FEATURE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 26, 2010

One man’s journey from the Bottom to the Top

Multi-barrier client living in the Downtown Eastside becomes successful business owner who helped employ DTES residents to work for VANOC during the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Vancouver, BC - George Metrakos is an inspiration to many who have or are currently experiencing difficulties and multiple barriers in life. George was living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with no job or government assistance to help him with his daily living expenses. George had the unique gift of understanding complex government manuals, applications and forms, and with the help of S.U.C.C.E.S.S., one of BC’s largest social service agencies, George used his talents to start his own mediation and negotiation business called G-MALE Consultants located at Suite 200-1755 West Broadway, Vancouver. G-MALE Consultants took part, in collaboration with Fast Track to Employment Coalition, in the training and hiring of Downtown Eastside residents to work in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

George enrolled in the SENI Abilities 2 Business program owned and operated by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. SENI, Sustainable Employment Network Inc., Abilities 2 Business program provides assistance to people with disabilities or multiple barriers to employment with business planning and business skills training. With the help of SENI, George was able to complete a business plan and launch his small enterprise call G-MALE Consultants (George Maetrakos At Large Enterprises). G-MALE Consultants assist people in landlord tenant dispute resolution through negotiation or mediation and charges clients based on what they can afford.

George says “without the support of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. many in the Downtown Eastside community would be homeless or still at risk of homelessness, and while success may be measured in dollars, last year we assisted 865 clients overcome barriers in their everyday life while managing to break even. That’s success!”

Founded in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest social service providers in Canada with 25 service locations in British Columbia and 4 overseas offices. For more details, please visit: www.success.bc.ca

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Contact:

Eileen Lao
Manager, Public Affairs
Tel: 604-408-7243
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