People with Disabilities

Generous donations to The Michael Ziegler PRIDE Industries Foundation support vocational training, on-the-job coaching, and a host of other employment services for adults with disabilities. The important services provided by these donations put hundreds of individuals, like Javier, on the path to reaching their career goals.

Congratulations to Francisco “Javier” Guzman, who recently earned a well-deserved promotion to production lead trainer in our Electronics Department.

An avid gamer, Javier was excited to join the department this past fall, as the position aligns so well with his interests. After excelling in a production worker role—and receiving training and mentorship—Javier applied for the production lead trainer position and was subsequently hired.

Not only do the technical aspects of the job interest Javier, but he also appreciates the opportunity to mentor other employees of all abilities. “I have often seen that many people with disabilities undervalue their abilities,” said Javier. “I have a learning disability, but my belief in myself helped me to get where I am today. Everyone has something that they are good at.”

After attending Yuba Community College, Javier joined PRIDE Industries in 2015 as a production worker. In the role, he helped on a variety of kitting and packaging projects for customers like HP. Leading up to this point, Javier—like many young adults—hadn’t had a clear idea on what he wanted to develop as a career. But that was to change quickly.

“As soon as I started with PRIDE Industries, I immediately felt welcome,” said Javier. “I loved the opportunity to work on different projects .” Like other PRIDE Industries employees, Javier was given career advancement and job coaching by our staff to help him explore different job options and provide the training to help him succeed.

And succeed, he did. Which is why, as of January, Javier is now in a role that finds him leading and training others.

“I’m excited for my first position where I will be directly responsible for managing the outcomes and success of my team,” said Javier. “I want others to see that if they work hard enough, they can achieve their goals.”

We are fortunate to have an inclusive team of talented employees, like Javier, that contribute to our company’s success.

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

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“I have a learning disability, but my belief in myself helped me to get where I am today. Everyone has something that they are good at.”

California company teams disabled workers with Monterey employer - KSBW8 Action News - (10/27/2021)

Alani Letang, anchor/reporter for Monterey’s KSBW8 Action News, details the work done by PRIDE Industries by employing people with disabilities all year long. She interviews several PRIDE Industries employees at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, who credit PRIDE Industries with giving them the skills and a sense of belonging by being able to go beyond their disabilities to become valuable employees.

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.

“Everyone needs a Cathi at their workplace!”

You’ll often hear this saying from Business Manager Victoria Warren and the entire team at PRIDE Industries’ Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB-MDL) customer. And it’s no wonder why. Every day, Service Order Dispatcher Cathi Talbot brings a positive attitude and views her role as so much more than an occupation.

“I feel honored to work at a military base because it’s a way for me to thank our service members,” Cathi said. “They sacrifice so much to keep us safe. My dad and my brother served in the U.S. Marine Corps, so it means a lot to me to be able to support military personnel and show that I appreciate their work.”

Building New Skills After a Disability

Cathi’s job also provides a chance for her to learn new skills after unexpectedly acquiring a disability. In 2004, her 20-year career as a court stenographer was cut short when she experienced a stroke during surgery and fell into a coma. She woke up after a week, but her long recovery had just begun. Cathi went on to complete seven years of intense rehabilitation in a residential brain injury program.

“I had major problems with my short-term memory and lost my recollection of up to 15 years of my life,” Cathi said. “Through my faith in God, and thanks to my wonderful rehabilitation therapists, I was able to get most of my memory back—a big step since, when I began therapy, there were times I couldn’t remember if someone had just been in the room with me.”

With hard work, Cathi made so much progress that, in 2010, she decided to rejoin the workforce. After filling out many job applications, she turned to the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for job assistance. In 2011, her counselor there matched her to PRIDE Industries. And when a service order dispatcher position opened at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Cathi turned out to be a perfect fit.

Gaining Independence Through a Career

“Joining PRIDE Industries was like coming home,” said Cathi. “I love this company so much. After I started, I knew everything was going to be different.”

“Since this was a new job for me, I needed training,” she said. “However, verbal instructions were not as effective due to my short-term memory issues. I needed written step-by-step procedures. My rehabilitation counselor, Samantha Gralla, and my supervisor created those for me—always making sure to add new procedures as required.”

“Now, with these simple accommodations, I’m an expert at my job,” said Cathi. “It’s been different since I have been working from home during the pandemic, but I love saying a socially distanced ‘hello’ to everyone when I’m on-site.”

In addition to providing excellent service to our customer at JB-MDL, Cathi has also taken the time to directly support PRIDE Industries’ mission.

“Being able to regain my independence and build a career felt incredibly freeing,” said Cathi. “One of my proudest moments was when I earned the opportunity to go with PRIDE Industries to Capitol Hill. I met with 16 congresspeople to talk about the importance of job opportunities for people with disabilities.”

“For me, it’s significant to show what disability can look like. On the outside, mine is invisible. It’s important for others to not ‘judge a book by its cover.’”

Cathi always makes herself available to give support to others with disabilities, especially those who feel stigmatized.

“I wear mine like a badge. I have a disability but am not incapable,” she said. “I had to relearn many daily tasks at age 42, so I share my story to show others their potential. When I look back now, I cannot imagine doing the last 18 years any other way.”

Cathi’s outreach work earned her an award from the SourceAmerica Grassroots Advocacy Conference in 2013. She continues to be an outstanding employee of PRIDE Industries and recently celebrated her 12th work anniversary. We thank Cathi for her excellent work and her important advocacy for people with disabilities.

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PRIDE Industries builds inclusive, diverse work environments where people with disabilities can thrive. Is your company seeking well-trained, reliable employees? Join our Employment Partner Network today.

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“For me, it’s significant to show what disability can look like. On the outside, mine is invisible. It’s important for others to not ‘judge a book by its cover.’”

“Early on, we discovered Ramon’s talent for making boxes and making them quickly,” says Matt Weiss, Distribution Manager of HP Operations at PRIDE Industries. “The fact is, folding boxes isn’t as simple as it sounds. There are a lot of complex folds—it can be pretty confounding.”

According to Scott Lacey, Director of Production Operations for PRIDE Industries, Ramon is so fast and accurate in making and filling boxes that it takes two or three people to fill his shoes when he’s absent.

“The way Ramon moves, the fluidity of what he does—how he knows which materials will fit which cubic volume—it’s a very fast process,” says Scott. “He thinks fast. He moves fast. And he moves things through the operations so efficiently that there’s no backup. He’s one of those people that, when he’s not here, you know it.”

According to Scott, when an incredibly high amount of volume flows through, Ramon’s speed and accuracy enable us to keep operations flowing smoothly. And he achieves this high level of performance even though—like most employees at PRIDE Industries—he has a disability that once made it difficult for him to find work.

Resilience at Work

At the young age of ten, Ramon was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy treatments, the tumor subsided. However, the battle cost Ramon much of his teen years. It also took away his sight in his right eye.

“My left eye is okay, but the right one … I cannot see with it,” says Ramon.

Years later, after his family relocated from Mexico to the United States, Ramon found employment in the fast-food industry. However, he was unable to see the order boards and had to leave that line of work. Then in 2004, he found his way to PRIDE Industries—where, after demonstrating his skill and commitment, he was offered a permanent position in 2007. Since then, he’s continued to be an outstanding employee at our HP Operations Facility in Lincoln, Calif.

Employing People with Disabilities Makes Sense

Ramon’s story proves what the job coaches at PRIDE Industries see every day—people with disabilities have as much to contribute to the workplace as anyone else. In fact, people with disabilities consistently boast impressive statistics when it comes to employment, including higher retention rates and lower absenteeism than average.

As for Ramon, he embodies these traits—not only on the shipping floor, but also in the classroom and beyond it. Once he accepted his position with PRIDE Industries in 2007, he was determined to effectively communicate with coworkers, so he studied conversational English at night school—while employed full time. He then took the citizenship test and passed, becoming a United States citizen the same year.

Ramon’s employment story wouldn’t be complete without one additional element: travel time. Due to his vision loss, Ramon can’t drive. So, he relies on public transportation. Although he lives only 15 minutes, as the crow flies, from his workplace, the journey can take up to three hours a day—including time spent transferring from one bus to another. Yet, to Ramon, the journey is worth it because, in the end, he arrives at a place where his extraordinary talents are fully appreciated.

Tenacity. Dedication. Skill. And a great attitude. An employer couldn’t ask for more, and that’s what Ramon delivers every day.

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“He thinks fast. He moves fast. And he moves things through the operations so efficiently that there’s no backup. He’s one of those people that, when he’s not here, you know it.”

SMT & Packaging Magazine recognizes the social enterprise in the Contract Service category

Roseville, Calif. (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PRIDE Industries has received SMT & Packaging Magazine’s 2021 GLOBAL Technology Award in the Contract Services category. Within this category, the social enterprise was recognized as a leader in engineering services and strategic supplier management.

The prestigious GLOBAL Technology Award is designed to promote best practices in key areas including manufacturing quality, customer service, sales growth, innovation, and employee motivation. Award recipients were announced at a ceremony during Productronica, the world’s leading trade fair for electronics development and production, which took place in Munich, Germany.

PRIDE Industries is known for its technology and electronics manufacturing service offerings, which include Class I and II medical device manufacturing, cable and harness assembly, and full system integration.

“PRIDE Industries is honored to receive such an esteemed technology award in recognition of our contract services,” said Tony Lopez, Vice President, Manufacturing & Logistics Services at PRIDE Industries. “In the United States, we are the leading employer of people with disabilities, and this award proves the value of our inclusive workplace model to meet the unique business needs of competitive global companies.”

PRIDE Industries’ broad range of customizable manufacturing solutions includes printed circuit board assembly and surface mount technology. In addition, PRIDE Industries’ deep experience in electronics manufacturing has made the company a reliable reshoring partner for those customers seeking to minimize supply chain disruptions, optimize fulfillment processing, and benefit from flexible, on-demand inventory schedules.

The GLOBAL Technology Awards have recognized the very best new innovations in the printed circuit assembly and packaging industries since 2005. This awards contest brings together the global SMT and advanced packaging industry in a celebration of the companies and people that are achieving the highest standards and driving the electronics manufacturing industry forward. Entries were submitted from equipment, materials, and EMS companies of all sizes.

“Thank you, Global SMT & Packaging Magazine, for selecting PRIDE Industries and spotlighting our high-quality manufacturing and packaging capabilities for global customers,” said Lopez.

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. Learn more at https://PRIDEIndustries.com.

Need employment placement support?

Contact our I AM ABLE Helpline to discuss your options.

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.

PRIDE Industries is proud to be the winner of Global SMT & Packaging Magazine’s 2021 GLOBAL Technology Award in the Contract Services category. This award recognizes PRIDE Industries’ innovation in electronics manufacturing processes, engineering services, and strategic supplier management. We’re honored to receive this industry recognition for delivering top-quality results for our customers across all our contract manufacturing services.

During the past few years, we’ve focused on developing market-leading innovations and delivering best-in-class service. Our first-pass yield rates, for example, are consistently above 98%. Our prototyping services also exceed industry standards—we typically turn PCBA prototypes around in 3-5 days, and can often reduce turnaround time to 2 days. In addition, we’re experts at helping companies maximize the benefits of reshoring—including cost-savings, streamlined production, and faster time to market. Our customers know they can rely on us for all these benefits, as well as competitive pricing and highly responsive customer service.

In addition to electronics contract manufacturing, PRIDE Industries offers several other crucial manufacturing services, including logistics and supply chain management, contract packaging, and fulfillment. Our customers include both private and public organizations nationwide.

The 2021 GLOBAL Tech award highlights PRIDE Industries’ expertise and our ability to help customers achieve quality, speed to market, and efficiency at scale. This recognition represents years of innovation and commitment to manufacturing best practices, which have enabled us to keep pace with the supply chain challenges happening globally.

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We offer cost-effective electronics manufacturing services in a wide variety of industries.

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Thank you, Global SMT & Packaging Magazine, for selecting our organization and highlighting a company that delivers business excellence with a positive social impact.

Tony Lopez, Vice President, Manufacturing & Logistics Services

Manufacturing Capabilities

Class I & II medical device manufacturing
Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and mixed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly
Full system integration
Cable and harness assembly
Diverse engineering services
Prototype services
Scalable and flexible capacity planning
Procurement and materials management services
Forecasting and demand planning services
Supply chain management
Quality and regulatory control
Order fulfillment and warranty services
Conformal coating
Full product traceability
Complete product integration
Small-batch sub-assembly

Certifications

CA Medical Device Manufacturing License
ISO 13485:2016 certified
ISO 9001:2015 certified
FDA 21 CFR Part 820 Compliant

Join us in our mission

California company teams disabled workers with Monterey employer - KSBW8 Action News - (10/27/2021)

Building New Skills After a Disability

Gaining Independence Through a Career

Make a social impact

Resilience at Work

Employing People with Disabilities Makes Sense

Make a social impact

About PRIDE Industries

Need employment placement support?

We can help your business grow

Manufacturing Capabilities

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Foundation

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