Brian Katz, Executive Chef at Red Fish Grill in New Orleans, says with a slight grin that he is not an easy person to work for in the kitchen, which explains why he has become a huge fan of Job Corps. Chef Brian has hired three Job Corps graduates in the past year – Kimberly Williams, Jasmine Pierre and David Butler.

“I have very high standards and am not the easiest guy in the world to work for and that’s one of the reasons that I am such a fan of New Orleans Job Corps. They send me students that are highy trained, disciplined and focused. They meet my standards and save my restaurant both time and money.”

After a Summer of 2010 field trip to Red Fish Grill, Kimberly Williams knew she wanted to work for Chef Brian at Red Fish Grill.

She had no doubts and then went out and made it happen.

“The training that I received at Job Corps gave me the skills that I need to survive in the fast-paced world here at Red Fish Grill,” said Kimberly Williams. “Working for Chef Brian has helped me further develop the culinary skills I learned at Job Corps. He is the best” 

Chef Katz was so impressed with Kimberly and her classmates Jasmine Pierre and David Butler during the 2010 field trip, that he hired all three students after they graduated from the New Orleans Job Corps Center and he says he anticipates adding more Job Corps graduates to his staff in the future.

“It is a good feeling knowing that I can pick up the phone and call New Orleans Job Corps and know they will send me someone well-trained and well-disciplined.”