Introducing Your Organization
How organizations present their missions, values, and unique services to employers, and the methods used to establish credibility when initiating a partnership.
Business Career Services Illinois
- Services are introduced at a high level during initial discussions to avoid overwhelming employers.
- Examples of BCS services shared include on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, and internships.
- Follow-up discussions allow deeper dives into programs based on employer interest.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Deb Lawrence in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Cara Collective
- Cara positions itself as a mission-driven organization providing vetted, job-ready candidates trained in technical and social-emotional skills.
- Cara emphasizes its unique value proposition, including concierge-level services and retention coaching for one year post-hire.
- Cara introduces its workforce development programs by aligning them with employer priorities, such as addressing workforce shortages or building talent pipelines.
- Employers are provided with tailored overviews of Cara’s training programs, retention support services, and success stories of past placements.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Tim Loeffler in 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
The Partnership provides employers with a brochure containing a brief overview of the services offered. Employers can also view a menu of services available on the Business Services section of The Chicago Cook Partnership website.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
City Colleges of Chicago
- Several marketing materials are available for employers, describing the services and opportunities that are available through the City Colleges of Chicago and the wider workforce development ecosystem.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Joachim Borha in 2024 and 2025. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
- Opportunities are introduced through tailored presentations and Q&A sessions with employers.
- Personal phone calls and presentations are used to introduce the organization’s mission and services.
- DPD staff regularly attend community meetings and events where businesses are present and provide information on the various grant programs available.
- Employers are given clear, upfront explanations about program requirements to establish credibility.
- Employers are directed to the DPD website for more information.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Lijia Evariz in 2024. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
- The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development positions itself as a funder and implementer of programs that align with community and economic development goals.
- The team builds employer relationships through:
- Workshops
- Roadshows
- Webinars
- Promotional efforts: Flyers, marketing collateral, billboards
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Michael Thompson in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Corporate Coalition
- The Fair Chance Hiring Cohort is introduced through a PowerPoint presentation that outlines the program structure and its community impact.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Steph Dolan in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Harper College
- Harper College introduces itself to employers as a training provider that partners with businesses to build workforce pipelines through apprenticeships.
- Harper College frames apprenticeships as an employer-driven model, emphasizing that companies must hire an apprentice before they can access program benefits.
- During the initial meeting, Harper College representatives share a presentation with employers that contains a brief overview of the available apprenticeship programs, the cost of services, and the required next steps to initiate the engagement.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Besa Sadiku in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Illinois Department of Rehabilitative Services
- DRS’s role as a state agency supporting individuals with disabilities in finding meaningful employment is communicated clearly.
- DRS introduces its mission to small businesses by directly outlining available resources during initial meetings and discussions.
- Collaboration with other WIOA core partners to provide comprehensive workforce solutions is mentioned during initial conversations.
- No-cost disability awareness training, accommodations support, and access to qualified job seekers are highlighted.
- Hiring processes are streamlined by offering live or virtual interview options and ensuring accessibility in application systems.
- Flyers are distributed which highlight DRS’s role as the state’s lead agency supporting individuals with disabilities in finding employment and connecting employers with qualified candidates, offering no-cost services such as disability awareness training, job accommodations support, and guidance on tax credits and workforce incentives.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Biswa Phuyal in 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
- Employers are informed about MOPD’s mission, values, and services during introductory meetings or site visits, and services during introductory meetings or site visits, as well as a presentation.
- Employers are introduced to the concept of inclusive hiring and the role of MOPD in providing prepared and qualified candidates.
- An overview is provided to explain MOPD services and capabilities.
- Disability Awareness Training is offered to highlight inclusive practices.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Lauren Hooberman in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Per Scholas
- Key differentiators include alumni services like ongoing no-cost upskilling, professional development, and post-placement support, which ensure candidates’ long-term success.
- Employers are assured that Per Scholas alumni are highly skilled, motivated, and job-ready, with success stories used to demonstrate measurable outcomes and build credibility.
- Messaging emphasizes the organization’s commitment to delivering value to employers through well-prepared, professional candidates who can contribute from day one.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Kelsey Briggs-Dineen in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Pyramid Partnership Inc
- Pyramid Partnerships presents its mission of bridging the gap between employers and job seekers, with a focus on underrepresented communities.
- The organization emphasizes how their services directly address employers’ operational goals.
- Staff highlight the organization’s value proposition, emphasizing its no-cost recruitment and training services.
- Success stories and testimonials are shared during initial meetings to establish credibility.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Kelly Brown in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
RiseKit
- Account Executives generally conduct a 30-minute discovery session with an employer to gather information about their hiring needs and another 30-minute session to demonstrate the RiseKit platform.
- RiseKit presents its mission in different ways, depending on the audience. When working with nonprofit, philanthropic, or government organizations, Risekit emphasizes its ability to help these organizations achieve their objectives of connecting talent with quality jobs, which can lead to increased funding opportunities and improved community outcomes. For employers, RiseKit differentiates itself from traditional staffing agencies and instead demonstrates how the organization is a resource for an employer’s talent acquisition team by providing access to hard-to-reach talent.
- To establish credibility with employers, RiseKit presents case studies of successful placements.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Josh Glantz in 2024 and 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
scaleLIT
- During initial interactions, credibility is established through showcasing alignment with employer needs and emphasizing support for workforce challenges.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Becky Raymond in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
World Business Chicago
- WBC introduces itself to employers as an economic development organization that connects businesses to workforce resources, talent pipelines, and strategic partnerships.
- Employer engagement occurs through business development meetings, networking events, and direct outreach. WBC provides information about available workforce services and how they align with business needs.
- WBC presents its services by outlining its relationships with city government, education systems, and workforce agencies. WBS explains how these connections support employer hiring and workforce development efforts.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Tana Francellno in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Points of alignment
This section provides an overview of practices that are similar across organizations.
- Most organizations deliver detailed presentations to employers, showcasing their services, including training programs, retention support initiatives, and success stories from previous placements.
- Many organizations actively engage in outreach efforts, such as hosting webinars and workshops or delivering presentations at community events attended by businesses.
- Organizations highlight their value proposition to employers, emphasizing how their services directly address employers’ operational goals.
- To build trust, some organizations provide tailored presentations and customized communications to introduce the organization’s mission and services.
- Many organizations provide employers with a form on their website that allows employers to request more information.
