Winners represent achievements in disability
employment nationwide
VIENNA,
Va., May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
SourceAmerica®, an AbilityOne® authorized enterprise that creates
employment opportunities for people with disabilities, announced
the winners of its national achievement awards at its annual Xforce
Conference in Orlando, Florida on
May 8, 2024.
The SourceAmerica achievement awards recognize nonprofits,
employees and business partners for their exceptional work ethic,
success and leadership in advancing inclusion for people with
disabilities in the workforce. These awards highlight successes in
disability employment, especially when approximately 63 percent of
working age people with disabilities do not have jobs.
"SourceAmerica is dedicated to creating opportunities for
inclusive and diverse work environments where every individual has
the opportunity to thrive," said Richard
Belden, SourceAmerica president and chief executive officer.
"These awards serve as a testament to the incredible contributions
of people with disabilities, breaking barriers and proving that
diversity is a key driver of success."
Learn more about the outstanding accomplishments of the 2024
Achievement Award winners:
Jason Sodano, New Leaf Inc.,
Oak Harbor,
Washington
William M.
Usdane Award for outstanding achievement and exceptional
character
Jason Sodano has been awarded the
William M. Usdane Award, which
celebrates an AbilityOne Program employee with a disability who has
exhibited outstanding achievement and exceptional character.
Sodano, who has autism, has worked for New Leaf for more than 13
years in various roles, and has become a standout employee for his
award-winning perfect attendance and his dedication to performing
his duties. Currently working as a janitor at the Naval Air Station
Whidbey Island, Sodano focuses on in-depth cleaning and sanitation
in the base gym that serves up to 1,700 military personnel in a
day. During his time at New Leaf, Sodano has received multiple
company awards, consistently exceeds quality control standards in
his department, and is known for his willingness to advocate for
himself, his coworkers and his position.
Minh Van Bui, Endeavors
Unlimited, Houston,
Texas
Evelyne
Villines Award for advancement into management
Minh Van Bui, who currently works
as the Houston area manager for
Endeavors Unlimited, is the recipient of the Evelyne Villines Award, which honors an
individual with a disability who has advanced from work on an
AbilityOne contract into management (supervisory or leadership)
within the nonprofit agency, or into private or government
employment. Minh, who is deaf, has worked for Endeavors Unlimited
for more than four years and has risen to team leader for the
Houston region where she manages
more than 30 people on teams throughout the area. Throughout her
tenure, she has helped fuel growth at Endeavors Unlimited by
expanding the team, allowing them to take on more contracts, and
recognizing the abilities of people with disabilities and promoting
from within whenever possible.
Stacey Buckner, ServiceSource,
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Tom Miller Advocacy Award for outstanding achievement and
self-advocacy
Stacey Buckner is the recipient
of the Tom Miller Advocacy Award, which recognizes an employee with
a disability who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and
remarkable passion for self-advocacy on a local, state or national
level. After suffering a stroke and traumatic brain injury in 2008,
Buckner faced a long and difficult recovery. She worked with
ServiceSource to secure employment within the AbilityOne Program at
Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center. There, Buckner took a
deeper interest in the needs of homeless veterans. Through
partnering with ServiceSource, Buckner has launched several
nonprofits focused on the mental and physical health of local
Fayetteville veterans, including
Off-Road Outreach, a program that provides showers, laundry,
clothing and meals; Veggies for Vets, a fresh food program serving
more than 50 veterans weekly; and the Big Tiny Project, a planned
tiny home community granting up to 180 days of free transitional
housing to homeless and at-risk veterans in Fayetteville. Buckner has also been recognized
as a CNN 2023 HERO.
James W. Murray III, Training,
Rehabilitation & Development Institute (TRDI), Valdosta, Georgia
Honor Roll for
Veterans Award for outstanding achievement in their
work
James W. Murray III, a 25-year
Air Force veteran, is the winner of the Honor Roll for Veterans
Award, which pays tribute to a veteran with a service-related
disability who has exhibited outstanding achievement in their work.
Murray has service-related disabilities, including shoulder and
back injuries, and currently works as an aircraft servicer at Moody
Air Force Base in Georgia, where
he is a natural leader of the team and puts his Air Force
experience to great use. In one instance, Murray declared a ground
emergency and acted quickly to help save a multimillion-dollar jet
that caught on fire, while also keeping everyone safe from harm. In
his free time, Murray also serves his country through his other
passion, baking. Murray often bakes for the troops at Moody Air
Force Base Camp.
NONPROFIT AGENCY AWARDS FOR INNOVATIVE WORK METHODS, PRODUCTS
OR SERVICES
TAC Industries (Fresh Abilities), Springfield, Ohio
Innovation Award
Winner
TAC Industries has been named the Innovation Award Winner, which
honors a nonprofit agency in the SourceAmerica network that
developed innovative work methods, products or services during
2022. TAC Industries created the Fresh Abilities restaurant, a
farm-to-table quick service restaurant on the Clark State College
campus, which functions simultaneously as an employment center and
a training program for workers with disabilities. TAC developed a
curriculum that includes over 100 hours of classroom instruction
and hands-on skill building. TAC's partnership with Clark State benefits employees who receive
employment and training, as well as students, faculty and employees
of the university who have access to healthy food, as well as
college administration, which can divert funds previously spent on
food service to other student-focused areas.
Canyon Ranch Resort, Catholic Community Services of
Southern Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Business
Partnership Award for commercial business partnering to increase
employment for people with disabilities
Canyon Ranch Resort is the recipient of the Business Partnership
Award, which honors a small to large commercial business that has
partnered with a SourceAmerica-affiliated nonprofit agency to
increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Canyon Ranch Resort worked directly with Catholic Community
Services after COVID-19 to fill several vacancies at the hotel.
Through this partnership, several competitive integrated job
opportunities were created and filled, many of which are held by
people with disabilities. Canyon Ranch worked closely with Catholic
Community Services of Southern
Arizona to ensure its operations are fully inclusive of
individuals with disabilities and creates pathways for each
individual who wants to start a career at the resort.
About SourceAmerica
SourceAmerica connects government
customers and other organizations to a national network of
AbilityOne authorized providers that hire a talented segment of the
workforce—people with disabilities. Established in 1974,
SourceAmerica is committed to increasing economic and social
inclusion and advocating for a more accessible future of work for
people with disabilities. SourceAmerica, an AbilityOne authorized
enterprise, harnesses the momentum and boosts the capability of its
network and customers as a leading job connector for the disability
community. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow
@SourceAmerica on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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