Brooklyn Bureau Honors Businesspeople Who Hire Workers with Disabilities
On October 27, 2005, the Brooklyn Bureau's Business Advisory Council (BAC) honored 12 local firms that hire workers with disabilities. "Hiring people with disabilities is simply good business," said Leslie Klein, Brooklyn Bureau's Director of Adult Rehabilitation Services. "Disabled workers are loyal, they are punctual, they accept direction and they take on difficult jobs, where often, there is high turnover."
The Brooklyn Bureau expresses its gratitude to Claude Pierre-Louis for providing the photographs that accompany this story.
Brooklyn Bureau BAC Chair and Distinguished Honoree Eric Stewart (C) holds his Achievement Award, with Brooklyn Bureau Executive Director Donna Santarsiero and Leslie Klein
BAC member "Cakeman" Raven Dennis III (R) presents BAC Employer Recognition Award to Berter Peets of Allen Health Care Services
At its 6th Annual Employer Awards Breakfast, the Brooklyn Bureau BAC recognized Allen Healthcare, Allstate Maintenance, Copy Cats, Court Order, Dr. Miracle's, Lassen Hennings, Inc., MontiQ's, New York Sports Club, Sotilie Security, Inc. Steve's Mom, Toys R Us and Wendy's.
Ellen Schussel (C), Steve's Mom Bakery, with Brooklyn Bureau BAC Chair Eric Stewart (R) and Ira Lengel, Brooklyn Bureau Senior Job Developer
BAC Advisory Board Chair and Distinguished Honoree Eric Stewart in front a bulletin board highlighting his many years of service to the Brooklyn Bureau
BAC Chair Eric Stewart was also honored for his many years of leadership and service to the Brooklyn Bureau, as he was presented BAC's Distinguished Honoree Award. "It has been a real honor for me to be part of the Brooklyn Bureau Business Advisory Council," said Stewart. "Employers need people they can depend on-year in and year out. The Brooklyn Bureau's many programs have demonstrated that people with disabilities thrive in jobs when given the opportunity. Disabled workers' positive spirit and skills enabled through good training and on-the-job coaching the Brooklyn Bureau provides, make them highly productive and reliable employees."
"Cakeman" Raven Dennis III presents BAC Chair and Distinguished Honoree Eric Stewart a Con Edison power generator cake, with Brooklyn Bureau Executive Director Donna Santarsiero and Director of Adult Rehabilitation Services, Leslie Klein
"Cakeman" Raven's world-famous Red Velvet Cake, made as a Con Ed power generator, in honor of Brooklyn Bureau BAC Chair and Con Edison Director of Information Systems, Eric Stewart
To further recognize Mr. Stewart, whose day job is as Director of Information Resources at Con Edison, BAC member Raven "Cakeman" Dennis presented him a special cake decorated as a Con Edison generating plant.
"Cakeman" Raven Dennis III with Deborah Washington, Brooklyn Bureau Director of Placement Services
Mike Carlos, Wendy's LaGuardia Airport (L), receives a BAC Employer Recognition Award from Michael Rosenthal, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce's Good Help, Inc., and Deborah Washington, Brooklyn Bureau.
Each year, the Brooklyn Bureau's 25 job developers, job coaches and counselors help more than 175 people with disabilities to find and keep paying jobs in the community.
Dr. Miracle's Ollie Johnson (L), with Donna Santarsiero, Executive Director, Brooklyn Bureau, Larry Zogby, RDS Delivery Service, and Ronald Fuller, Brooklyn Bureau Sheltered Workshop Manager
Curtis Christian (R), Sottile Security, holds his BAC Employer Recognition Award, with Brooklyn Bureau Job Developer Michele Shahwan
In award presentations to BAC's honorees, BAC members confirmed the value of workers with disabilities. BAC member Larry Zogby, President of RDS Delivery Service Co., Inc., said, "During the last ten years, I have hired more than 100 workers with disabilities. They want to work, they come to work with a great attitude and they keep going when other people tend to quit. It's not always easy, and it's certainly not glamorous to deliver packages around New York. Of the people I have hired who really perform and show commitment to the work, so many of them are people who have disabilities."
BAC Employer Recognition Award winner and Dr. Miracle's Vice President, Ollie Johnson (L), with Brooklyn Bureau Executive Director Donna Santarsiero and Lary Zogby, President, RDS Delivery Service, Inc.
Bridge Security executives Jim Milione (L) and Lisa Andino (R), with Leslie Klein, Director, Brooklyn Bureau Adult Rehabilitation Services
Ollie Johnson, Vice President, Dr. Miracle's hair care products, said, "I can't tell you how great I feel about the high quality work we receive from the Brooklyn Bureau's sheltered workshop. Every month, their disabled workers assemble and ship thousands of our products that sell in stores all over the country. They pay attention to detail, have a great attitude and are very well-managed. For Dr. Miracle's, contracting our work to the Brooklyn Bureau's sheltered workshop is not only the right thing to do-really, it's the smart thing to do."
Maureen Bobrovinicky, VESID, with Curtis Christian, Sottile Security, and Donna Santarsiero, Executive Director, Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service
Mike Carlos, Wendy's LaGuardia Airport, with Brooklyn Bureau Job Developer Michele Shahwan
William Alexander, Pfizer, Inc., addressing the audience before presenting a BAC Employer Recognition Award to Ruth Starer of Copy Cats
The Brooklyn Bureau deeply appreciates the work and dedication of its Business Advisory Council, including:
| William C. Alexander | Pfizer, Inc. |
| Raven "Cakeman" Dennis III | Cakeman Raven Confectionery |
| Gale Forde | Center for Worker Education |
| Nanette Fuentes | Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus |
| Joseph Meilan | Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC) |
| Felix Milan | Brooklyn Navy Yard |
| James Milione | Bridge Security Services, Inc. |
| Christopher Murtha | JP Morgan Chase |
| Guillio Petruccelli | PIBBS Industries |
| Veronica Quintyn | Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled |
| Michael Rosenthal | Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Good Help, Inc. |
| Donna Santarsiero | Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service |
| Frank Stechel | VESID |
| Eric Stewart | Con Edison |
| Mark Weinstein | VESID |
| James Whalen | Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center |
| Larry Zogby | RDS Delivery Service Co., Inc. |
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