named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
5 Steps to Rapid Employment Program
Five-day career development program that teaches job seekers how to proactively campaign for jobs through self-marketing tools, goal setting, and action planning.
Disability Resources & Services
Offers tailored accommodations, coaching, and employer outreach to support job seekers with disabilities in finding and retaining employment.
Enhanced Recovery Services
Provides career development, credentialing, and job placement support for adults in substance use and mental health recovery.
Individual Training Grant Program
Provides up to $6,000 in funding to Monroe County residents or dislocated workers for training in in-demand fields such as healthcare, IT, and skilled trades, contingent on WIOA eligibility and program requirements.
Online Training
Provides 24/7 access to self-paced courses and live Zoom workshops focused on career development and job readiness skills.
Shift Program
Supports job seekers struggling with job retention and satisfaction, as well as employers facing high turnover, by offering coaching, management training, and workplace improvement strategies.
Workshops
Hosts 60–90 minute interactive sessions on job readiness, career exploration, self-employment, and other workforce topics.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Workforce Readiness Training 4 activities
- 5 Steps to Rapid Employment programDelivers a structured five-day job readiness program that includes one-on-one coaching, skills preparation, and placement support. Sessions are conducted monthly when at least four participants enroll, and attendance at all five days is required.
- Employment and workforce development services for job seekersProvides free employment, job readiness, and career development services to adult and youth job seekers in Monroe County, NY, including resume building, soft skills training, financial literacy, mock interviewing, and one-on-one career advising. Services are delivered through in-person workshops, live Zoom sessions, and 24/7 self-paced online courses.
- On-the-job and work experience training programs for employersOffers the On-The-Job Training grant program and the Work Experience Tryout (WET) program to help employers in the City of Rochester and Monroe County evaluate candidates and offset training costs for new hires. Also supports employer capacity through management training and retention strategies.
- Support services for career advancementOffers individualized supportive services such as assistance with obtaining driver's permits or licenses, payment for credentialing exams, and provision of interview outfits or work uniforms to remove barriers to employment and career advancement.
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Administration of federal workforce development fundsAdministers approximately $12 million in federal workforce development funds for Monroe County, channeling resources to support training, employment, and career services programs.
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Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Disability employment support servicesOperates the Disability Resources and Services Program and the Ticket to Work Program to support job seekers with disabilities through benefits planning, work options counseling, tailored accommodations, coaching, and employer outreach. Aims to improve workforce system capacity and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
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Employment Support for Recovery 1 activity
- Enhanced Recovery Services for individuals in recoveryProvides targeted career services to adults in substance use and mental health recovery, supporting them in obtaining professional credentials, internships, and employment opportunities.
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Tech Skills Training for Underserved Groups 1 activity
- Free access to online learning platformsProvides free access to Coursera accounts and self-paced e-learning courses for unemployed and underemployed individuals in New York, with courses averaging 10 to 30 hours in length and covering career-relevant skills.
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Women Entrepreneurs Grant Programs 1 activity
- Individual and incumbent worker training grant programsAdministers Individual Training Grants of up to $6,000 through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for Monroe County residents and dislocated workers, and offers the Incumbent Worker Training Grant program to offset training costs for existing employees. Requires participation in information sessions and ongoing progress reporting.
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Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
- Renewable Energy Training Initiative (RETI)Operates the Renewable Energy Training Initiative (RETI), an exclusive program that provides resources and support to employers seeking workers with clean energy skill sets, connecting them with trained candidates for in-demand green jobs.
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Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
- Youth employment and career services programsOperates paid youth employment programs including a six-week summer program and an after-school program for individuals ages 14–20, providing work experience, job readiness training, and career exploration. Serves youth enrolled in middle school, high school, or GED programs, with services delivered at partner schools and specialized youth centers in Monroe County.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$9.60M
Contributions & grants$9.48M99%
Program service revenue$65K1%
Investment income$20K0%
Other revenue$29K
expenses
Total expenses$9.59M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$4.18M
Grants paid out$2.22M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.80M
Cash$734K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.25M
Net assets$557K
Liquid reserves0.9 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +16.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID SEELEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 38 | $162K |
| JEANINE FRENZ | DIR. OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION | 38 | $137K |
board members · 8
- ADAM BELLO — BOARD MEMBER
- ANA LISS — BOARD MEMBER
- BERT BRINKERHOFF — TREASURER
- GLEN JETER — CHAIR
- MALIK EVANS — BOARD MEMBER
- MARY BETH ARTUSO — BOARD MEMBER
- MELISSA SUCHODOLSKI — VICE CHAIR
- SERGIO ESTEBAN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- American Job Center Network Network — Member organization providing employment and training services as part of the national network coordinated by the US Department of Labor.
- City of Rochester Government — Provides training grant programs to businesses in the City of Rochester.
- City of Rochester Partner — Collaborates on youth employment initiatives, including alignment with summer youth employment programs.
- City of Rochester’s Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP) Partner — Collaborates with RochesterWorks to operate the Summer Youth Employment Program.
- Coursera Partner — Partners with Coursera to provide free access to online courses for unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers.
- Edison Career & Technology High School Partner — Partner school where the School to Work Navigator Program delivers services to students in grades 9-12.
- Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Government — Federally coordinated network under which RochesterWorks operates as part of the American Job Center Network.
- Jay Block Partner — First developed the 5 Steps to Rapid Employment program, which RochesterWorks implements
- Joseph C. Wilson High School Partner — Partner school where the School to Work Navigator Program delivers services to students in grades 9-12.
- Marge McGee Partner — Shift Program Coordinator facilitating program registration and support.
- Monroe County Government — Geographic focus area for service delivery to job seekers and businesses.
- Monroe County Government — Provides training grant programs to businesses in Monroe County.
- Monroe County-Rochester Workforce Development Board Partner — Partner entity for which RochesterWorks administers federal workforce development funds.
- NY Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) Government — Awarded the 2022 Workforce Program Award to the ERS program
- NY Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network Funder — Receives funding from the NY SCION program to operate the Disability Resources and Services Program.
- New York State Government — Primary funder providing a $1.9 million grant to subsidize youth wages.
- New York State Department of Labor Government — Collaborates on Section 599 program allowing unemployment benefit recipients to maintain benefits during approved training.
- Social Security Administration Government — Partners with the Social Security Administration to support participants in the Ticket to Work Program.
- Trenton and Pamela Jackson R-Center ATTAIN Lab Partner — Collaborates to offer digital literacy, ESOL studies, HSE/GED preparation, and certification programs in Microsoft and Intuit applications.
- Trenton and Pamela Jackson R-Center ATTAIN Lab Partner — Collaborates to provide digital literacy, ESOL studies, HSE/GED preparation, and certification programs.
- WIOA Government — Administers Individual Training Grants for in-demand training programs for Monroe County residents and dislocated workers.
- WIOA Government — Administers Individual Training Grants for in-demand training programs for Monroe County residents or dislocated workers.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Holistic Retention Support with Peer and Management Engagementmethodology: holistic_job_retention_supportBy providing continued, team-based support through job placement and into early employment—and by engaging supervisors through training and peer networking—the organization improves job retention, because sustained support and improved workplace relationships reduce early turnover.
- Interest- and Individual-Based Job Matching for Meaningful Employmentmethodology: interest-based_job_matchingBy aligning youth and job seekers with employment opportunities based on personal interests, career goals, and individualized needs, the organization fosters more meaningful and sustained work experiences, because relevance to personal identity and aspirations increases motivation and retention.
- Navigator Model for Barrier Reductionmethodology: navigator_modelBy pairing job seekers with navigator specialists who connect them to community, school-based, and supportive resources, the organization reduces systemic and personal barriers to employment and training, because personalized guidance increases participant readiness and sustained engagement.
- Recovery-to-Employment Pathway for Economic Independencemethodology: recovery-to-employment pathwayBy supporting individuals in recovery from substance use and mental health challenges to enter certified roles in recovery and prevention fields, the organization promotes economic independence and addresses workforce shortages, because employment in purpose-aligned, peer-supported roles enhances stability and reduces recidivism.
- Workforce Alignment with In-Demand Credentialsmethodology: workforce_alignmentBy restricting training investments to programs that lead to credentials in high-demand, local occupations and offsetting costs for in-demand roles, the organization ensures pathways to economic stability, because alignment with labor market needs increases employment viability and employer uptake.