2005 “Employer of the Year” Award Winners

Large Employer
Assurant Solutions

Assurant Solutions, of Springfield, is a remarkable work environment.  It has three complexes (where each complex is connected with a glass tunnel).  It is an attractive building complex, with several attributes designed to enhance the workplace for its employees.  These attributes include open work areas for team building, a central park with a river running through it, and a cafeteria with a catering service. 

The Springfield service center employs over 1,100 people (approximately 100 have a disability, including several employees in management and upper management positions).  In addition the human resources staff actively works with employees, especially on job saves. 

Assurant Solutions (a division of the parent company Assurant) develops, underwrites, and markets specialty insurance, membership and extended service programs through partnerships with large financial institutions.  This approach to insurance coverage provides lower prices for most homeowners.

Medium Employer
EWH Spectrum Incorporated

EWH Spectrum Incorporated, of Bellefontaine, is a medium sized business owned and operated by Bob Robinson.  The company utilizes the latest manufacturing techniques and equipment in wire harness production, such as is used in fire engines.  They have been operating since 1992, and according to Mr. Robinson, Hocking County has five similar companies that specialize in harnesses, power distribution panels, cable assemblies, and imprinted wire. 

This company has had a Governor Initiative Agreement for over three years. The Governor’s Initiative is a program where the State of Ohio purchases equipment for a company expanding within or relocating to Ohio in exchange for hiring qualified individuals with disabilities. Currently eight employees are individuals with significant disabilities.

In addition to hiring qualified workers with disabilities, they work with placement agencies on community based assessments and job try outs.  These activities allow individuals with cognitive disabilities to experience manufacturing work experiences (to determine their capability to successfully engage in this type of employment).

 

Small Employer
South Eastern Ohio Computer Resource

South Eastern Ohio Computer Resource (SEOCR), of Newark and Cambridge, is a small business owned and operated by Jeffery Watton.  SEOCR provides one-on-one training in the rural southeastern Ohio area including Guernsey, Muskingum, and Licking Counties.  

SEOCR provides assessments, computer training, and work support services to enhance consumer employability.  Primarily, SEOCR serves individuals who are customers of worker’s compensation, job and family services, or vocational rehabilitation programs.

This company employs seven people, all of whom have disabilities.  SEOCR elects to focus on ABILITY.  This decision is evident in their willingness to employ individuals with developmental, physical, and psychological disabilities as well as chronic medical conditions.

According to Mr. Watton, “We are dedicated to the success of the consumer by providing comprehensive training, job skills and motivation.  Consumer achievement is our mission and the measure of our success.”

 

2004 Employers of the Year

Large Employer
Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center received the large “Employer of the Year” award. Seven years ago, the hospital established “Project Search”, a program to increase the number of people with disabilities employed at the hospital. Their goal is to have individuals with disabilities represent three percent of their workforce, and they are half way there.

Medium Employer
The Lumi-Lite Candle Company of Norwich received the medium “Employer of the Year” award. Owned and managed by George and Hilda Pappas, this company has existed for more than 30 years. Employees with disabilities hold various positions within the company, from production to supervision.

Small Employer
Buckeye Donuts of Columbus received the small “Employer of the Year” award. Owned and operated by Louis Sauter, this Ohio State University campus fixture has existed for 35 years. When Louis was asked why he starting hiring people with disabilities and individuals from other disadvantaged groups, he replied,” The credit should go to my father. He taught me that, as a business owner, I have a responsibility to my community.”

2003 Employers of the Year

Large Business
Sterling Jewelers Inc. of Akron has demonstrated leadership toward a diverse workforce by hiring more than 50 employees with disabilities in its corporate office. Sterling first was recognized as a leader by one of its employees, Norma LeBarre, who nominated his employer for the award. Lebarre has been employed by Sterling for more than four years. “It’s a great place to work and L feel like I’m part of a big family”, he said. Sterling offers free computer training to employees and an exercise room with adaptive equipment. It holds “Talk with the Team” sessions regularly to encourage employees to voice concerns and recommendations. The company’s also involved in charitable giving; Sterling employees annually donate more than $1 million to St. Jude’s Hospital. Lisa Stouffer, Sterling human resource director, ensures that the company’s supervisory staff are trained and knowledgeable so they can respond to the questions of employees with disabilities who seek assistance. Each supervisor is provided with American Sign Language software to enhance communication with employees who are deaf.

Medium Business
Incept Corporation of Canton has shown how much its employees are valued by providing innovative and flexible reasonable accommodations to workers with severe disabilities. Incept has an outstanding record of working with and for people with disabilities. The company signed on with two programs through the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission to support employment opportunities for vocational rehabilitation consumers. In addition to hiring qualified workers with disabilities, Incept staff have participated in job-seeking and interviewing workshops for college-educated applicants with disabilities. As for reasonable accommodation requests, CEP Jeff White noted that “help is a mouse click or a phone call away.” Incept was nominated by Sam Falleta, company vice president.

‘Employer of the Year’ 2002

InterContinental Hotel
The InterContinental Hotel has demonstrated a commitment to hiring people with disabilities and outreaching as a business partner with regional and national vocational rehabilitation organizations. Utilizing organizations such as Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP) and the Northeast Ohio Job Placement Network the hotel has added a number of people with disabilities to their workforce. The hotel has offered GED classes, a Cleveland Saves program and sells bus passes, making transportation access easier.

WOW Family Fun Center
As a center of family roller skating, arcade and party place, WOW supports special needs high school students in their academic achievements and to become successful individuals. WOW, in partnership with the Columbus Public Schools, Job Training Program, encourages special needs students to utilize their strengths, and weaknesses, in obtaining a successful, meaningful job career that fits their individualism. WOW’s general manager conducts employee meetings with zero tolerance of any kind of harassment and provides a caring environment to help employees’ problem solve concerns for special needs students.

Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation
Chase displays an exemplary leadership in the employment of individuals with disabilities. They actively recruit and hire individuals with disabilities offering internships for many. During the October 2001 National Disability Awareness Month the Chase Diversity Council hosted a week of events entailing classes in American Sign Language and Disability Awareness Seminar and Simulation. In 2000, Chase gave a $25,000 grant to Goodwill Columbus which assists people with disabilities making the transition to the work environment and provides community rehabilitation services.

‘Employer of the Year’ 2001

Ohio University Dining Halls
The Ohio University Dining Halls has supplemented their staff by employing people with disabilities from their partner Atco Job Placement Services. The Shively Dining Hall, one of many of the OU Dining Halls, has seven Atco employees supplementing its staff. Jim Yute, General Manager of Shively and the Hall are the proud recipients of the 2000 Best Practice3s Award from the Ohio Association for Persons in Supported Employment

MCI Worldcom
MCI Worldcom located in Niles, Ohio is a global leader in communications services with 1998 revenues of $40 Billion and operations in 65 countries. They offer fully integrated local, long distance international and internet services. The local call center facility employs over 1,200 people. By enlisting the services of RSC’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation MCI added to its workforce four individuals who are blind as well as two with low vision. MCI Worldcom is ADA compliant and has additionally had their managers and supervisors trained in ADA and Windmills.

2000 Employer of the Year

Small Business
B & W Pallet and Lumber Company, Inc., coming out of Attica, Ohio was established in 1978 by Richard Bernard, Sr. and wife Judy. The company manufactures wood pallets, shipping boxes and wooden crates. Mr. Bernard believed that everyone needed a job and that if they could perform the job duties and were willing to take responsibility, then they should be hired. Now under the care of Dick Bernard, Jr. the company has given birth to two other companies, Bernard Lumber Company and Bernard Construction and is ca rrying on his father’s belief B & W employs twenty-four individuals, four of whom have a disability or disabilities. The company has made modifications to accommodate the individuals with disabilities enabling them to perform their duties more efficiently. “Since hiring individuals with disabilities”, said Dick, “there has been an increased awareness not only of persons with disabilities but also in areas of safety”. Dick acts as an advocate by encouraging parents with children with disabilities to consider community employment and his colleagues and other companies to hire people with disabilities.

Medium Business
The Columbus Colony Elderly Care is the nation’s only nursing facility “for the deaf, by the deaf”. It is owned and operated by Ohio School of the Deaf Alumni Association (OSDAA) and has been serving the deaf for over 100 years. Of their staff, they have nine members who are deaf and one member that has Down’s Syndrome and is multi-disabled. Staff members are employed in various capacities: social worker, counselor, activities assistant, nursing assistant and housekeeping. The Colony is known for providing services for individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind and multi-disabled. It makes a concerted effort to take time and mentor students with disabilities and encourage them to pursue their educational and personal goals. The Colony embraces not only the deaf culture and language but also understands the needs of employees with low vision/blindness in affiliation with Helen Keller National Center. To promote better communication between deaf employees, residents and hearing staff members, staff must complete two levels of sign language classes. They also have the opportunity to participate in classes on deaf culture and diversity. The Colony has a work study program with the Ohio School for the Deaf and other agencies/businesses to promote awareness and understanding and support for persons with disabilitie