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Their luck is our luck: Cultural Exchange workers help local businesses

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Thanks to the U.S. Department of State’s J-1 visa Cultural Exchange program, Empire and Glen Arbor businesses have a rich diversity of young folks from all over the world working here through the busy summer season. Cherry Republic and Anderson’s Market in Glen Arbor have staff from countries including Turkey, Jordan, and China working through August and into the fall. So do smaller businesses including Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate in Empire and Laker Shakes in Burdickville. In honor of Labor Day, we profiled a few of those J-1 workers.

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Essential workers, earthquakes, and a chef’s support

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Randy Chamberlain is well-known as an innovative chef. His experience at multiple restaurants around the region led to his establishing the fine dining experience, Blu, on the water in Glen Arbor. Running a successful restaurant requires a dedicated staff. Like virtually every other restaurant, the Chamberlains have scrambled to find enough workers. They eventually opted to hire foreign workers to make up for the shortfall, much like others before them in the hospitality industry. One of those workers, Süleyman Kanal, returned to his home in Turkey after working at both Boonedocks and Blu last summer, with plans to come back to work here this summer. But the massive earthquake that struck his home country in February changed everything. “His father is a furniture maker, and his shop was gone. Their home was gone. They had to dig through the rubble for mementos.” said Chamberlain, who began a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the Kanal family. Click here to read the story and for a link to the campaign.

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Guest workers a “life saver” for Glen Arbor’s summertime economy

“I can’t imagine a town like ours continuing without the heavy support system that these workers coming from other countries provide to allow our economy to thrive,” said Randy Chamberlain, the co-owner and chef at Blu. Glen Arbor’s fine dining establishment currently employs five workers who are visiting the United States on J-1 student visas. “They are unbelievably focused and dynamic workers. They’re up since 5 a.m., working different jobs around town. Their work ethic is very present,” said Chamberlain. “I don’t know what we’d be doing right now without these kids. They are a business saver.”

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