 Q
& A With Jane Samargia
Jane
Samargia has served as HIRED’s executive director for 25 years,
playing a vital role in the growth of the organization. Here are
her thoughts on HIRED’s beginnings, its future and what sets
it apart from other Twin Cities employment agencies.
Q:
When you joined HIRED in 1975, what was it about the organization
that first appealed to you?
A:
I was intrigued with the impact I could have. At that time
HIRED was serving ex-offenders and I realized I could help people
see better ways to re-enter the workforce. The idea of opening doors
of knowledge – of how to function in the world – was
one that interested me most. Once I arrived, it was great to be
part of such a dynamic staff. Our backgrounds and perspectives were
so different, but we made a great team that had excellent synergy.
Today, I see the same synergy and creativity. HIRED is about the
people who work here – bringing everyone’s skills together
to form a team.
 Q:
What do you know about the people who were there as HIRED got started
40 years ago?
A:
Forty years ago, the focus was on serving ex-offenders – peer-to-peer
counseling. Shortly thereafter, Stan Kano was hired as the executive
director and professionalized the organization. Board members listed
in the articles of incorporation included a Native American individual,
ex-offenders and business representatives. From the very beginning
HIRED has been a diverse organization that has truly benefited from
the various perspectives of the community.
Q:
Do you think they ever suspected HIRED would become what it is today?
A:
Absolutely. Stan Kano was very ambitious and had high expectations.
He is no longer living, but wouldn’t be surprised –
he had a vision for the organization, as did many of the board members.
Q:
What does it mean to “provide personalized and innovative
work solutions”?
A:
It means providing one-to-one relationships between HIRED counselors
and job seekers or HIRED counselors and employers. It’s the
attention we pay to our clients to develop innovative solutions.
We look at the whole person and his or her family situation to solve
problems that are keeping them from working. When we’re working
with employers, we engage in forward-looking dialogue... working
to identify current and future workforce needs, what would help
their businesses be more productive, and how HIRED can develop training
that will allow their employees and businesses to be successful.
Q:
What about HIRED excites you? What brings you into work every day?
A:
There is so much to do and there are a lot of challenges out there,
but at the same time, there are so many ideas and models that we’ve
demonstrated as effective – models that will benefit and dramatically
change the lives of so many people. I’m here every day because
I’m excited to play a key role in the health of the community...
helping 16-year-old mothers who have dropped out of high school,
immigrants without work experience or basic understanding of the
English language, and older workers who need to be retrained. It’s
a necessary and important job.
Q:
What’s next for HIRED?
A:
HIRED continues to create new programs that respond to worker needs
– helping the Twin Cities community and others. Also, with
HIRED’s new fundraising efforts, we’re educating many
more people about workforce development. People understand the need
for jobs, yes – but the issue of workforce development is
so much deeper. The ways that we prepare people for work are so
different than what they were 40 years ago. In many ways, we’re not just training for a job,
but a career. The outreach is exciting. It’s an opportunity
to broaden our constituency and get people involved with HIRED and
workforce development.
To
read the extended version of our interview with HIRED Executive
Director Jane Samargia, visit our website.
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Martin Luther King, Jr., was shot dead at the Lorraine Motel in
Memphis, Tennessee
