I was employed by Jason Safford and Safflyn Corporation in 2010 and want to provide this review of my experience.
My role was to help with a new program for Green Jobs Development and I was the Director of Workforce Development. Safflyn Corporation was approached by the City of New York in 2010 to assist with the employment of persons who had been long-term unemployed or underemployed as classified by the Human Resources Administration. Our company was identified for the Green Jobs Grant that was part of the Recovery Act or ARRA.
Jason Safford, our CEO and the strategic planner of the organization, recognized that a jobs program would only be as valuable the training provided. Mr. Safford worked to organize a plan that would attract Fortune 500 companies to work with Safflyn Corporation based on a step-up
employment program whereby Safflyn would serve as the conditioning firm to prepare people into steady employment. Our Green Jobs program included an in-depth curriculum that featured Green Technology classes sponsored by Sherwin-Williams, Intech 21, and Safflyn Corporation.
Safflyn trained more than 50 students with the City of New York and an additional 100 students with other community organizations in New York City. This included a graduate of the training program becoming a trainer of the curriculum at Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement. The program was well-received by students and administration and was recognized by outside
companies as providing a substantial amount of technical and quantitative skill and applied training.
Safflyn employed 29 of the 54 people trained through the City of New York BEGIN Green Collar Jobs program that it designed for the City agency. More than 85% of the employees completed the 6 month program that allowed Safflyn to train them for steady employment. Over 70% of our employees went on to full-time work with other organizations after the program ended.
The program was cancelled by the City of New York in September when the funding for the Green Jobs grant ended. Unfortunately, this meant Safflyn could no longer sustain my position and I had to find other employment. Jason Safford and Sylvin Lyn were tremendous through this process and I can truly testify to their commitment and dedication to their employees and company. Jason was always available to help, write letters of recommendation and talk to other employers about my work. He was and is an outstanding person and employer.
Today I am thankful for the opportunity Safflyn gave me. That opportunity has been a springboard for me to work in the field of the Green industry and I am very happy that I began my new career path with Safflyn. Their knowledge, understanding and creativity with regards to the Green future
is amazing and they are well beyond our understanding of the future of America with regards to Green.
There are few places I have enjoy as much as my time with Safflyn Corporation. Through very tough times and difficult circumstances Jason and Sylvin portrayed a confidence and forthright ability to see past our challenges to a determined success. They are every bit of their principles of Honesty,
Integrity and Enthusiasm, which to this day has become my Mantra for success.
Thank you Safflyn for all your hard work and faith that we can be better today. You guys are the best.
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