“Jorge is a perfect fit for our company,” advised Pat Hutchins, co-owner of Hutchins Realty in Imperial Beach, CA.  “He’s smart, hard-working, able to multi-task, and in only a few months has become an asset to our company.”

Mrs. Hutchins’s newest employee is recent San Diego Job Corps graduate Jorge Gomez, who she first met when he took part in Job Corps’ Work-Based Learning Program at the Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce office.  “He likes and knows how to work,” she stated, “is bi-lingual, and his computer skills make him invaluable to our company.  Frankly,” she added, “I’d rather have someone who wants to work, who has a good work ethic, than someone who has more work experience.”

Mrs. Hutchins and her husband Joe Lee moved to Imperial Beach in 1957 and opened Hutchins Realty in 1970.  She had previously worked in the banking industry, and Mr. Hutchins is a retired Navy Seal who fought in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  They have been active in community organizations and both served as President of the Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce, where Mrs. Hutchins is currently a member of the Board of Directors.

“I am grateful and appreciative for the opportunity that has been given to me,” Gomez stated.  “They are great teachers and I am learning a lot about real estate.  I’m enrolled in San Diego City College also and will later transfer to a four-year college to obtain a business degree.  It’s possible I may pursue a career in the real estate field when I graduate.”

Gomez advised that enrolling in Job Corps was the “best decision” he made.  “I completed Job Corps’ Office Administration trade, which led me to the Work-Based Learning assignment at the Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce.  Working at the chamber was a great opportunity for me as it led to being hired for this job three months ago.  They are  great people to work with as they have good morals and values.”