers from within, or generally made accommodations for a mature workforce.  The nominees who are chosen as winners in the large business, small business, and service categories and the overall Grand Champion of Older Workers will be honored during a ceremony in the Harrisburg on October 26, 2004.

Programs and services of the Agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Mature Resources Foundation, and local and consumer contributions.