20 REPORT ANNUAL 17 LEADERSHIP’S ADDRESS QUEST celebrated its 25 years with a luncheon and by commissioning an economic impact study. The luncheon Project QUEST is celebrated all the work Dear Friends that QUEST has done over the past 25 years and recognized a valuable partner and Supporters, our original founders, COPS/Metro Alliance, the City of San Antonio, in developing a Project QUEST was founded twenty-five Frost Bank and Broadway Bank years ago, based on a common vision held for their continued support. workforce pipeline by Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS)/Metro Alliance, business connecting leaders, The City of San Antonio, Bexar In 2017, a study founded by the Mott Foundation, conducted participants County, and the State of Texas. 2017 was 2017 HIGHLIGHTS our best year yet; QUEST had it’s highest by Mark Elliott, President of the number of participants, 1,199 in total, Economic Mobility Corporation, with better job showed that QUEST is a key and graduated 400 participants. component in helping people in As QUEST continues to place people opportunities, San Antonio find success in rapidly in meaningful careers, we hope more growing industries that include and helping the cities begin emulating QUEST’s healthcare and technology. strategies and practices. city’s economic 2017 also was a transition year future and global for QUEST, welcoming Executive Director, David Zammiello, competitiveness. whose focus is on strengthening relationships with key community and business leaders, as well as FORMER MAYOR IVY TAYLOR improve its overall positioning within the community. DAVID J. ZAMMIELLO DON A. BEELER Executive Director Chairman Project Quest is a critical economic development To strengthen the economy with highly resource that: qualified employees for in-demand, living wage careers. Understands and meets current and emerging Project QUEST is a critical collaboration with workforce employer work force needs economic development resource development stakeholders. that understands and meets QUEST focuses on training current and emerging employer and careers that offer family Provides comprehensive workforce needs in San Antonio, wages and advancement support and resources to Texas and the surrounding areas. opportunities, while providing program participants to QUEST provides comprehensive intensive support services to achieve long term support and resources to help participants overcome employment program participants to achieve financial and personal barriers long-term employment in to skills acquisition. Facilitates collaboration with other workforce development stakeholders OUR VISION OUR MISSION FINANCIALS 2017 $50K AT A GLANCE $40K POST-QUEST: $43,425 ANNUAL EARNINGS INCREASE $30K 1,199 PRE-QUEST: $13,822 PARTICIPANTS $20K 214% 1,199SERVED $10K ‘13-‘14 ‘14-‘15 ‘15-‘16 ‘16-‘17 400 GRADUATES 400 PRE-QUEST WAGE POST-QUEST WAGE 329 GRADUATES PLACED INTO IN DEMAND JOBS 329 NET CHANGE REVENUE EXPENSES $5,655,609 IN ASSETS $5,468,573 GRADUATES PLACED $187,036 INTO 27 IN DEMAND OCCUPATIONS27 Federal Government $2,114,851 Program Services $4,878,184 THE AVERAGE WAGE State Government $286,947 Administration $539,454 PER HOUR FOR GRADUATES IS $23.34 Local Government $2,308,550 Fundraising $50,935 $23.34 Foundation Grants $647,237 TOTAL ASSETS, END FY ‘17 Individual & Corporate Gifts $298,024 $927,082 CAREER TRACKS DEMOGRAPHICS 40% 30 59% 4% REGISTERED AVERAGE AGE HISPANIC TRADES OR NURSES O T H E R 46% 69% PARENTS WOMEN 16% ALLIED 400 HEALTH GRADUATES 22% 12% SINGLE FORMER PARENTS MILITARY 17% 23% LICENSED INFORMATION 12% 24% VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY RECEIVE PUBLIC NURSES AFRICAN AMERICAN ASSISTANCE ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON In November 2017, we held our Silver Anniversary Luncheon, celebrating 25 years of impacting San Antonio’s workforce. The event brought more than 500 guests to the Grand Hyatt San Antonio. In attendance were six elected officials, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg who delivered the keynote speech. We were extremely blessed to have more than 40 graduates and participants attend our event. We also celebrated our original founders for their years of continued support. Thank you COPS/ Metro Alliance, City of San Antonio, Frost Bank, and Broadway Bank. SUCCESS STORIES GRISELDA ONTIVEROS JOHNATHAN BRIONES RN PROGRAM AVIATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM In 2001, I moved from Mexico to San Antonio. If it wasn’t for QUEST, I wouldn’t have developed I have always wanted to be a nurse, but being that or given any thought to the soft skills that I should Spanish was my first language, I challenged myself be learning to be successful in the workforce. to learn English because I knew that if I wanted I was pretty much raw coal and QUEST made me to be able to help a diverse group of people, into a really shiny diamond. The weekly meetings I would need to learn how to communicate in that we had were always full of information aimed both languages. While I appreciated the benefits at our success. Everyone at QUEST would always of being employed as a waitress, I knew deep in care for our well-being and ensured that we were my heart that I wanted something else, something in the best position to come out on top once we bigger and something more fulfilling for myself. were done with school. Soon thereafter, I was notified that I had been accepted into the Generic Nursing Program at I remember Dr. Loston saying something at a San Antonio College. Unfortunately, I had no idea past QUEST graduation that really stuck with where I was going to obtain the money needed to me throughout the whole time I was here; pay for my tuition. it was: “Imagined impossibilities and unimagined possibilities.” If anything describes what going One of my friends told me about Project Quest through school does to you, it’s that quote. and how this amazing organization helps students We think of the worst but never consider the like me, who are struggling to pay for their best. We have conquered the imagined education, to ensure that we achieve our dreams impossibilities; whatever they were, they did and are able to serve our community through our not deter us from success. We have come to chosen fields. My first semester of nursing school create those unimagined impossibilities into was a roller coaster of emotions because nursing something real and concrete. Along with having school was the most challenging experience that my dad as motivation, I was surrounded by a I had ever experienced up to that point in my support group that had an unrivaled drive to life. I struggled and felt overwhelmed with the see me succeed. Everyone in my family supported amount of stress and finding the time to keep me and wanted to see me finish. Also, my QUEST up with my studies, but I had Project QUEST. Career Advisor, Yolanda Smith was there checking I had encouragement from my counselor who up on me every step of the way. advocated for me and helped with my tuition and books. This journey was very difficult, but I never gave up. I am now prepared to join the workforce as an RN. Thank you, Project Quest, for helping me achieve my dream of becoming an RN. BOARD OF DIRECTORS DON A. BEELER MIKE PHILLIPS JEANNETTE FLORES TOM O’BRIEN DEBORAH CARTER ROBERT CRUZ Chairman; Vice Chair; -WESTBROOK Treasurer; Director, Global Talent Retired, U.S. Postal Service; Retired President; Retired Graphic Designer; Secretary; Retired VP; Development, Rackspace/OCA COPS/Metro Representative CHRISTUS Santa Rosa COPS/Metro Representative Senior VP, Community Controller of UDS Corp Reinvestment, Broadway Bank KATHARINE HECTOR GARCIA, CPA CAROLYN KING CRYSTAL KOHANKE DUANE LA BOM DCN. MARK LUTHER UNDERWOOD Principal, Hector Garcia CPA; Director, Grants and Clinical VP, Human Resources, VP, Talent Management, Retired, CPS Energy; Manager, Employment, COPS/Metro Representative Education Operations, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Andeavor Deacon, St. Leo the Valero Energy Corporation Methodist Healthcare System Great Catholic Church; COPS/Metro Representative STEVE MENDOZA MAYOR PAUL OLIVIER REV. JOSHUA SNYDER MARY STEFL, PH.D. TODD A. THAMES, Real Estate Investor RON NIRENBERG Retired EVP, Minister, First Unitarian Professor, PT, MD, MHA, FAAFP COPS/Metro Representative City of San Antonio Frost National Bank Universalist Church of SA; Health Care Administration, Physician and Data Analyst, COPS/Metro Representative Trinity University Grand Rounds, Inc. DIRECTORS EMERITUS TOM C. FROST CHARLIE E. SISTER GABRIELLA CHEEVER LOHAN, SHSP THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS $2,000,000 & UP Graham & Elizabeth Weston $1,000 & UP City of San Antonio Dahill Coliseum Advisory Board Hixon Properties U.S. Department of Labor COPS/Metro Alliance Michael & Barbara Gentry Crystal H. Kohanke Sisters of the Holy Spirit Veronica and Ruben Escovedo $200,000 & UP South Texas Money Management Fidelity Investments Kellogg Foundation Dr. Todd Thames Ingenuity Financial Texas Innovative Adult Career Wells Fargo IP Secure Education (ACE) Program 80/20 Foundation Kennedy Sutherland Methodist Health Care System $75,000 & UP $2,000 & UP Muriel Siebert Foundation Our Lady of the Lake University Bexar County ABIP, PC Raymond Ceasar Health Profession Opportunity Grants Accenture Federal Dr. Robert Vela Mission & Ministry, Inc. American IHM Province San Antonio Housing Authority USAA CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System Compass Bank Security Service Federal Credit Union Deborah M. Martin Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word $20,000 & UP Debra Martinez St. John Baptist Church Bexar County Innovation Dahill St. Leo’s Catholic Church Charles and Nancy