East Of Chicago Pizza Offers Professional Training To All Employees <b></b>

Willard, Ohio-Starting from day one, every East ofChicago Pizza Co. store level employee can begin a course ofprofessional development leading to career advancement and a 50percent discount on the normal fee to open a franchiselocation.

The company began its new MASTERS program January 1, 2001."It really doesn't matter how good your operating systemsare if you don't have well-trained people in every job,"said Cory Washburn, the company's vice president of operations."People are so important for success that we made employeedevelopment a top priority."

The MASTERS program is a six-level competency-based employeedevelopment and education plan requiring in-store learning,attendance at seminars and a performance review, building to acertification exam.

The result will be store-level employees trained in every aspectof East of Chicago operations. "We want to make working atEast of Chicago more than a paycheck," Washburn said."This program allows all employees, new hires and veterans theopportunity to develop professionally and to advance as far as theywant to go."

The company will also offer career opportunities to employeeswho are interested in pursuing positions in the chain'scorporate offices. -East of Chicago Pizza