Two Area Ace Hardware Companies and Froedtert Hospital Honored with Inclusive Employer Leadership Awards by CEO
Celebrating employers who look to diversify their workplace. By hiring adults with disabilities.
(Wauwatosa WI – October 27, 2022) Creative Employment Opportunities (CEO) Milwaukee area nonprofit honored two Ace Hardware companies and Froedtert Hospital with its annual Company of the Year Awards and Impact Award at their Inclusive Employment Leadership Awards breakfast this morning. CEO was joined by Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride, keynote speaker Cindy Bentley, Executive Director of People First Wisconsin, and emcee Mike Curkov morning news anchor for CBS 58. The event honors local businesses who have demonstrated a commitment to hire individuals with disabilities. The event is held during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is designed to educate about disability employment issues and honor the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
For over 30 years, CEO (Creative Employment Opportunities) has helped provide meaningful work and community inclusion for Milwaukee area people with disabilities. During this second annual Inclusive Employer Leadership Awards, we are honoring some great organizations.
“Joanie LeDonne and her husband Anthony and her team have partnered with CEO since 2014. “Joanie and her team continue to go above and beyond in providing meaningful work for people with disabilities in the community, resulting in a significant improvement of quality of life”, said Laura Owens, President and Founder of CEO. “Joanne and Anthony have been great business leaders in their hiring of a diverse workforce.”
“Hahn Ace Hardware provided an internship and then hired a young man who had not previously worked. Zach loves his work and enjoys being part of a professional group of employees.” said Owens. “They fully embrace Zach as a member of their team, not just someone who performs a task.”
Froedtert Health Systems was honored as the 2022 Impact Award for their efforts in re-establishing Project SEARCH. “Froedtert partnered with CEO in 2020 to re-establish Project SEARCH, even as COVID was still aa concern. The Froedtert team was responsive and worked diligently to identify and coordinate internship opportunities within the hospital,” said Owens.
“We need to employ people with disabilities because they can and want to be contributing members of society,” said Mayor Dennis McBride of Wauwatosa. “People with disabilities are ready and able to work and we need to make them part of our communities.”
As noted by the keynote, Cindy Bentley, “People with disabilities want to work. No one believed in me, but I did and I proved them all wrong!”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
