Top Businesses honored at Opportunity Partners' Executive Networking and Business Recognition Luncheon

Four businesses were honored with recognition awards at “Celebrate Opportunity – An Executive Networking and Business Recognition Luncheon,” hosted by non-profit disability organization Opportunity Partners. Award recipients have shown extensive leadership in providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

• 2012 Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year:Engineered Products Company (EPCO)
  EPCO, a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring consumable products for electrical contracts, brings in two teams from Opportunity Partners Monday through Friday. In a single week, they assemble thousands of parts for interior and exterior lighting systems as well as many other EPCO products.
  
  
• 2012 Production Customer of the Year:DecoPac
  DecoPac, the world’s largest wholesale cake decoration supplier and marketer, turns to Opportunity Partners for projects like an annual licensed Super Bowl commemorative cake decoration sold for Super Bowl parties across the nation.
  
  
• 2012 Community Partner Award: Walgreens
  Walgreens has joined with Opportunity Partners to provide people with disabilities a variety of opportunities in their retail stores. Walgreens has 14 stores that serve as valuable work evaluation or training sites for Opportunity Partners. Through the partnership, more than 20 people have been assisted in their path toward independent employment.
  
  
• 2012 Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year: Kraus-Anderson Construction Company
  Kraus-Anderson, one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers, has hired several employees from Opportunity Partners for general office duties. The company has done an exceptional job of advocating for the hiring of workers with disabilities and has provided positive exposure to the cause.

Established in 1953, Opportunity Partners is celebrating its 60th anniversary of helping people with disabilities live, learn and work more independently through innovative services and collaborations with business. One of the largest social service agencies in Minnesota, the organization supports 1,700 people with disabilities each year.