Home Business St. Croix business Hovensa Helps Mentor Those With Disabilities

Hovensa Helps Mentor Those With Disabilities

0

Nov. 2, 2004 – The recreation center at the Hovensa refinery was the site for the annual assembly arranged by Work-Able, Inc. to observe National Disability Mentoring Day on St. Croix. The National Disability Mentoring program is designed to provide an opportunity to students and job seekers with disabilities to learn about careers in their fields of interest. It also gives employers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of what people with disabilities have to offer.
In his welcoming remarks, Oct. 21, to 35 students, representatives of private and public employers, and the staff of Work-Able at the assembly, Alex Moorhead, Hovensa vice president, Government Affairs, Community Relations, noted that this was the fifth national annual observance of this event and it was the second consecutive year that Hovensa had provided the site on St Croix. He urged the students to ask questions of their employer-mentors to prepare for the day that the students that would be seeking employment.
Moorhead noted that Hovensa is the largest private employer in the Virgin Islands and spoke of the benefits of employment by Hovensa. He said Hovensa provides high wages and good benefits to its employees. He noted that Hovensa employees receive medical and pension benefits, and that, unlike government employees, Hovensa employees do not make any contribution for their pension – the cost of the pension plan is paid for solely by the company.
After the welcoming ceremony, the students left with their assigned mentor from an employer to visit the employer's worksite. Hovensa and two contractors at the Hovensa refinery – Triangle Construction and Maintenance and Anthony Crane International, hosted ten students. The students were taken on visits throughout the refinery where they had an opportunity to meet many workers. They saw medical, mechanical, and other technicians at work.
During the closing ceremony that afternoon, the students received encouragement from Cecil R. Benjamin, commissioner of Labor. He commended them on their willingness to become great achievers in the community. Richard Mahurt, who coordinated the event on behalf of Hovensa, thanked the students and staff of Work-Able for allowing the company to participate in the day of mentoring.

Publisher's note: Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much–and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice… click here.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here