Local employers and their employees gathered on Thursday morning to celebrate the businesses and individuals honored at Richland Newhope Industries’ annual Employer Recognition Breakfast.
Approximately 300 people were in attendance to honor the businesses that employ individuals with developmental disabilities from Richland Newhope’s adult services program. Richland Newhope Industries Board of Directors President Joanne Mudra acknowledged the important role the 133 area employers play in their program.
“You as employers are essential to these efforts, and for that we owe you a special thank-you,” said Mudra.
Community Services provided employment services to more than 185 individuals who were interested in obtaining employment in the community, including job placement, job tryouts and assessments, driver’s permit training, and employability training. For the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, a total of 324 individuals earned paychecks with wages totaling $537,000.
One of those individuals was Deb Sims, an EZ Meals employee through the adult services program, who also sent out a special thank-you to the employers in the room.
“You made it possible for me and my peers to live our dream and realize our hope for community jobs,” she said.
Two businesses and three individuals were specifically honored at Thursday’s breakfast. The Waterford at Mansfield was recognized as the Community Employer of the year, currently employing three individuals supported by Richland Newhope. Galion, LLC was named the Industrial Employer of the year, as the company has been instrumental in Richland Newhope Industries’ ability to maintain and increase opportunities for employment for individuals with disabilities.
The community-based Employee of the Year is Mark Majors of Mansfield, who has been employed in the community since 2005 and has worked at Wal-Mart on Possum Run since 2010. Majors was initially hired to stock shelves but eventually advanced to the position of cashier, and enjoys riding his motorcycle to work when the weather permits.
Richland Newhope Industries’ facility-based Employees of the Year are Dan Davies and Justin Rose, both of Mansfield. Davies works at Richland Newhope Industries’ subcontracting location and is described as a very hard worker, a mentor and a role model to those around him. Rose works at Richland Newhope Industries’ woodshop and enjoys helping his co-workers, eventually hoping to work in a full-time position with a community employer.
Leaving the attendees and award-winners with some inspiring words on Thursday morning was the event’s featured speaker, Ashland University’s head football coach Lee Owens. Owens spoke of a man on his coaching staff, video coordinator Dave Kwasny, who has muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair, and is seen as one of the leading video coordinators for Division II football in the country. Owens said Kwansy inspires him on a daily basis through his positive attitude.
“Dave told me, ‘Coach, this was important to me because I have something to give, and I don’t think there is any greater tragedy than wasted potential,’” remembered Owens. “He said, ‘I knew I could contribute, I knew I could make a difference; all I needed was value and worth.’”
Owens also spoke of living a life that matters, and about getting up every day and giving your best effort.
“We should never underestimate the power we have to empower so many others by just believing in them, by just giving them a job that gives them confidence, worth, value – that may be the only lifeline and the only hope they have for the next day,” said Owens. “Our finest moment in life might be the fact that we save one life because we helped one person reach their God-given abilities.”
