Member News

(Lebanon, PA) Two Lebanon County residents were recognized as employees of excellence during the Lebanon County Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities Award Banquet held at the Golden Coral on October 23, 2014.  Bryan Albright was awarded the Male Employee of the Year for his service in the Laundry Department of the Lebanon VA Hospital and Jennifer Grose was awarded the Female Employee of the Year for her many years of service for the Good Samaritan Health System in the Dietary Department.  
Mr. Albright and Ms. Grose both exemplify the very best in being dedicated and hard-working employees.

This year’s Employer of the Year Award was presented to Penn State Hershey Medical Center, department of Provider and Patient Access Services for going over and beyond to create an accommodating workplace for people with disabilities. Mary Ndebele, Team Manager, said that employee Janelle Longenecker has been an inspiration to the other employees.  In addition, Penn State Hershey has formed a committee, Inspire to Hire which is focused on promoting the hiring of individuals with disabilities throughout the institution.

Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Employment of People with Disabilities for the Department of Public Welfare, James Marker, said that he too has seen an increase in corporations embracing the diversity employment model.  Mr. Marker shared the state’s vision for employing people with disabilities in an inspirational message given at the banquet to the award recipients.  In this newly created role by Governor Corbett office in 2013, Marker said he is a liaison between businesses and people who want to work.  “I put together people that want to work with businesses that want to hire people,” he said.  

Mr. Marker has invested many hours visiting large and small corporations, and researching studies that illustrate the benefits of diversity employment programs.  “It’s good business,” Marker said.  Walgreens has been a pioneer in creating a diversity model, employing over 30% of its workforce from the disabled population at its Anderson, South Carolina distribution center.  Their success has drawn the eye of other large corporations like CVS, Lowe’s and Hershey Entertainment to adapt a diversity program for their work place.  Mr. Marker said that he is willing to meet with businesses to discuss the many benefits of hiring employees who are disabled and other persons from diverse backgrounds.  “As the world is getting smaller, it’s good business to employ people who reflect who your consumers are. Corporations gain a better understanding of different customs,” he explains.  To learn more about how your business can be more diverse call James Marker at 717-346-9746 or email him at jamarker@pa.gov.

October is National Employment of Persons With Disabilities Month.  In 2013 Governor Corbett joined ranks and issued a proclamation declaring October Disability Awareness Month for Pennsylvania, believing that every Pennsylvanian has the ability to work.