ProAct names employers of the year
Three local companies are honored for efforts in employing people with disabilities
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y Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers
ProAct, Inc. has named three local businesses its 2009 Employers of the Year for their efforts in employing people with disabilities.
ProAct, a nonprofit organization based in Eagan that serves people with disabilities, gave the awards to T.J. Maxx of Eagan, Rapala of Eagan, and Apothecary Products of Burnsville.
The recipients were recently honored before a crowd of nearly 600 at a banquet in Oakdale.
“Employers are at the heart of ProAct’s mission,” said ProAct President Steve Ditschler. “The work they provide is invaluable to ProAct’s individuals, and we salute them.”
PHOTO: Employees Tim Zuther, left, and Roger Stultz assemble boxes for face masks Wednesday at ProAct in Eagan. Employees at the nonprofit will package about one million face masks — aimed at helping prevent the spread of H1N1 — made by Apothecary, a Burnsville company honored as one of ProAct’s employers of the year. Two other local employers, Rapala of Eagan and T.J. Maxx of Eagan, were also honored for their efforts in hiring disabled workers. Photo by Rick Orndorf
ProAct is dedicated to serving people who experience barriers to employment and self-sufficiency due to intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health, traumatic brain injuries, and other challenges.
The three businesses that received awards each employ ProAct workers, who either work at the businesses themselves or perform contracted production work on site at ProAct.
The employers pay ProAct, which distributes wages to its employees. ProAct itself pays for employee benefits.
Getting businesses to hire disabled workers can be a challenge, said ProAct Director of Programs Carolyn Dobis.
“Sometimes you have to work at explaining the advantages: The employer is not paying for any benefits, and the employer is always guaranteed an employee,” she said. “No matter what, we’ll be there.”
Employers may also be able to earn tax credits when hiring individual employees with disabilities who meet the eligibility requirements, according to ProAct.
There are many advantages for the employees, too, Dobis said.
“It allows them the opportunity to be working in the community,” she said. “For those that have more involved disabilities, they might not get that opportunity. They also get paid more, and it’s better for their self esteem. It’s being out in the real world.”
Eagan’s T.J. Maxx has been working with ProAct for eight years.
“They’re always very caring and patient with our people,” said Ken Gray, a ProAct coordinator of Vocational Services.
The store hosts ProAct job tryouts for several positions, including stocking, processing, fitting rooms, cashiering and maintenance, Gray said.
“They’ve also hired some of our individuals to work independently there, so that’s been absolutely wonderful,” Dobis said.
T.J. Maxx Operations Manager Barbara McGregor said the store sets up a comfortable environment for ProAct workers where they can learn new skills.
“It’s a win-win situation for both of us,” she said.
Rapala, a fishing-lure manufacturer with a distribution center in Eagan, currently employs a ProAct crew of about 15 workers. Overseen by two ProAct staff members, the workers are responsible for packaging products headed to 43 Walmart distribution centers.
Staffing flexibility has been a highlight for Rapala, according to Rapala Distribution Manager Jim George.
“I know we have a very good partnership and it’s grown,” he said. “They’re excellent in terms of communications. They have always been able to provide for our needs.”
The third award recipient, Apothecary Products, is a major pharmacy supplier located in Burnsville that regularly contracts with ProAct. The nonprofit’s production center handles Apothecary products that help administer medications and vitamins.
ProAct workers are currently packaging more than one million face masks made by the company to prevent the spread of H1N1.
Kent Halvorsen, who heads Apothecary’s master scheduling and forecasting area, said ProAct has three primary strong points that have made an impression: quality, communication and customer service, and the turnaround time for jobs.
“I hope our relationship in business keeps growing as they’ve been a good partner so far,” he said.
For more information on ProAct, visit www.proactinc.com.
Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
