[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 31 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E235-E236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING JOSEPH CARBONE ON THE CELEBRATION OF HIS 20TH ANNIVERSARY AS 
                 PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE WORKPLACE, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 26, 2016

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, It is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to join the friends and colleagues gathered this evening to pay tribute 
to Joseph Carbone as he marks his 20th Anniversary as President and CEO 
of the WorkPlace, Inc. It is an extraordinary milestone for Joe and 
this remarkable organization.
  Under Joe's leadership, the WorkPlace has evolved into a nationally 
recognized leader in skill development and worker training. His 
innovative vision and approach has brought a myriad of unique programs 
to life, expanding the agency's capacity to assist our community's 
vulnerable populations and transforming countless lives. Successfully 
pursuing both government and private funding resources, Joe has ensured 
that the programs and services offered at the WorkPlace continue to 
meet the ever-changing needs of those they serve.
  Over the course of the last two decades, Joe and the WorkPlace have 
been at the forefront of innovative programming. The SWCT Works 
Assisted Services Center is the first of its kind and only one in 
Connecticut. It focuses on ensuring the American workforce system is 
accessible to people with disabilities. The WorkPlace has taken the 
initiative to provide veterans, including those who are homeless or 
incarcerated, a variety of job training, re-employment assistance and 
support services with a particular focus on opportunities in the green 
energy industry. Maturity Works is a program that helps unemployed 
people 55 or older, gain skills to reenter the workforce through paid 
community service opportunities.
  Joe's crowning achievement is his program Platform to Employment, a 
privately funded program that created a pathway back to employment for 
individuals who have exhausted their maximum 99 weeks of unemployment

[[Page E236]]

benefits. P2E provides customized training in job skills, eight weeks 
of subsidized employment, personal support, and access to existing jobs 
open with local employers in several industries, including finance/
banking, media, manufacturing, and entertainment. P2E gained Joe and 
the WorkPlace national attention as it took on a serious problem that 
impacted communities and families across the country.
  With programs like these, the WorkPlace is more than simply a job 
resource center--it is a think tank for workforce solutions. Joe and 
his team are able to identify the challenges at the root of 
unemployment and develop programs and services that help them to turn 
their lives around.
  Joe is not only an extraordinary leader in our community, and he is 
more than a dear friend--he is family. Joe and I grew up in the same 
neighborhood and we have known each other for more years than either of 
us would care to admit. He has always been a source of inspiration and 
guidance for me and I am grateful for that friendship.
  Today, as he marks his 20th Anniversary as President and CEO of the 
WorkPlace, Joe can look back on his career with pride and know that his 
dedication, hard work, and compassion have touched the lives of 
thousands. I am proud to rise today to join the WorkPlace Board of 
Directors and staff in extending my sincere thanks and appreciation to 
Joseph Carbone for his invaluable contributions to this outstanding 
organization and our community. My heartfelt congratulations and very 
best wishes for continued success.

                          ____________________