Chick-fil-A in Brick has welcomed Career Dynamics students from Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) as interns in the store. Owner Ted Reim and Manager Ina Joyce view student interns like valued staff, meaning they are seen more like family. The workplace culture where everyone is treated with honor, dignity and respect is genuine and provides the students with a sense that they have support and are appreciated.
OCVTS honored the Brick Chick-fil-A as its 2023 Business Partner of the Year to publicly recognize and thank the store and its team for the work-based learning opportunities provided to students. The opportunities are extended to Career Dynamics adult students who are ages 18-21 and in a transition year between school and work. The experiences they gain working at the Brick Chick-fil-A give them both confidence to maintain employment and a sense of pride that they are contributing as part of a valued member of a team.
“I cannot thank them enough for all the kindness they share with the students, and for giving them the experience of work preparedness using patience and gentle guidance,” said OCVTS Transition Specialist Annie Sayers. “Mr. Tim Reim, the owner of the Brick Chick-fil-A, Human Resource Manager Ina Joyce, and their team have taught our students that we all make mistakes and not to be nervous or anxious to admit it. They stress that mistakes are how we learn. They use a saying at Chick-fil-A , ‘It’s only chicken!’ This phrase is one we carry back to school when training our interns in our own ‘in-house’ job shadowing opportunities.”
OCVTS first toured the Brick Chick-fil-A in 2018, and the relationship took off from there. Today, when the adult students show up with their job coach, they work hard to clean and sanitize the store, because they know both patrons and staff take note of their efforts. Even Reim acknowledges their work after both a.m. and p.m. shifts with a free meal and drink for each student worker. He provides these for 10-12 students each shift with another signature Chick-fil-A phrase, “My pleasure!”
Beyond serving as a work-based learning site, the Chick-fil-A Brick store has continuously donated gift cards to use as prizes for contests to support the OCVTS Brick Center.
