Employment Services

by Erin Fleischmann

When the need for skilled hospital workers skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals scrambled to find staff. This shortage included environmental technicians—employees who contribute significantly to the health and safety of patients, staff, and guests by keeping healthcare facilities clean.

With the emergence of this challenge, we saw a chance to help solve it—all while expanding employment for people with disabilities. Thanks to generous support to The Michael Ziegler PRIDE Industries Foundation, including a grant from Kaiser Permanente, we created a skills lab to train participants for roles as environmental technicians. Over 30 individuals have now completed the course and become eligible for a significant pay raise and new career path.

Join us in our mission

Your donations make it possible for us to offer customized training programs and support that people with disabilities need to gain employment.

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by Erin Fleischmann

For many people, the first job out of high school is the most memorable one. Sometimes it’s even life-changing, as it provides a way to explore careers, build experience, and earn a paycheck. For young adults with disabilities, however, such opportunities remain elusive. Ultimately, this work gap can impede their skill-set acquisition and lifetime earning potential.

PRIDE Industries’ dedicated Workforce Inclusion team is changing this. Supported by generous donors, our staff works directly with youth who have disabilities and are transitioning out of high school. Recently, one of our staff members received a letter from Dee Morimoto. She explains how their help led her son, Tyler Morimoto, to earn his first job as a ship loader (stevedore).

A Letter From Dee Morimoto: Gratitude for Job Coaching and Support

Tyler and I would like to extend our appreciation for all that you have done to help him find employment. Prior to signing up with PRIDE Industries, he had no experience filling out job applications, creating a resume, or knowing how to look for a job.

You changed all of that.

With practice interviews, many hours on the phone, and customized job coaching, you helped Tyler build his confidence. All of this led to him earning a job as a stevedore.

Thank you for always being there for us during this process—even after work hours and in the early morning to ensure that Tyler learned the bus system. Even further, you helped make sure that he obtained the accommodations that he needed to succeed—and worked with his employer to make that happen.

It takes a village to raise a child. This is so true, especially with raising a child with a disability. Having the right job coach on your side makes all the difference to becoming successful. Tyler now is on the path to personal growth, and for this we feel blessed.

Join us in our mission

Your donations make it possible for us to help people like Tyler succeed in a career that they love.

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by barb

The nonprofit social enterprise is awarded Best of the Best by U.S. Veterans Magazine.

Roseville, Calif. — For a second consecutive year, PRIDE Industries has been named one of the nation’s Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies by U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM). The distinction publicly recognizes those entities that go above and beyond in their support of our nation’s former military personnel.

“Veterans are entrepreneurial. They’re resilient. And they’ve earned high levels of trust,” said Mona Lisa Faris, President and Publisher at U.S. Veterans Magazine. “This magazine was created to support our troops, and we at USVM are proud to recognize other businesses that are also making veterans a priority.”

As part of its “Best of the Best” evaluation process, USVM polled hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies on their veteran hiring and career support practices. Using this data as a guide, the magazine selected an elite group of companies that exemplify the magazine’s goal of increasing veteran employment.

“U.S. Veterans Magazine’s recognition of PRIDE Industries once again demonstrates our commitment to seeking and supporting veterans’ employment opportunities,” said Major General (Retired) Casey Blake, Chief Operating Officer at PRIDE Industries. “This is yet another strong validation of our steadfast commitment to gainfully employ veterans who have so faithfully served our nation with distinction and honor.”

PRIDE Industries recognizes that the experience veterans gain serving our country makes them valuable employees. The nonprofit social enterprise, founded in 1966, currently employs hundreds of veterans in all areas of the company and has provided support and services to thousands more in the form of job readiness instruction, career coaching, and job placement assistance.

Resources for veterans include PRIDE Industries’ one-of-a-kind I AM ABLE employment helpline [(844) 426-2253], a dedicated Veterans Liaison, and a Military Skills Translator tool that helps veterans match their skills and talent to a civilian career. PRIDE Industries can also help veterans access paid internships, as well as mentoring and training programs.

“We appreciate all the men and women who have bravely served our country,” said Frank Goehringer, Veterans Liaison at PRIDE Industries. “It is our honor to provide our veteran heroes, military spouses, guard and reserve soldiers, and their families with employment opportunities. Thank you to U.S. Veterans Magazine and to all of our veteran referral partners.”

Founded in 2011, USVM fosters employment and business opportunities within the federal government and corporate America for veterans, transitioning service members, disabled veterans, spouses, and veteran business owners. Every year, the magazine carefully evaluates the nation’s employers, initiatives, government agencies, and educational institutions. The information USVM gathers serves as a valuable resource for job seekers, business owners, students, consumers, senior management, business associations, employment agencies, and consumer groups.

About PRIDE Industries

PRIDE Industries delivers business excellence with a positive social impact. A social enterprise, we provide facilities operations and maintenance services, custodial services, contract manufacturing, supply chain management, packaging and fulfillment services, and staffing and recruitment services to private and public organizations nationwide. Founded in 1966, PRIDE Industries’ mission is to create employment for people with disabilities. Through personalized employment services, we help individuals realize their true potential and lead more independent lives. PRIDE Industries proves the value of its inclusive workforce model through operational success across multiple industries every day.

About U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM)

The mission of the U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) is simple: open up immediate, lucrative employment, business and supplier opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, disabled veterans, and veteran business owners within the federal government, as well as corporate America. In turn, we link companies and government entities to qualified career and business candidates from the ranks of the nation’s veterans. We provide the latest, most important veteran news, covering virtually every industry, business and profession. This includes up-to-date statistics on workforce diversity, as well as business-to-business trends. We offer both recruitment and business opportunities, along with accurate, timely conferences and event calendars. And, just as importantly, we spotlight inspiring role models and notable mentors. USVM is a WBENC and DOBE-certified company. Learn more at https://usveteransmagazine.com

Are you a veteran?

At PRIDE Industries, U.S. veterans will find a team that welcomes and supports them as they develop their future careers.

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Media Contact

Kat Maudru

(916) 753-4339

media@prideindustries.com

PRIDE Industries is a social enterprise delivering business excellence to public and private organizations nationwide.

by Erin Fleischmann

Partnering to Create Employment for People With Disabilities

Parents Alliance Employment Project (PAEP) was founded in 1982 by parents fighting to mainstream their children with disabilities in public schools and their DuPage County, Illinois communities. Today, PAEP is an accredited state provider for people with disabilities serving DuPage and three surrounding counties. The organization is a leading Supported Employment Provider offering individuals with disabilities career counseling, job training and preparation, job development, job placement, job coaching, support, and follow-up services.

Situation

PAEP helps 200 people with disabilities find employment every year. It works with Northwestern Medicine, which hosts three Project SEARCH sites that offer three 10-week internships that allow them to gain real-life vocational skills in various hospital departments. Another program, Inspired by Ability, is a paid job training program for individuals with disabilities between 18 to 24 who have exited the school system.

Even with successful programs and 40 years of experience training and placing employees with disabilities, finding the right employment situation for each client can be challenging for organizations like PAEP. “Every client has unique abilities and disabilities, and some can be challenging to place,” said Maggie Meyer, Vocational Transitionist at PAEP. “Finding the ‘job’ is just the beginning of a successful long-term placement. Employers and employees both need support.”

Solution

When Casey Nunes, Employment Success Manager at PRIDE Industries, approached PAEP about matching the organization’s candidates with job opportunities through our Inclusive Talent Solutions partners, they knew they had found an invaluable partner. “We discussed our team and our candidates and how we could advocate for our employees,” Maggie said. “We started with two janitorial positions at Ingram Micro, and the relationship has grown from there.”

“The relationship works because Casey and PRIDE Industries are on-site to support the employer and the employee,” said PAEP program manager Khushbu Davi. “Employees get the accommodations they need, and employers get workers that exceed expectations.” PRIDE Industries and PAEP have since filled many permanent positions to date at Ingram Micro.

“I can’t overstate how valuable it is to have a partner that ‘gets it,’” Maggie said. “Casey and PRIDE Industries understand that you can’t just fill a position and step away.” She tells the story of Jad, a person who is non-verbal, who faced challenges to obtaining employment due to communication barriers. PAEP and PRIDE Industries helped Jad land a position as a fulfillment packager with a supportive employer. Both are thrilled. “When you get that right fit, it is such a great feeling,” Maggie said.

Services Provided

Employment Preparation and Placement
Job Coaching

Become an Agency Partner

Does your agency provide services to people with disabilities, military veterans, foster youth, or trafficking survivors? Consider becoming a PRIDE Industries Agency Partner.

Partner with Us

“The relationship works because Casey and PRIDE Industries are on-site to support the employer and the employee. Employees get the accommodations they need, and employers get workers that exceed expectations.” ”

— Khushbu Davi, PAEP Program Manager

by barb

Global, independent accreditor recognizes the organization’s leadership in providing high quality offerings for people with disabilities

Roseville, Calif. — PRIDE Industries, the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities, has received the prestigious three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an international, nonprofit health and human services accreditor. This recognizes that PRIDE Industries has made a specific commitment to put the needs of their participants at the center of the services they design and deliver, and that they strive to continuously improve efficiency, fiscal health, and service quality and delivery.

PRIDE Industries’ three-year accreditation applies to the social enterprise’s programs and services in:

Community Employment Services: Employment Supports
Community Employment Services: Job Development
Employment Developing Services
Employment Planning Services

“We are pleased that we achieved the acclaimed three-year CARF recertification,” said Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, Chief Rehabilitation Officer at PRIDE Industries. “This is a testament to PRIDE Industries’ dedication and commitment to continuously improving the quality of our services that fulfill our mission to create employment for people with disabilities.”

In part, the CARF report lauded PRIDE Industries for:

Providing excellent employment services, employee development services, and employment planning services.
Being highly regarded in the community and building positive relationships with partners and employees.
Holding safety as a high priority.
High satisfaction from persons served, families, and other stakeholders.
Longevity of leadership, which provides continuity to the organization’s mission.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

CARF International is an independent, nonprofit organization with a focus on advancing the quality of programs in health and human services. For those being served, CARF accreditation means that the CARF-accredited provider is committed to reducing risk, addressing health and safety concerns, respecting preferences of individuals (cultural or otherwise), and providing the best quality of care possible. The accreditation also shows that the accredited organization values the feedback and input of their customers with disabilities and is accountable to the community. And, finally, accreditation demonstrates that an organization has opened its service delivery and business processes to outside scrutiny to improve the quality of their programs.

PRIDE Industries has successfully maintained CARF International accreditation since it was first applied for in 1976.

About PRIDE Industries

Media Contact

Kat Maudru

(916) 753-4339

media@prideindustries.com

PRIDE Industries is a social enterprise delivering business excellence to public and private organizations nationwide.

by Erin Fleischmann

A Life-Changing Opportunity for Mental Health Recovery

In 2018, Saad’s life changed forever when he experienced a severe psychotic episode with intense paranoia. This episode landed him in the hospital, where staff diagnosed him with bipolar disorder, psychosis, stimulant use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Despite the obstacles he faced, Saad decided to take this moment and dedicate himself to recovery.

Through perseverance and a determination to get his life on a more positive footing, Saad became sober and earned employment as a busser. However, he felt ready for a change and wanted a more stable career. In 2021, Saad got the support team that he needed when he joined our Mental Health Cooperative Program, which is part of PRIDE Industries’ Employment Services Department. From the start, Saad impressed everyone on his support team with his work ethic, and after undergoing a vocational assessment, he decided to pursue a career in pest control. Our staff was there to make this dream a reality.

Mental Health in the Workplace: How Employment Preparation Leads to a Career

At PRIDE Industries, we realize how important the role of employment is for emotional wellness. And we aren’t the only ones. According to a report by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, a job raises self-esteem, improves financial stressors, and provides coping strategies for psychiatric symptoms.

This was certainly the case for Saad, as he takes pride in self-sufficiency and independence.

After his assessment, Saad took the initiative and researched the vocational requirements for his chosen field. He even interviewed pest control professionals. This hard work culminated in success when Saad earned a full-time position with a pest control company in 2022. Saad is now happily employed, and knows he can count on PRIDE Industries’ mental health cooperative team to provide any support or advocacy he may need.

“We are so proud of Saad and his commitment to achieving his dreams and maintaining his health,” said Georgia Bielz, Employment Services Manager at PRIDE Industries. “This really is just the beginning for him.”

Join us in our mission

Your donations make it possible for us to help people like Saad succeed in a career they love.

Make a Donation

“We are so proud of Saad and his commitment to achieving his dreams and maintaining his health.”

—Georgia Bielz, Employment Services Manager at PRIDE Industries