“Employment gives them a reason to be proud—to continue working on themselves and towards their future.”
Casey Grisolono, KPEP Food Services Director
We’re starting with a closer look at the Hospitality Vocational Training Program—an opportunity for residents to gain real-world job skills and build confidence in a supportive, hands-on environment. Since 2016, nearly 700 participants have successfully graduated from vocational training programs at KPEP.
Preparing for Jobs in a Fast-Growing Industry
KPEP’s Hospitality Vocational Training Program gives participants a path to meaningful employment in one of Michigan’s fastest-growing industries.
“I believe there is a very strong correlation between employment and successful reentry into the community,” said Casey Grisolono, KPEP food service director. “The trifecta of stable housing, employment, and community/family support has been one of the most powerful motivators for continued sobriety and decreased recidivism among our program graduates.”
Over the course of eight weeks, hospitality program participants gain hands-on experience, industry certifications, and practical job skills that prepare them for entry-level roles in the hospitality field.
Each student selects a focus area—such as front desk representative, maintenance employee, restaurant server, guestroom attendant, breakfast attendant, or kitchen cook—and completes both classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Certifications include:
- AHLEI (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute) in their chosen focus area
- ServeSafe Food Handler
- Introduction to OSHA Safety
- CPR and First Aid
Participants also build real-world experience working in the production kitchen that serves KPEP’s Walnut & Park Café, as well as at the café itself. There, they learn customer service, kitchen operations, and food prep in a live service environment.
“Employment gives them a reason to be proud—to continue working on themselves and towards their future,” observed Grisolono. “And community or family support encourages accountability and growth.”
Monthly and annual follow ups show that the majority of KPEP graduates who maintain employment go into manufacturing/maintenance or food/hospitality services.
“We are grateful to receive visits or messages from graduates who share their struggles and their successes,” said Grisolono. “We learn of weddings, births, new jobs, and promotions. Some have gotten their families back, and others have learned that they need to make a new family for their own success.”
To learn more about our Hospitality Vocational Training Program, or if you are an employer interested in meeting with our program graduates, please contact Casey Grisolono at 269-903-0577 or cgrisolono@kpep.com.