New York, NY (June 12, 2017) – The HOPE Program, a highly effective nonprofit which empowers New Yorkers to build brighter futures through training, jobs and career advancement, honored The Leo House as Employer of the Year for 2017. Some new employees of The Leo House also received certificates of achievement for successfully securing employment this past year. The 2017 “Employer of the Year Awards” was held at the Bethel Gospel Assembly in New York City.

The Leo House – Employer of the Year 2017

The Leo House was honored for providing employment and advancement opportunities for New Yorkers and for cultivating a work environment that thrives on the varied backgrounds of each employee. Making employees feel valued and supported makes for any organizations’ success. As a business owner, you can find help assessing your employees through various inclusion activities, employee engagement surveys, and other tools. It is no doubt that the success of Leo House is an inspiration for all businesses in NYC. Executive Director, David Smith and Facilities Manager, Warren Le Cruise, together accepted the award. Also in attendance were Annmarie Rivera (Front Desk and Revenue Manager), Lucy Morales (Guest Services Manager), and Ashley Bryant (Manager of Marketing and Brand Development).

Event Reflections from the Executive Director, David Smith

“We are so happy to receive this honor tonight by The Hope Program,” said David Smith, Executive Director of The Leo House. “And we’re even more ecstatic that not only will The Leo House be recognized as an establishment, but our individual employees are receiving certificates tonight as well. We are grateful to The Hope Program for their mission and are proud to extend the success of their mission beyond their doors. Our staff is truly like as an extended family. Some staff members have been with us for over 30 years!

We enjoy working as a team to keep our facilities in tip-top shape so that we may continue our main mission – which is to welcome travelers of all walks of life and all religions into The Leo House and hope they view our establishment as their home-away-from-home. It is a pleasure to accept new employees as a part of our team and welcome them to become a part of the history of one of New York City’s oldest establishments.”

Employees honored at the Employer of the Year 2017 Ceremony include:

Jennifer Paulsen, Front Desk
Zola Williams, Reservations Department Assistant
Robert Young, Maintenance, Housekeeping and Dining Room

The Leo House has been investing much time and effort into reenergizing the establishment starting in 2015 and beyond. To ensure the comfort and enjoyment of each visitor, all guest rooms and common areas are receiving renovations. The staff works as a team to direct these efforts to determine the most important steps to maximize guest satisfaction.

To view a photo album of the event, please visit our Facebook page.

About the hope program:

HOPE EMPOWERS NEW YORKERS TO OVERCOME POVERTY THROUGH SKILLS TRAINING, JOBS AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. The comprehensive approach combines training, adult basic education, industry certifications, work wellness services, internships and job placement with long-term support. As a result, their job retention rates are among the highest in the field. Their graduates’ success drives strong results for employers, supporters and the community.

The HOPE Program is proud to be the parent organization of Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx), which empowers low-income residents of the South Bronx and beyond. Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) provides job training focused on green construction and building maintenance. Their social enterprise also provides paid employment while making New York City more environmentally sustainable.