BENNINGTON — The Vermont Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities announced its 2014 awards to Vermont employers that embody the “spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act” this month.
The GCEPD presented one of the employer awards to the Bennington Home Depot at the Bennington Rotary Club meeting at Mount Anthony Country Club on Friday, for its commitment to employee accommodations, accessibility, disability support and for offering equal opportunity in its application process.
Accepting the award was Scott Found, the Bennington home improvement store’s manager, who was nominated for the award by Creative Workforce Solutions business account manager Brian Maroney.
Found has spent roughly 10 years with Home Depot, and was relocated to Bennington in 2011. Since then, Found and Maroney worked together to help place job candidates who have had a difficult time securing employment.
Found said he reaches into the corporate applicant pool to speed processes along and find suitable candidates that can exceed certain duties, whether or not the have a handicap.
“This is pretty fantastic; I’ve never seen an award like this given out before,” Found said. “At the Home Depot, we are celebrating National Diversity Month. It fits well that we achieve this kind of diversity award this month, which is very exciting.”
Maroney recognized Found’s eagerness and passion to work with people who have disabilities in his nomination letter to GCEPD.
Found worked with CWS several times to hire and retain individuals with disabilities.
“There is always a job for someone,” Found said. “You just have to find the right fit. I understand what each position needs, so I can look past someone’s inability to get a job in the past. You get through all that stuff to figure out why, and then see what works best for them. It always ends up working out.”
Also recognized this year with a “Spirit of ADA” award by GCEPD were Lisai’s Chester Market in Chester; Vermont Department of of Buildings and General Services in Springfield; Bond Auto Parts in South Burlington; and AW Perkins in Rutland.
GCEPD is a permanent statewide committee that was created in 1963 to promote the employment of people with disabilities. Its 21 members provide support and resources to employers through education and outreach, and helps job seekers to facilitate the employment and accommodation of their abilities.
“We are excited about the progress that has been made by Vermont employers in the hiring of people with disabilities,” said Vermont GCEPD chair Christopher Loso in a press release. “The ‘Spirit of the ADA’ awards will recognize some of these employers. We will continue our education and outreach efforts to increase the employment outcomes for Vermonters of all abilities and to help employers gain awareness of this valuable resource pool for employment.”
October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a campaign that was expanded by Congress in 1988. Learn more about NDEAM at http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/index-2014.htm. Learn more about GCEPD online at http://www.hireus.org/.
Contact Tom Momberg at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TomMomberg
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