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| News From Adtec Digital |
| Contact: Mary Anna Brown Public Relations Coordinator (615) 256-6619 ext. 120 maryannab@adtecinc.com |
| November 25, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
NASHVILLE, TN – Adtec Digital, Inc. was recently presented with a 2003 Corporate Disabilities Award in the Small Employer Division, sponsored by the Arc of Jacksonville. "Adtec is recognized as an employer that empowers and strengthens persons in the community who are developmentally disabled," Florida House Representative, Stan Jordan, said. "We appreciate Adtec for providing opportunities and inclusion in the workplace." Adtec employs Ellen Reid to carry out an assembly support position. Kevin Ancelin, President of Adtec, and Operations Manager, Paul Roberts, expressed to Hope Haven, an interest in hiring someone with a disability. "They interviewed Ellen and gave her a tour of the manufacturing facility, where she was given the opportunity to complete a sampling of assembly tasks," Program Manager for Hope Haven Family Center, Nancy Decker, said. "Ellen was hired immediately." Adtec negotiated a part-time work schedule, allowing Ellen to easily arrange transportation and to accommodate for the physical rest she requires. "Working for Adtec is Ellen's dream job," Hope Haven Job Coach, Jeanne Fortune, said. "Adtec is a wonderful support, helping her both at her job and at home." Adtec tailored an assembly support position to match Ellen's skill base. "Paul made a special point of arranging new jobs for Ellen and making sure that she was comfortable with her new work environment," Decker said. "Her other coworkers accepted her immediately as one of them and readily included her in conversations and break-times. She is simply one of the crew-appreciated, respected and looked after." Reid is proving to be a valuable asset to Adtec. "We are benefiting from having Ellen as an employee," Roberts said. "We have achieved increased productivity through her contributions." One Adtec employee, Hoa Huynh has been a mentor and friend to Ellen from the beginning. "Ellen's help is making a big difference," Huynh said. "We are very happy to have her here working with us." Decker maintains that Adtec is one of the few manufacturers to embrace the hiring of someone with a developmental disability. "Adtec was immediately open to thinking outside of the box and willing to take advantage of 'job carving,'" Decker said. "For many employers, looking beyond traditional job descriptions is simply not an option, even if considering a new concept might prove advantageous." Adtec was presented the award at a fundraiser for the Arc of Jacksonville called "Dinner With Bill," an event that recognizes two small and two large companies for their efforts in hiring people with disabilities. The "Dinner With Bill" event was inspired by Bill Sackter, a gentleman with a disability who was adopted by Barry Morrow, writer of the Oscar-winning movie, "The Rain Man." "This company is a model for other small manufacturers who could benefit from the kind of open-minded and inclusive thinking exemplified by Adtec," Decker said. "They deserve to be recognized for their efforts in employing Ellen and in continuing to seek other ways in which they can support the hiring of people with disabilities." The Arc of Jacksonville is a charitable, non-profit organization, founded in 1963 and is dedicated to helping people with developmental disabilities become physically, mentally, socially and economically independent. For more information, visit www.arcjacksonville.org/. Hope Haven Children's Clinic and Family Center has been serving families in the Jacksonville community for decades. For more information about Hope Haven and their services, visit www.hope-haven.org/. Adtec Digital is the world's leading manufacturer of MPEG2-based digital video players, single channel commercial insertion controllers and automated video control systems. For more information about Adtec and their products, go to www.adtecinc.com. |