PROACT EMPLOYERS OF THE YEAR COME FROM MULTIPLE AREA ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDE WORK FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Winning for the Business Partner category was Noiseland Industries, and President Andrew Volna, right, was recognized by Greg Pechman, ProAct sales manager.

Several employers who have seen the value of making people with disabilities part of their workforce have earned “Employer of the Year” honors from ProAct, an Eagan-based nonprofit that selected winners in four categories spanning the manufacturing, restaurant and retail sectors.

The 2014 recipients are Dianne’s Custom Candles of Burnsville, Eagan Hardware Hank, the McDonald’s restaurant near Eagan’s new outlet mall and Noiseland Industries, based in Minneapolis. Each was recognized at ProAct’s 42nd Annual Awards Dinner, emceed by WCCO Radio Reporter Susie Jones, which attracted more than 550 to the Prom Center in Oakdale.
“Our partnerships with employers are invaluable to the people with disabilities we serve, said ProAct President and CEO Steven Ditschler. “Besides wages, work provides a sense of wellbeing and satisfaction along with the opportunity to contribute something of value and be a part of.”

Winning recognition in the Community Employment category was Dianne’s Custom Candles, a high quality candle manufacturer in Burnsville. The business recently added a second crew of ProAct workers and expanded their job duties, explains ProAct Business Development and Support Manager Catherine McCoy. Crews package and unpackage glass items, work with boxes, cleaning and mailings. “They always ask what they can do to help us, and for what’s needed,” said Production Manager Mia Miller.
The second winner, in the Vocational Partner category, is Eagan Hardware Hank. For more than a decade, people with disabilities have had work experiences at the store, and some have been hired independently. “Hardware Hank has gone above and beyond to remain flexible, enthusiastic and friendly,” said ProAct Employment Manager Heather Deutschlaender, who made special note of Hardware Hank’s positive work environment.
Depending on the person, Eagan Hardware Hank can tailor a job to determine how they work and then move on to other tasks, explains the owner, Allan Funk. Bringing people with disabilities in is one way to help the community, says Funk. “We’re a small store, and hardware is not a profitable, millionaire business, so how can we contribute and help? You hear that you can give money, but you might do better helping people to help themselves.”

In the Supported Employment category, McDonald’s on Silver Bell Road in Eagan received special honors. ProAct provides support for three of the restaurant’s employees, and the general manager said she has appreciated the nonprofit’s support.
“I like the fact they come in and they check in with me so there’s no misunderstanding or miscommunications,” said General Manager Olga Tsybulskaya. “It helps everybody to be on the same page.”
One McDonald’s employee has been on staff for 11 years, and can do most anything at the restaurant. “It makes me happy, knowing I can give them that opportunity that they can be independent, and live their life just like everybody else does,” Tsybulskaya said.
Employer of the Year recognition for the Business Partner category went to Minneapolis-based Noiseland Industries, which distributes music for popular record labels and artists. ProAct has prepped and packaged more than 260,000 traditional vinyl albums for the company, explains Sales Manager Greg Pechman. The nonprofit’s production facility has been able to meet the company’s tight deadlines and the increasing demand fueled by its growth.

The music business had a lot of deadline pressure, much of it stemming from the “street date,” when the product needs to be at the retailers, explains Noiseland Industries Owner Andrew Volna. Enormous marketing campaigns are structured around street dates, as the artist may be appearing on David Letterman, or another popular program. And, demand for vinyl records continues to grow. Noiseland has produced 600 vinyl record titles to date. “What ProAct does is the last mile,” Volna said. Workers assemble the records for shipment. “They’re a real, solid, dependable group.”
ProAct is headquartered in Eagan and has additional operations in Red Wing, Zumbrota and in Hudson, Wis. Its mission is to serve individuals experiencing barriers to employment and self-sufficiency due to intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health issues, traumatic brain injuries, and other challenges.

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