Wednesday, August 27, 2003

By Dan Gigler, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

After two decades of service at US Airways, all David Obusek, of Moon, had to show for it on Sept. 28, 2001, was a pink slip. Obusek was let go in the first wave of thousands of layoffs by the airline that followed the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I didn't know where to go, or where to turn," Obusek said.

His story is one that is familiar to many in the west hills, an area that has been particularly hard hit in the region by the national economic downturn that followed the events of Sept. 11.

Except that so far, his tale has had a good ending.

Obusek was able to find work as the associate manager of a Valvoline Instant Oil Change Center with help from the Airport Corridor Connection, a joint effort of the Airport Corridor Transportation Association and Allegheny West CareerLink, one of 14 locations in the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County CareerLink system.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the Connection office last week at Robinson Towne Center, Obusek offered his testimonial.

"I tried job fairs and Monster.com, but it's overwhelming and time-consuming," he said.

"To make a big change and to find a new company, it takes some soul- searching."

Using counselors and computers, the goal of the Airport Corridor Connection is to provide a "one-stop shop," connecting job seekers with leads on available work, employers with qualified applicants, and commuters with a means of transportation to work.

Ron Quinn, administrator of employment and training for the Allegheny County Department of Health and Human Services, said that the program has been successful so far, enrolling 7,000 job seekers since Sept. 11. The program is funded by the state, and locally by the county and Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh.

Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey and Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler were among the dignitaries on hand, and WTAE-TV anchor Sally Wiggin was the mistress of ceremonies.

For more information on the program, go to http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/.

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