The Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa stands tall in the Westgate shopping center, just north of where the Arizona Cardinals play. Inside, the hotel staff greet guests, stock shelves and prepare food.

Kaitlyn Cooley, an Agua Fria High School graduate, is among the employees. She serves up coffee and pastries with a bright smile. Ms. Cooley is one of ten interns who participate in the Project SEARCH program at the Renaissance Hotel. She develops marketable skills in the hotel cafe 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“My parents are proud of me because I’m working, learning new things, and helping people,” Ms. Cooley said.

Workplace Immersion

In one of the hotel’s conference rooms, ten Project SEARCH interns gather for their morning class. There, they learn about basic work skills, personal finance, and disability awareness.

“If a student tells an employer that they have an intellectual disability or are autistic, not everyone is going to know what that means.” said Colleen McLoone, Project SEARCH instructor. “We talk with students about how they work best: do they like written instructions? Do they need someone to show them the process visually? That way they start realizing what they need to request to do their job best.

Once the morning check-in is finished, the interns move on to their work rotations. The next time the interns will be together again is at their wrap-up meeting in the afternoon.

“There’s only about an hour and a half of the day we’re all together. The rest of the time they are in their own departments with their mentor,” said Ms. McLoone.

Over the course of the program, interns spend twelve weeks in three different areas of the hotel to grow their capabilities.

Partners for Good

The Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa has hosted Project SEARCH interns for five years. Over that time, both organizations have worked closely to ensure the best outcomes for everyone involved. 

One of the ways the hotel helps take responsibility for the interns is by providing a mentor. Frank Villarreal works directly with the interns, explaining how he performs his job functions and answers any questions they may have.

Once an intern finishes three work rotations in the hotel, he or she is considered a completer and starts seeking employment. Project SEARCH coaches sit down with each intern to identify employment sites near the intern’s home to apply at, then arranges transportation to attend the interview.

Upon accepting a job offer, transition services are available where Project SEARCH helps the intern adjust to the new work environment.

Each year, the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa hires a few high-performing interns who have caught the attention of Villareal and the other mentors. For these interns, a job at the hotel means an opportunity to give back.

Visit west-mec.edu/project-search.