More information on the companies honored for their outstanding commitment to the employment of people with disabilities:
• Aramark Food Services of Tallahassee
Aramark on Florida State University campus has participated in the Leon County Schools’ Community Based Work Experience (CBWE) program for approximately eight years. Due to Aramark’s participation in the program, over 200 students have obtained gainful work experience which they were able to record on their applications when applying for jobs. Aramark is a leader in food services for colleges, universities, health care institutions, and detention facilities.
• Childhood Development Services of Ocala
Childhood Development Services has done an amazing job of setting up an On the Job (OJT) program and supervising the OJT training of 18 severely disabled customers during the last ten months. Although the 150 employees in the building have had little training in working with people with disabilities, they have never given up. Program Manager Carol Eurton has developed individual training modules for each trainee, modified job descriptions to accommodate trainees' abilities, and even taken them into her own office to provide hours of training on MS Word. Manager Brandi Cooney has trained 9 people of very different capabilities to do receptionist, back office, parent services and intake counselor positions. To date CDS has trained people for Receptionist, Food Services, Security, Central Supply, Back Office, Finance Department, Parent Services, and Intake positions.
• European Street Café of Jacksonville
European Street Cafe is outstanding company in Jacksonville. One employee with disabilities has worked at the European Street Cafe for more than 10 years. European Street Cafe has made this place a home for this individual. They all work together as a family. They treat her like any other staff member. They also have a great relationship with the community that they are serving. It truly is a great place to eat and visit.
• LCI Industries
Founded as a Not-for-Profit North Carolina corporation in 1936, LC Industries (LCI) is the largest employer of people who are blind in the United States. Affiliated with National Industries for the Blind, LCI is the largest and most successful of its 80 agencies. It operates twelve manufacturing sites, two distribution sites, six retail e-commerce sites, two informational e-commerce sites, and 31 retail facilities in 11 states. Working closely with local Division of Blind Services (DBS) offices, LCI operates eight retail locations in Florida that employ 13 legally blind employees. LCI has teamed up with the Daytona Beach DBS office to identify unemployed legally blind Floridians who are interested in working in LCI facilities outside the state. The partnership is in its infancy, but has already placed two personnel in LCI facilities. LCI is also currently exploring manufacturing opportunities in the state of Florida and is discussing logistics with the Daytona DBS office.
• Mathison Retirement Center of Panama City
Mathison Retirement Center staff provide a great deal of natural supports to each and every employee and as a result of this team spirit, all five of the employees with disabilities have expressed a willingness to do whatever it takes to do a good job and they feel they are part of a winning team. The administrator of the Mathison Retirement Center, Jim O’ Connor, personally conducted the initial interview with a customer and hired him immediately. That individual continues to work for the center and additionally the center hired four more customers with disabilities. Mr. O’Connor has been extremely supportive of the program and believes that each employee is a person, and if that person is capable of doing the job they should be given the opportunity. This belief filters down through the ranks at Mathison Retirement Center.
• Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami teamed up with Project SEARCH, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Best Buddies to put together an amazing program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Three participants are employees at the Oasis Grille inside Zoo Miami. Two participants work part-time maintaining the customer areas clean, refilling all condiments, snacks and refreshments, and assisting in the kitchen. One participant was moved up to a full-time position and received a raised within three months of employment. The zoo was created in 1948 and has developed into one of America’s ten top Zoo’s for many reasons. They house over 100 exhibits, 740 total acres, over 3 miles of walkways, more than 2,000 animals, over 40 endangered species, more than 1,000 species of trees and plants, and this past year they added something else. Throughout the existence of the zoo there have been a hand full of individuals with hearing impairment that have been employed but no specific number of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• TSE Industries of Clearwater
TSE employs 180 people in 208,000 square feet of space. Of those employees, five are people with disabilities. Initially starting in custodial positions, TSE opens other positions to those who show interest and ability, such as one individual who was recently promoted to an operator position in the Engineered Polymers Division.
TSE Industries goes the extra mile for its employees with disabilities. TSE Industries in Clearwater manufactures custom rubber and plastic fabrications, produces conveyor components, specialty chemicals, and Millathane® millable urethane rubber. TSE is a family owned company established in 1960 by Walter and Helen Klingel with a 500 square foot warehouse.