Brandon Golonka

Nevadans with disabilities achieving their dreams

Brandon Golonka smiles while working at red robin

Brandon Golonka applied for services in 2016 as a 17 year old student of Reed High School, and joined the collaborative program between Vocational Rehabilitation and Washoe County School District known as VOICE. Unfortunately, Brandon’s time in the VOICE program was cut short following the school district’s decision to cease funding for the program after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brandon’s case was transferred to adult VR services where his previous VOICE training served as a remarkable foundation for him to start pursuing formal employment. During his time in VOICE, he loved his work-based learning experience at the restaurant Raising Cane’s as a lobby attendant where he assisted in collecting trays and keeping the dining area clean.

Brandon worked with his counselor and job developer Jenny Weisberg of BRAIN to seek out employment opportunities in the community that were consistent with the interests and skills he had developed during his time in the VOICE program. Together, they met with a supervisor at Red Robin in Sparks who loved Brandon’s attitude and eagerness. He was offered a position on the restaurant’s pre-opening prep team and started work in January 2021.

Brandon is praised by his supervisors and coworkers as having great initiative. He is always asking how he can help if he completes his assigned job duties early, and completes any task he’s assigned effectively and efficiently. His attitude on the job was so appreciated that they made it a priority to keep Brandon employed during the slower times of the pandemic when downsizing was occurring. Brandon loves his job, and Red Robin loves having him as a team member.

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