Exceptional Leadership Awards
from USBLN
The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN), a national employer
organization, announced the winners of its 2005 Exceptional Leadership
Awards at its annual conference held November 1-3 in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. The USBLN is a national organization that supports
the development and expansion of BLNs across the country and serves
as their collective voice.
Business Leadership Networks (BLNs) are non-profit employer organizations
promoting education on the business case for the inclusion of people
with disabilities in the workforce and marketplace. The Exceptional
Leadership Awards annually recognize employers, chapters and partners
that emulate disability best practices. There are 43 chapters in
32 states, including the District of Columbia.
Medtronic received the “Lead Employer of the Year” Award
for its outstanding support of the Minnesota Business Leadership
Network. Medtronic is the world’s leading medical technology
company, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have worked
with the Governor’s office to have Disability Mentoring Day
proclaimed in the state of Minnesota. Medtronic also created an employee
resource group called “ABLED” which stands for Awareness
Benefiting Leadership and Employees about Disabilities. This internal
employee network supports events throughout the year to bring awareness
about disabilities to Medtronic and the community.
The Oregon Business
Leadership Network and the Miami-Dade (FL) Business Leadership
Network both received awards for the “Chapter of
the Year.” The Oregon Business Leadership Network crafted a
business case for inclusion of people with disabilities and worked
with the Oregon Business Council, Congressional leaders and the Governor
to have “Accommodation as a Business Case” added to the
Oregon Business Plan. They have also created employer resource materials
that can be accessed through the Oregon Business Leadership Network
Web site at www.obln.org. Oregon Health Sciences University, Oregon’s
largest private employer, serves as the lead employer for the Oregon
Business Leadership Network.
The Miami-Dade (FL) Business
Leadership Network developed an Employer Awareness Campaign with
funding from private employers and the Florida Agency for Persons
with Disabilities. Figures show that the number of people with disabilities
securing jobs has more than doubled in the Miami area since the campaign
was launched. Resources for employers can be found on the website
at www.myabilities.org
Two organizations received “Partner of the Year” Awards,
The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council and The Alabama
Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities,
a program of Alabama Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council was nominated
by the Pennsylvania BLN for its funding support for the past six
years in support of their efforts to provide education and networking
opportunities for employers regarding the employment of people with
disabilities.
The Alabama Governor’s
Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities was nominated
by the Alabama BLN for their support in the development of the
ABLE-NETWORK, a resource for Alabama employers to post jobs and
identify qualified applicants for open positions. They have also
provided training programs for employers regarding disability etiquette
and consulting on accommodation issues.
The USBLN will hold its 2006 Annual Conference in Minnesota and
will announce the 2006 Exceptional Leadership Awards at the conference.
For more information, contact the USBLN at www.usbln.com or Katherine
McCary, President, USBLN at katherine.mccary@suntrust.com
To get more information about the USBLN 2006 Annual Conference that
will be held in Minnesota or any information about the Minnesota
BLN (MN-BLN), please contact Terri Ricci at 651-644-2133 or Greg
Lambert at 612-727-7177, or visit the MN-BLN Web site at www.mnbln.org
