Partnering with CRIS’ Employment Program

Like many employers emerging from the pandemic, Universal Veneer (UV), a Newark-based hardwood veneer manufacturer and supplier, was navigating workforce needs. In 2021, UV Human Resources Manager Brian Leman reached out to CRIS’ Employment Services team.

At the time, the biggest barrier wasn’t interest or ability—it was logistics. Universal Veneer is located 30+ miles from Columbus, and transportation made employment inaccessible for many jobseekers. Working together, CRIS and Universal Veneer coordinated a transportation solution that made it possible for 15 Congolese refugees to commute to Newark for work.

For Universal Veneer, it was the first time the company had partnered with CRIS. “It worked famously,” Brian says. Nearly five years later, five of those original employees are still with the company, and more CRIS clients have joined the UV workforce since then.

What Brian values most about CRIS’ Employment Services program is not just the recruitment support, but the ongoing partnership. CRIS employment counselors regularly come on-site to assist with paperwork, communicate directly with employees, and respond quickly when questions or challenges arise.

“They’re very responsive,” Brian explains. “If we have issues, we sit down, talk through them, and make things work.”

That hands-on support is especially important when navigating language differences, cultural adjustments, or the everyday challenges that exist in any workplace. Brian is quick to note that these situations aren’t unusual—they simply require understanding, patience, and the right support systems. “...the CRIS employment counselors are prepared and efficient when they come out.”

For Brian, the success of the partnership comes down to shared values. CRIS approaches employment not just as workforce placement, but as part of a larger process of integration—helping people build stability, dignity, and long-term opportunity. “If you’re doing this for the right reasons—humanitarian reasons—the staffing side will come with it,” Brian says. “You’re giving people an opportunity to have a life they don’t currently have.”

That approach has paid off for Universal Veneer in ways that go beyond retention numbers. Brian describes CRIS clients as employees who “show up consistently, work hard, and take pride in what they do.”

Brian expresses surprise that more employers don’t take advantage of CRIS’ Employment Services program. “It’s a tremendous resource,” he says. “And I don’t think people realize how much support is built into it.”

At a time when refugees face increasing uncertainty nationwide, Brian sees this work as both a professional responsibility and a personal one. “I feel blessed to be able to do something good in this world,” he says. “Especially right now.”

Employers can be powerful partners in welcome. Universal Veneer’s story is just one example of how employers can be powerful partners in welcome.

Learn more about CRIS Employer Partnership here.