Helping Job-Seeking Veterans

COVER STORY

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Margaux Keiser, Jondi Gumz, Kieran Kelly, Edita McQuary, Risa D’Angeles, Joe Ortiz, Christopher Elliott, Carla Christensen, Manu Koenig

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Helping Job-Seeking Veterans

The California Employment Development Department recognizes and honors all military veterans for their service to our country.

While in the military, a veteran gains valuable skills and experience and the EDD is here to help maximize on those gains. The agency, which has an office in Capitola at 2045 40th Ave., offers resources for veterans to meet their career and employment goals to successfully transition from military service to a civilian career.

A recent success story is Andre Samayoa.

A working with fellow veterans following his discharge from the military, Andre Samayoa found himself unemployed in October 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He decided to seek help from America’s Job Center of California in Capitola as he began looking for a new job.

“As a veteran, he was referred to the Jobs for Veterans State Grant program, or JVSG, and was assigned to an EDD program representative Amy Vradenburg,” said Alan Burrafato, manager at the Capitola AJCC office.

An assessment determined that Samayoa would benefit from support with resume development, job searching, and mock interview practice.

“Andre was motivated and very focused on finding a job,” said Vradenburg. “He took advantage of all the tools we provided to help him with his job applications and subsequent interviews.”

At the job center, Samayoa also took advantage of labor data available and information on job openings to concentrate his job search around his home in Santa Cruz County.

Andre Samoyoa

“Veteran Jobs” page 9

“Meet Mayor Keiser” from page 1

Many people ask me: “Did you always know you wanted to be involved with politics?” and the answer is: “No, not at all!”

I had never imagined myself even running for City Council, let alone being voted into the mayoral position.

The whole process has been very eye-opening and extremely informative. I have learned so much in my last two years on council and look forward to using that knowledge, while gaining even more as the mayor.

We have an amazing city staff, police department, and public works, which has made this new venture of mine completely doable. Everyone is so committed to this City and its well-being, that working together is as natural as it is effective.

I have worked tirelessly in a few locally owned restaurants right in Capitola Village and I also own and operate my own personal training business.

Needless to say, I prioritize our local infrastructure. Both career paths have allowed me to work closely with many wonderful local citizens and build strong, meaningful relationships. Each line of work has also helped me build assertive qualities along with great people skills.

In this new position as mayor, I am looking forward to the Capitola Wharf rehabilitation project for which the city was just given a $3.5 million grant to make our iconic wharf the best it can be.

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Some other projects to look forward to are the re-landscaping of the grounds around Rispin Mansion and (fingers crossed!) the ever-elusive Capitola Mall project!

I really hope we can take steps in the right direction of that project and give the community something to really look forward to.

I am excited to serve as the mayor of Capitola for 2023 and continue to serve the community that I hold so close to my heart.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season, stays happy, healthy and that all the best continues for the year of 2023! n •••

Margaux Keiser owns her own business, www.keisernutritionandfitness. com and can be reached at margauxkeiser@ gmail.com.

Cover Photo: Capitola City Council members elected in November have been sworn in to serve four years, from left, Alex Pedersen, Joe Clarke, and incumbent Yvette Brooks. • Photo credit Jondi Gumz