After retiring from a successful career as an accountant, consultant, and business leader, Dave Phillips and his wife, Liane, began researching organizations across the country that addressed poverty through employment. They found that the most successful organizations focused on job retention and advancement rather than simply job placement. So they formed Cincinnati Works in 1996 on a model of one on one coaching. Since then, coaching remains the backbone of the organization. Our staff works daily with our Members (clients) to identify their strengths and goals while honing the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. We partner with more than 90 employers who not only hire our Members but work with us to help them forge careers. We also partner with other non profit agencies who help our Members address a range of challenges that might otherwise hinder them. We have served more than 8,000 of our neighbors, and more than 70 percent of the Members who earn a job are able to hold it for a year or more. In recent years, Dave Phillips has worked with community leaders across the country to replicate the Cincinnati Works Business Model in other cities. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Works staff continues to fine tune and adapt our programs to meet the ever changing needs of our neighbors in poverty.