FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 29, 2009 -- Easter Seals North Texas
1424 Hemphill Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104-4703
817-759-7900

Contact: Indi Jones
817-759-7959 direct



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Easter Seals North Texas announces
2009 awards for employment alliances


FORT WORTH, Texas – Easter Seals North Texas honored companies and individuals Oct. 29 during its annual employment symposium. They were selected for their diverse workplaces and their work to find employment for people with disabilities.

The honorees:

Small Employer of the Year: Deaf Incorporated at Westchester Plaza
Deaf Incorporated at Westchester Plaza has proved its commitment to hiring people with disabilities

through a partnership with Easter Seals North Texas. The company is the premier center for assistance in Sign Language Interpreters and Assisted Living.

Medium Employer of the Year: Elite Laundry
Elite Laundry provides airline laundry services to many Texas airports. During the last decade, Bill and Peggy Kensi built an exclusive airline laundry services company that prides itself in delivering unsurpassed quality to airlines operating out of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Love Field, Alliance Airport, Austin Bergstrom and Houston Intercontinental Airports.

Large employer of the Year: Hyatt Regency DFW
From hiring individuals to being a most extraordinary host for the Easter Seals Sizzlin’ Skills Summer Employment Camp, the Hyatt Regency DFW goes above and

beyond to advance the independence of people with disabilities through employment.

Distinguished Service: Candace Owens
Candace Owens of AAFES has been a great asset to the Easter Seals North Texas Dallas Business Advisory Council. She is currently co-chair and has devoted a lot of her time in assisting the Easter Seals Employment Team by enhancing employment opportunities for individuals who have disabilities. AAFES’ relationship with Easter Seals has been very rewarding. As a result, qualified applicants with disabilities have been hired into a wide range of positions within AAFES.

Employee of the Year: Mary (Cathy) Martin
Mary (Cathy) Martin was referred to Easter Seals Employment Services in the spring of 2008. She began working closely with an Easter Seals Employment Consultant to learn skills to prepare her to enter into competitive employment for the first time.
Through job development and partnership, Easter Seals established a relationship with the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel designed to assist individuals who have disabilities to obtain competitive employment.
Soon after, Cathy was hired as a housekeeper.

This was Cathy’s very first job!

An Easter Seals job coach was provided for Cathy to assist her in becoming familiar with her work environment and job expectations. Hyatt Housekeeping Personnel also provided appropriate training and strategies to help develop Cathy’s skills and enhance her ability needed to successfully perform the job.

Cathy is still employed with Hyatt today.