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October 9, 2007

Big Bend Business Leadership Network Honored by The Able Trust

As a result of their commitment and outstanding record of success in two shorts years, the Big Bend Business Leadership Network (BLN) was honored by The Able Trust and the Florida BLN as the 2007 Local Chapter of the Year at the annual Ability Awards ceremony in Tallahassee this week.

"We're really excited about the award and about all of the support The Able Trust is giving us," said Sarah Butters, president, Big Bend BLN. "They do such great work - for them to honor us is really something."

The Big Bend BLN is dedicated to raising disability awareness among their membership and among Tallahassee businesses. With more than 20 internships in place, they have been very successful in their efforts to place students and job seekers with disabilities in the work place. Participating businesses include Premier Bank, Mainline Information Systems, Pennington Law Firm and the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. The Big Bend BLN was recently awarded a grant by The Able Trust for an additional 20-25 internships next spring.

"The strides that the Big Bend BLN has made in just a couple of years are truly amazing," said Kristen Knapp, vice president of public relations for The Able Trust. "I applaud their commitment to raising disability awareness among Tallahassee businesses, as well as their outstanding record of providing mentorships and internships to students and job seekers with disabilities." Composed of volunteers from area businesses, the Big Bend BLN offers leadership by example and a supportive employer-to-employer network aimed at promoting the employment of qualified people who just happen to have disabilities. The Big Bend BLN helps local businesses learn more about hiring people with disabilities through training and technical assistance, making it easier for employers to recruit, hire, train and retain employees with disabilities.

"Most employers are willing to take the opportunity, they just need a bit of education and some assistance the first time around," explains Sarah. "They know that hiring an individual with a disability is a good business move, and on top of that, it's the right thing to do."

The Florida BLN seeks to promote two primary personnel policies: diversity policies that include people with disabilities and hiring practices that target candidates with disabilities. The BLN is an employer-led venture that is sponsored in Florida by The Able Trust. Local Chapters of the Florida BLN, such as Big Bend, are working to increase employment opportunities for Floridians with disabilities in their own communities. Employers can join the BLN at no cost by completing a brief membership application. For more information, visit www.floridabln.org.

The Able Trust established the Local BLN Chapter of the Year award to recognize a local chapter that has demonstrated outstanding practices, such as member recruitment, disability awareness, employer relations and job placement.

The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities, annually recognizes outstanding achievements in six different categories, including nonprofit leadership and employment placement programs, outstanding entrepreneurs and youth leaders with disabilities, employers of the year and the media award representative.

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