Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School Co-Founder Participates in White House Jobs Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School co-founder Rod Rodrigue joined other leading entrepreneurs and business executives at the White House to discuss job creation strategies with President Barack Obama. The White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth was intended to provide an opportunity for the President and his team to hear from some of the nation’s leading CEOs, small business owners, labor leaders, thinkers and nonprofits about ideas for continuing to grow the economy and put Americans back to work. The Ironwood co-founder was one of approximately 130 individuals invited to participate in the high-profile jobs summit.

“I was deeply honored to be able to attend the White House jobs summit. The President’s economic team was looking for strategies to increase employment and spur the nation’s economic recovery. One of my goals at the summit was to focus attention on entrepreneurship and how the Administration can support entrepreneurial initiatives, because entrepreneurship lies at the heart of America’s economic vibrancy,” said Rodrigue.

“Our experience at Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School illustrates how vision, resourcefulness and hard work can transform an idea into reality. We saw a need for the kind of integrated educational and therapeutic facility, tailored to the specific needs of individuals and their families, which Ironwood now provides. By bringing together the right people in the right setting with the right resources we were able to bring our vision to fruition. From a policy perspective, there is much the Obama Administration could do to support entrepreneurial initiatives like Ironwood that provide needed services and put people to work,” Rodrigue stated.

In launching the summit with opening remarks that set the stage for the day’s discussions, President Obama urged participants to share their ideas and experiences with his economic team.

“It’s only when the private sector starts to reinvest again, only when our businesses start hiring again and people start spending again and families start seeing improvement in their own lives again that we’re going to have the kind of economy that we want. That’s the measure of a real economic recovery. So that’s why I’ve invited all of you here today. Many of you run businesses yourselves. Each of you is an expert on some aspect of job creation. Collectively, your views span the spectrum. That was deliberate. We’re looking for fresh perspectives and new ideas,” the President said.

The Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School co-founder expressed satisfaction that the President and his economic advisors reached out to entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations and small businesses, as well as Fortune 500 CEOs. The President remained deeply engaged throughout the forum, personally attending two break-out sessions, as well as the opening and closing plenary sessions.

“The ideas presented at the jobs summit represented an amazingly wide range of viewpoints,” Rodrigue said. “One common theme, however, which is easily lost amidst the headline news of layoffs and bankruptcies, is how exciting new startup initiatives are occurring across the country, and how companies are finding innovative ways to succeed despite the recession. I’m encouraged that the White House recognizes these success stories and wants to support them; and I’m very pleased that the White House has given me the opportunity to share my experiences and ideas with such key decision-makers.”

About Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School

Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School is a residential treatment center committed to helping families in crisis with troubled teens. We trust the teens and families we treat to share our commitment to generating successful, rewarding outcomes. Our aim is to assess and treat the causes of unruly behavior, while providing self-esteem building activities and life-enriching experiences along with academic studies. We strive to reunite youth and their families through clinical therapy, discipline, hard work, and shared experiences in a safe, secure, and therapeutic learning environment. For more information on the program call 877-342-2463 or go to www.ironwoodmaine.com.

Contact Information

Marion Rodrigue

President

Ironwood Therapeutic Boarding School

Contact via E-mail