he American Cancer Soci-ety and the Hospital ofSaint Raphael are joiningforces in the fight againstcancer.

On Oct. 30, representa-tive from both organiza-

tions signed a collaboration agreementto work together on a number of keyinitiatives, including promotionof the Society’s free cancerinformation services andsupport programs forcancer patients and theirfamilies, cancer educa-tion and prevention pro-grams, and advocacyand outreach effortsthroughout the communi-ty.

"The American Cancer Soci-ety has made a difference in cancercontrol in our area and is involvedwith the issues we care about most,"said Andrea Silber, M.D., a medicaloncologist and co-director of theWomen’s Center For Breast health atSaint Raphael’s. "This represents anew direction for the ACS and SaintRaphael’s, a collaboration that will begood for patients’ care and quality oflife."

Through the collaborative agree-ment, the American Cancer Societyand Hospital of Saint Raphael willwork together to provide and promote

supportive services to patients at Hos-pital of Saint Raphael, including theSociety’s Personal Health Manager, afree patient care management tool thathelps inform and organize cancerpatients in their first year of diagnosis,Reach to Recovery®, a personal sup-port program matching breast cancersurvivors with breast cancer patients,

Road to RecoverySM, a programthat provides free transportation

to cancer patients to-and-fromtreatment, and Look GoodFeel Better®, workshops thatprovide physical and emo-tional renewal for womenundergoing treatment.

"The American CancerSociety is always striving to

educate the public abouttoday’s many advances in cancer

prevention, early detection and servic-es," said Maria Gomes, Area Directorof Health Initiatives. "We are hon-ored to partner with Hospital of SaintRaphael to help provide the best pos-sible care to men and women diag-nosed with cancer and to promote theoverall goals of the American CancerSociety of eliminating cancer as amajor health problem by preventingcancer, saving lives, and diminishingthe suffering caused by cancer."

Saint Raphael’s and the Society willnetwork within the Greater NewHaven area to share new information

about cancer care,especially preventionand early detectionservices and promoteawareness about can-cer prevention andearly detectionamong hospitalemployees.

The American Can-cer Society helpspatients and theirfamilies with freeinformation, support,and local resources.Cancer informationspecialists are avail-able by phone 24hours a day, 365days a year to helpwith diagnosis andtreatment options,find rides to treat-ment, or answerinsurance questions.If you or someoneyou know needshelp, call 1-800-227-2345 or visitwww.cancer.org.

The Hospital ofSaint Raphael is a511-bed communityteaching hospital affiliated with YaleUniversity School of Medicine. Aleader in cardiac, cancer, orthopedic,

neuroscience and geriatric services,Saint Raphael’s is the largest memberof the Saint Raphael Healthcare Sys-

tem, which is sponsored by the Sistersof Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Formore information, visit www.srhs.org.

hrough 2012, the U.S.Department of Labor esti-mates that manufacturerswill have 2 million jobopenings in computer sci-ence, mathematics, engi-

neering, and physical science; and, anadditional 2.4 million job openings inskilled production jobs such asmachinists, machine assemblers, oper-ators and technicians. The problem,according to the Workforce Alliance ofNew Haven, is that the number ofqualified workers to fill all of theseopenings is extremely low.

A large majority of manufacturingexecutives (74% in a National Associ-ation of Manufacturer’s survey) saythat a high performance workforce isthe most important factor in the busi-ness’ future success. A similarly largenumber of manufacturers also reportthat they are already having difficultyfinding trained, or even trainable,workers.

Thanks to funding and coordina-tion by Workforce Alliance, CT Worksand the Manufacturer’s Association,existing factory workers are improvingtheir skills, and helping their compa-nies remain competitive. For example,when a punch-press operator for amanufacturer of modular data centerstook a class in blueprint reading fromcompany engineers in a conferenceroom above the production floor, he

became one of thousands of workerscreating their own opportunity.

These new skills qualified him tobecome a junior mechanic. He nowoperates a machine that cuts metalpieces into usable sizes. In six yearshe could become a senior mechanicand double his salary, if he takesmore classes.

There is no denying a current andfuture shortage of skilled workers. TheWorkforce Alliance notes that employ-ers are expanding on-site training pro-grams to focus on workers, ratherthan managers or supervisors; prod-ding high schools and colleges intomodernizing math and science cur-riculums; and getting factories includ-ed in high school internship programs.Today’s workers need to operate auto-mated equipment and handle multiplejobs.

Adequate workforce preparation isa national problem. Locally, Work-force Alliance offers several ways forexisting workers to gain training.

Manufacturing needs a new type ofworker, people who understand com-puters. Manufacturers know this, andincreasingly focus their efforts on part-nerships with community colleges,according to the Workforce Alliance.

When the education is completeand skills sets are built, another greatresource presents itself: Hamilton Con-nections, a staffing firm. HamiltonConnections has its hand on the pulse

on the inner workings (and direneeds) of the local manufacturingindustry.

Focusing on light industrial, skilledtrade and professional staffing, thecompany has developed a reputationfor unparalleled customer service andthe vision needed to develop recruit-ing plans for some of the top manu-facturers in Connecticut andMassachusetts.

According to Eric Gonzalez, SalesExecutive and Recruiter for HamiltonConnection’s Milford office at 326West Main St., "We are looking forcandidates for every skilled trade posi-tion available. Manufacturing jobs inConnecticut are taking a hit as babyboomers are retiring and it has beenvery difficult to replace their skill setsin the manufacturing industry."

"Eli Whitney, Platt Tech, Porterand Chester have been trying sointensely to develop this trade, but thedemand is still greater than the sup-ply," Gonzalez says.

Hamilton Connection is known forits knowledgeable recruiting staff,superior candidates provided in atimely fashion, reasonable rates foremployers and dedication to providingevery client with the staffing answersthey need. These characteristics areimportant for an employer, but alsoimportant for a job seeker to keep inmind. Hamilton Connection takes theguesswork out of the job search.

The firm has a long history of dedi-cation to its clients and employees.Since 1986, this firm has remainedcommitted to the welfare and well-being of its customers. Hamilton Con-nection’s long-term objective is thecontinuous development of strongrelationships with clients and employ-ees to the benefit of everyoneinvolved. Every client, large or small,is considered an important part of theHamilton family.

Every employee is considered amember of the company team. Hamil-ton Connection’s success as a compa-ny has been built on the recognitionof the contributions made by each ofits employees. The firm’s commitmentto its own employees speaks volumesabout the devotion they have to plac-ing the right candidate in the rightjob.

"A good number of the jobs thatare leaving the state are mainlyunskilled positions. The positions thatare thriving are for a more skilledworker. There are plenty of jobs avail-able for the more skilled employees"Gonzalez says, pointing out that therearen’t many industries that have sucha high demand for workers today.

The staff at Hamilton Connectionworks strives to provide great oppor-tunities for candidates and providesclients with the most professional andcost effective solutions to their hiringneeds.

Today, Hamilton Connectionremains a full-service diversifiedstaffing firm. The Light Industrial Divi-sion now operates from officesthroughout Connecticut and WesternMassachusetts. Meanwhile, the Tech-nical Staffing Group continues to excelin direct hire recruiting of IT profes-sionals, engineers, scientists, qualityassurance personnel and managementpositions.

"There is job security in theseskilled manufacturing jobs," says Gon-zalez. And there are many opportuni-ties to gain the necessary skills righthere at schools such Porter andChester Institute.

"Part of our job is educating ourapplicants and also our employers,"Gonzalez says. "We specialize indeveloping relationships with ouremployers and the job seekers to finda perfect fit for both parties. Whenwe recommend an employee to ourclients it means something morebecause it comes from someone whois proven in the industry—HamiltonConnections."

"We do so much more than placepeople in jobs," he says. "We can bea counselor, a career developer, aresume and interview coach. Weknow the industry we’re sendingapplicants into and know how tomake a good fit with our recommen-dations."

-Melissa Everett

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Manufacturing Jobs: A Piece of the American DreamHamilton Connection has its hand on

the pulse of the inner workings of manufacturing

American Cancer Society Partners With Hospital of Saint RaphaelFormal Agreement Allows Comprehensive and Compassionate Care for Cancer Patients

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The Hospital of Saint Raphael and the American Cancer Society formalized a collaborative agreement at theFather Michael J. McGivney Center For Cancer Care. The agreement was signed by Joseph Cardinale, medical

director of the McGivney Center, left, and Sarah Shafir, State Vice President of Health Initiatives, American Can-cer Society, right, seated at the table, as staff from both organizations look on.

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