The Economic Empowerment team in Elizabeth is always searching for new job opportunities for clients in New Jersey. Robert Santiago, the Economic Empowerment supervisor in Elizabeth, has laid the foundation for a new relationship with the Cheesecake Factory in northern New Jersey.

Cheesecake factory supports IRC clients
Mohammad, Chef Chiapuzio, Shirley and Hajj at the Cheesecake Factory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Photo: Shirley Simone.

Robert has worked with Dylan Chase, a regional manager for the Cheesecake Factory to build a potential partnership for employment opportunities in northern New Jersey, and has also hosted Alba Cortina, the assistant manager at the Cheesecake Factory in Bridgewater and an immigrant herself, to speak to the IRC's Women in Action program to encourage women's economic empowerment in New Jersey.

With a growing business and need for new staff, the Cheesecake Factory is a strong match for IRC clients’ grit and work ethic in building their financial stability in New Jersey. Robert and Shirley Simone, an employment specialist in the IRC’s Elizabeth office, accompanied Syrian IRC clients Mohammad and Hajj to the Menlo Park Cheesecake factory for interviews and a tour of the restaurant. Mohammad and Hajj spoke with Chef Jack Chiapuzio, who was very welcoming and informative.

Thank you to Robert and Shirley for their hard work in securing new opportunities for refugee, asylee and immigrant clients as they seek to start new careers and rebuild their lives here in New Jersey. And thank you to the Cheesecake Factory for such a warm welcome and collaboration! But most of all, best of luck to Mohammad and Hajj as they work towards their economic empowerment goals.

If you would like to support clients like Mohammad and Hajj and work like Robert and Shirley’s, please click here