Amplify! News Archives - Amplify! Improving Disability Inclusiveness in the Workplace

Amplify! Success 2019 – Benefits of Disability Inclusion in The Workforce

by: Cindy Bahl, Director of Business Development & Amplify! Events

“As a life-long disability advocate who uses a power wheelchair, I have attended hundreds of disability related events. This was in the top 1% of all of them. It was energetic, informative, professional, and it included actionable take home information.” Todd Kimball, Pacific Grand Realty

The Benefits of Disability Inclusion in The Workforce – This was the theme of the third annual Amplify! Success event held on October 16, 2019 at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike World Headquarters campus. The goal of Amplify! is to improve access to competitive integrated employment for job seekers with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities by engaging employers and the community in creating a culture of workplace inclusion.

155 people gathered for a high energy morning where they were greeted by the Nike Ability Network and heard the positive, upbeat music from The Merry Rockers, an inclusive reggae band. The information flowed as Keynote Speaker, Becky Curran Kekula shared the challenges she faced on her employment journey as a little person working in the entertainment industry. Now with Disability:IN, she is working with organizations like Microsoft, Google and Amazon, to name a few, who have recognized the research behind the economic and cultural benefits of inclusion in the workplace.

Attendees rotated through four breakout stations where they heard best practices and success stories from local employers, learned about organizations like Best Buddies, Project Search, Phame and InCight, and were exposed to government partners and resources that facilitate and support the employment process for people with disabilities. The afternoon ended with an “Amplified Happy Hour” and time built in for networking.

Here’s what other attendees said about the event:

“Amazing!” Rob Klassen, The Cleaning People

“Great job with the event. I met many new folks as well as reconnected with past connections. Looking forward to next year!” Ken Price, Mt. Crest Counseling

“Very informative and inspirational” Peter Gudekunst, Marco Ideas Unlimited

“This format was awesome, engaging and inter-actice. Having a keynote is so cool who can share their first-hand experiences really highlights the heart of the mission. Being able to interact with the services that are important was a game changer for me. Great job Amplify!” John DeRosa, Embassy Suitesy by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square

“Great event! Becky was a wonderful speaker and the Merry Rockers were entertaining and inspiring. I greatly enjoyed the networking/happy hour time. The breakouts were great, and I think people learned a lot from them.” Jeff Akin, Akin Collective

If you missed Amplify! Success you can still join the initiative to change culture right where you are and we can help! Click below and complete the “Amplify! Action Card” and let’s talk about your diversity and inclusion goals and how we can make a difference together.

FILL OUT THE ACTION CARD

VIEW EVENT PHOTOS

VIEW EVENT SPONSORS

The Amplify! initiative, created by Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc. with the support of Oregon Employment First, is sustained by collaboration with numerous employer and community partners. For more information or to be involved in the Amplify! Initiative, please contact Cindy Bahl, Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events at 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com.

BECOME A SPONSOR!

Amplify! Is an initiative of Dirkse Counseling & Consulting, Inc. That includes two annual events, Amplify! Success in October and Amplify! Rock Stars in May. Events are designed to inspire, empower and equip employers to create a more inclusive workplace for people with diverse abilities.

Project SEARCH: A Unique Internship Program that Benefits Local Business

by: Cindy Bahl, Director of Business Development & Amplify! Events

Most of us are familiar with internship programs and perhaps have even been an intern at one point in life. We understand the value of interning; gaining experience and working on those soft and hard skills. Internships are often very competitive and sought-after experiences, providing an opportunity that can launch into a career. The international internship program, Project SEARCH is similar to a traditional internship, yet it has a unique focus of providing internship opportunities for adults and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

In this nine-month internship program, developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, a host business provides up to 12 interns with three different work experiences and includes an employment provider who specializes in the skills training and job placement of people with I/DD, like autism and Down syndrome. Collaboration occurs between all partner agencies as the intern is immersed in the host business, developing both soft and hard skills that will move them toward their ultimate goal of working in the community.

Meet Project SEARCH graduate, Brandon Runyan, a young adult who recently completed and graduated from the Project SEARCH site hosted by Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square in Tigard and supported by Albertina Kerr, a local employment provider partner. Brandon shared his positive experience with me to help create awareness about the program and the contributions that he and others can bring to the workplace.

Cindy: What did you like about the Project SEARCH program?

Brandon: It doesn’t just teach you the hard skills of the actual job, it teaches you how to be a good worker in any job, how to be productive in the workplace, and how to be reliable.”

Cindy: What are some specific things that you learned and are using today, now that you are employed?

Brandon: How to read my paycheck! How to pay my own bills and budget for the things I want to buy like a Starbucks or new headphones.

Cindy: What is your job at Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square location?

Brandon: I am a Breakfast Ambassador! I stock supplies, bus tables, and keep the dining area looking good. I interact with customers and have learned to balance a friendly conversation with the work, so I don’t talk too long. My supervisor, Joe Wehbi, said “coffee must flow”; I learned a lot from him.

Cindy: Do you think you would have this job if you had not participated in the Project SEARCH Internship program?

Brandon: Definitely not. I was on the way to being employable but not ready to hold a job. Learning workplace skills, practicing my communication, and interview skills made a big difference to me. My supervisor in Project SEARCH encouraged me to apply for this job. He recognized that I would be great as a Breakfast Ambassador and I applied, interviewed, and was hired.

Cindy: So, your internship was not the same as your current job?

Brandon: Yes, my internship was three months as a Lobby Attendant, three months in banquet, setting up for events, and three months as a Houseman, doing floors and housekeeping in different sections of the hotel.

Cindy: What do you like most about your job?

Brandon: I really like the breakfast! Ha! The people, they are like family. I am passionate about the work and function of the hotel and the hospitality industry; we are here to serve.

John DeRosa, Director of Sales and Marketing and Liaison with the Project SEARCH program shared, “Embassy Suites is so fortunate to host Project SEARCH in partnership with Albertina Kerr. Not only does this program offer real-life work experience for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but it offers our hotel a unique advantage of filling hard to fill positions with candidates who are ready to work.”

“Brandon has made a difference in the lives of our staff. He worked nine months in three rotations during his internship with Project SEARCH. Because of his hard work and dedication to the program, we hired him.“

Amplify! Success 2019 : The Benefits of Disability Inclusion in the Workforce

Join us October 16^th, 1:00-5:00PM at Nike WHQ to hear the sounds of inclusion and learn about the many benefits of disability inclusion in the workplace.

For more information or to partner with us and become a sponsor of Amplify! Success 2019, contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

BECOME A SPONSOR!

Disability Inclusion Drives Business Success

by: Becky Curran Kekula, Disability:IN, Disability Equality Index (DEI) Director

The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is the nation’s most trusted benchmarking tool on Disability Inclusion. It’s a joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The DEI educates Fortune 1000 companies and Am Law 200 firms on their disability inclusion efforts and provides concrete benchmarking data on industry trends.

Using historical, anonymized data from the DEI, a recent report “Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage”, found that companies that embrace best practices for employing and supporting people with disabilities have outperformed their peers. This includes 28 percent higher revenue, double the net income and 30 percent higher economic profit margins. The report was published by Accenture, in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities. Want to learn more? Come hear Becky Curran Kekula’s keynote at the Amplify Summit.

About Becky Curran Kekula

Becky Curran Kekula is the Director of the Disability Equality Index (DEI) at Disability:IN and she also happens to be a little person. Becky received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Providence College. Upon graduation, she sent out 1,000 job applications and went on 100 interviews, over the course of four months. After two temporary job assignments, she landed a temporary to hire position at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), an American talent and sports agency that’s regarded as a dominant and influential company in the talent agency business and manages numerous clients. She was a temporary employee for seven months and then continued her path as a permanent employee. After working for CAA, CBS Television Studios, and Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), along with launching a public speaking business, Becky accepted her current position in November 2017. She’s passionate about proving that disability inclusion is good for business by advising companies to engage with the DEI and all of the programs that Disability:IN has to offer.

Visit the Disability:IN website for more about Becky.

Amplify! Success 2019 : The Benefits of Disability Inclusion in the Workforce

Join us October 16^th, 1:00-5:00PM at Nike WHQ to hear the sounds of inclusion and learn about the many benefits of disability inclusion in the workplace.

For more information or to partner with us and become a sponsor of Amplify! Success 2019, contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

BECOME A SPONSOR!

What Does Inclusion Sound Like?

by: Cindy Bahl, Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events, Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc. & Marissa Lelogeais, The Merry Rockers

Inclusion is word we hear often today. Most of us strive to be inclusive of our differences and yet, if we just read or listen to the news, it seems we have a long way to go for full inclusion and acceptance of those who are different than ourselves.

Music is a medium that can help break some of the barriers we face in society, especially music that resonates in both message and melody.

So, what does inclusion sound like? Come to Amplify! Success October 16^th, and listen to our Keynote Speaker, Singer and Songwriter, Marissa Lelogeais of The Merry Rockers. You will hear her story through song as her music resonates and amplifies the message of disability inclusion using her positive, upbeat & fun reggae style. I bet you’ll even want to dance, or at least tap your foot!

Marissa Lelogeais is a fun-loving thirty-four-year-old woman who loves swimming, dancing to reggae music, traveling and making new friends. However, life has not always been smooth sailing for her. She was born with cerebral palsy and is legally blind. Weighing in at one and a half pounds, the doctors told her that she would never be able to live a full and fruitful life.

Flash forward to 2007 when Marissa got accepted to her dream school, Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where after studying the music and life of Bob Marley, she formed the inclusive reggae band The Merry Rockers. The band is made up of Berklee College of Music alumni and occasional sit-ins from national acts such as Cas Haley and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad.

Marissa and The Merry Rockers are looking forward with eager anticipation to playing and supporting the mission of Amplify! in October. They are excited to share their messages of friendship, inclusion and the healing power of music. The band hopes to bring the community positive vibrations, make them dance and to embrace people of all abilities.

Amplify! Success 2019 : The Benefits of Disability Inclusion in the Workforce

Join us October 16^th, 1:00-5:00PM at Nike WHQ to hear the sounds of inclusion and learn about the many benefits of disability inclusion in the workplace.

For more information or to partner with us and become a sponsor of Amplify! Success 2019, contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

BECOME A SPONSOR!

BESThq Building Opportunities Through Minecraft

by: Cindy Bahl
Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events
Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc.

I have not played Minecraft, but I am learning there is great value in this creative and interactive online game. According to minecraft.net, Minecraft is a “game about placing blocks and going on adventures” and players are given unlimited resources to build whatever they can imagine. Players invite friends anywhere in the world to join their Realm and participate in the creation of their project where the sky is the limit! What a great way to connect, learn, and create in a team environment for all ages and abilities!

Minecraft is also making strides by developing interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), and because of a local Minecraft program developed by BESThq in Beaverton, a unique job opportunity has been created.

BESThq and their unique customized position will be featured during the educational breakout sessions at the 3^rd Annual Amplify! Success event, October 16^th, 1:00-5:00PM at Nike WHQ in Beaverton. “The Benefits of Disability Inclusion in The Workforce” theme will weave throughout the inspiring and informational program. Register today to learn how employers like BESThq are reaping the benefits of inclusion by matching skill sets to their business needs, affecting their culture and bottom line.

READ THE FULL STORY in the September issue of the Beaverton Resource Guide!

Amplify! Success 2019 : The Benefits of Disability Inclusion in the Workforce

For more information or to partner with us and become a sponsor of Amplify! Success 2019, contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

BECOME A SPONSOR!

Beyond The Customer is Always Right

by: Andrew K Lundgren, MA, LMFT, LPC
Training & Curriculum Development Specialist
Dirkse Counseling & Consulting, Inc.

If you have ever worked in the realm of retail or toiled orders of food from the “back of the house” to the “front of the house”, you know that polarizing phrase that has allowed an abrasive customer to treat an employee rudely: “The customer is always right”. This slogan has been used to improve the customer experience for over 100 years. The phrase, attributed to Marshall Field and Harry Gordon Selfridge, instructed its employees to provide exemplary customer service in their high-end department stores. Today, companies realize that how they perceive and treat their employees is equally, if not more, important to the customer experience.

Businesses, more than ever, are focusing on a culture of diversity and inclusion, not because it meets compliance, but because it improves the bottom line. Let’s hear that again. Focusing on inclusion in the workplace improves the bottom line for business. Instead of bending over backwards to meet unruly or brash customers, companies are integrating a diverse framework into their workforce. By doing so, they empower employees, believe in them, and provide for them so that positive customer experience is a byproduct. A 2019 Harvard Business Review found that when a company has a focus on the employee experience it appears “twice as often on the American Customer Satisfaction Index” and financially it is more than 4 times as profitable.

With over one billion people globally who have disabilities, businesses need to consider how to fully integrate the needs of people with disabilities. Taking a proactive stance toward inclusion of people with disabilities has a two-fold effect. In one sense it allows companies to attract talented people from a larger pool of applicants and in another, it allows its diverse workforce to innovate and create a pipeline to a larger customer base. All of this, by including people with disabilities and making the workplace more accessible. Also, companies that include people with disabilities have found they experience lower turnover, have the same if not better job performance, attendance records, and even safety records than their counterparts without a disability. Doing inclusion allows employees to acquire an intrinsic value out of work. This ultimately has a ripple effect on the customer experience (without mandating that the “customer is always right”).

However, creating a culture of inclusion within the workplace is not a simple declaration. Companies must be willing to consider how to implement a strategic plan toward inclusion. Businesses “must deliberately create an environment where differences, talents and perspectives are maximized in order to create high-performing” employees (2019, Burden).

To learn more about this topic of inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities, be sure to join us at our 3^rd annual Amplify! Success at Nike WHQ in Beaverton on October 16^th, 1:00-5:00pm.

Become a Sponsor of Amplify! Success 2019! contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

BECOME A SPONSOR!

REFERENCES

Burden, Lisa. “Not being greeted in the morning is not retaliation, district court says.” HR Dive. Web. Retrieved August 08 2019, from https://www.hrdive.com/news/not-being-greeted-in-the-morning-is-not-retaliation-district-court-says/560587/.

Ceridian. (2019). 2019 human capital management trends: perspective on how technology will shape the world of work. Retrieved August 8, 2019, from http://images.knowhow.ceridian.com/Web/CeridianCorporation/%7B38b85f52-d12f-43ed-b268-9c89d171a541%7D_RR-NA-EN-NP-114788-101-Top-HCM-Trends-2019.pdf?_ga=2.101840392.829485349.1565724816-1213647773.1565724816

Lengnick-Hall, M., & Gaunt, P. (2007). Why employers don’t hire people with disabilities. Hidden talent: how leading companies hire, retain, and benefit from people with disabilities (pp. 25-33). London: Praeger.

UN World Health Organization (WHO), World Report on Disability: Summary, 2011, WHO/NMH/VIP/11.01, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/50854a322.html [accessed 11 August 2019]

McBain, H. (1944, November). Are Customers Always Right? The Rotarian, Retrieved from Google Books.

Save the Date for 2019 Amplify Success!

by Cindy Bahl
Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events
Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc.

Don’t you just love Pacific Northwest summers? More time in the day for the things we love like hiking, biking, water sports, gardening and outdoor concerts; all amplified by the beauty of our surroundings. Although I do love summer, I can’t wait for Fall and it’s going to be here before you know it!

So, enjoy Summer and all it brings but please SAVE-THE-DATE and plan now to attend our 3^rd annual Amplify! Success, October 16^th, 1:00-5:00pm at Nike WHQ in Beaverton. Check out the details!

Hosted by our friends at The Nike Ability Network, we already have an amazing program lined up for you that you won’t want to miss plus lots of time for networking with an “Amplified” Happy Hour!

For more information or to partner with us and become a sponsor of Amplify! Success 2019, contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

Amplify Rock Stars – 2019

by Cindy Bahl
Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events
Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc.

Wow what a fantastic event we had on May 23^rd at Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square with over 100 in attendance the energy was amplified! If you missed it, you missed a great time; but don’t worry, we are here for you to help you start your disability inclusion journey! Contact us today and let’s have a conversation! Until then, here is a brief recap:

Keynote Speaker Heather Weldon inspired us to “think differently”, she shared the challenges she faced at The City of Seattle and how she reversed priorities, making a business case for employment of people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. To achieve her goals of 30 new positions, she shared her formula for success which included her top three tips for you:

Focus on workplace needs
One job at a time
Build an army of support

Success Stories are always my favorite to share and this year we acknowledged Michael Takata and his 5-year employment anniversary at Walmart Neighborhood Store. What a joy to see the smile on his face and to hear from Mom, Vicki Takata and how working makes such an impact not only on Michael, but on his community and our society. I had tears in my eyes and I’m sure others did too!

Michael & Vicki Takata with Dirkse CC Job Coach, Wynter Lyons

We also highlighted the Project Search Program, a 9-month Internship program where young adults with I/DD develop work skills, experience various job environments and tasks that help them identify and gain meaningful employment. We heard from 2 graduates and 2 current Interns who enthusiastically shared their stories with the crowd.

Project Search Interns & Graduates, Addie Connelly, Brandon Runyan, Wesley Aylward & Adam Parker

Awards and Acknowledgements were also a big part of the event, after all, it is Amplify! ROCK STARS and we have some Rock Star employers in our community! City of Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle was on hand to help acknowledge and hand out the awards.

Advancing Employment Opportunities:

Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District
Jama Software
Pest Solutions
Nike WD+C
Oregon Health & Science University

Heidi Dirkse-Graw, Mayor Denny Doyle, THPRD Representatives Julie Rocha, Gretchen Gorman, Wendy Kroger & John Griffiths

Advancing Disability Diversity & Inclusion:

Nike, Ability Network – Host of Amplify! Success for 3 years in October!
Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square – Host of Amplify! Rock Stars for 2 years!
Pamplin Media & The Business Tribune
Beaverton Resource Guide
Beaverton Chamber of Commerce
The City of Beaverton

Heidi Dirkse-Graw, Mayor Denny Doyle, Embassy Suites Representatives John DeRosa & Kelsey Card

Of course, we can’t thank our Sponsors enough! We could not do it without them!

Photos courtesy of Trillium Images

Thank you to all of our Rock Stars! Sponsors – VIEW SPONSORS

This year we also held our first Amplified Job Opportunity Fair and were very pleased to have 75 differently abled job seekers talking to five different employers, face-to-face about their opportunities. Thanks to our participating employers who are looking forward to 2^nd interviews with multiple candidates:

City of Beaverton
Columbia Sportswear
Chick-fil-A Raleigh Hills
Embassy Suites Portland Washington Square
Fred Meyer

Save-The-Date for Amplify! Success on Wednesday, October 16^th, 2019 @ Nike WHQ! It’s going to be bigger and better this year and you won’t want to miss it! More details to come soon!

Join the Amplify! Initiative! Contact Cindy Bahl, Director of Business Development & Amplify! Events at 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

Happy Anniversary!

by Cindy Bahl
Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events
Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc.

Anniversaries commemorate special occasions in our lives; from first dates to wedding dates, and from first day-on-the-job to retirement, we like to celebrate milestone events in our lives.

I recently celebrated my fifth anniversary with Dirkse CC. I’m proud to say, I’ve come a long way in five years, learning and growing along the way and becoming more and more passionate about our mission and goals to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

However, what I’m really excited about is to share a special success story at Amplify! Rock Stars on May 23^rd. We will be celebrating another fifth anniversary of an individual we helped support and place in his very first job. Join me in acknowledging five years of successful employment for Michael Takata, a 2011 graduate of Beaverton High School and a 2014 graduate of the Beaverton Community Transition Program. Michael and his mom, Vicki Takata, with support from Job Coach, Wynter Lyons, will be sharing how working independently has affected his life and the impact it makes on the local community. You will not want to miss his story and the celebration of this milestone anniversary! We originally shared his employment journey in a story published in the October 2016 issue of The Beaverton Resource Guide, a community partner we will also acknowledge at the event.

Register Today for Amplify! Rock Stars 2019

Join us for our 2^nd annual Amplify! Rock Stars event, May 23^rd @ Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square.

Secure your spot now and plan on another inspiring morning full of success stories and celebrations!

May 23, 2019 9:00am – 11:30am
Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington Square

Continental Breakfast & Networking
Inspirational Keynote Speaker: Heather Weldon, Strategic Advisor, City of Seattle
Success Stories from Individuals & Workforce Programs
Employer Awards & Recognition
Professional Development Breakout & More!

Partner with us! You too can become a sponsor and partner of Amplify! Help us promote diversity and inclusion in our workforce and community – ASK US HOW – contact Cindy Bahl @ 503-258-7715 or cindy@dirksecc.com

Got Jobs?

Thursday, May 23rd, 2019
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Washington Square-Portland-Tigard
9000 SW Washington Square Rd., Tigard, OR 97223
MAP TO EVENT

Job Seekers – Register here to attend the Amplified Job Opportunity Fair! Bring your resume and meet employers on May 23^rd, 12-2pm @ Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Washington Square.

For Job Seekers

Select employers who are interested in disability, diversity and inclusion will be on-site.
Talk to employers who have part time openings and are ready to hire now!
Job Coaches, Personal Service Workers and Employment Specialists are welcome!
Bring your resume and come prepared to share your career goal.

Participating Employers

City of Beaverton
Chick-fil-A
Embassy Suites
…More to Come!

For Employers

If you are an employer and need to increase your workforce with motivated, reliable candidates with skills and abilities to meet your business needs, join us for our Amplified Job Opportunity Fair on May 23^rd, 12-2pm, directly after the Rock Star event. Contact Cindy Bahl at info@amplifysuccess.org or 503-258-7715 today for more information and to register!

The day includes a 2.5-hour event (details below) and the Amplified Job Opportunity Fair directly after the main event that will help connect you to differently abled Job Seekers with the goal of helping you meet your disability diversity recruitment and hiring goals.

$150 Registration Fee Includes:

1 ticket to Amplify! Rock Stars event (9am – 11:30am)
1 boxed lunch during 11:30am – 12:00pm lunch break
1 table / 2 chairs for Job Fair (12:00pm – 2pm)
1 social media acknowledgement
Your logo on the Amplify! website and at the event

The Value of Testimony

by Cindy Bahl
Director of Business Development and Amplify! Events
Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc.

I participate in networking events that typically offer attendees the opportunity to share testimonials about doing business with other members. I love to offer “kudos,” a “shout-out” or a brief testimony of my positive experience and I’m not shy about getting up front on the microphone. If I’ve had a great experience, good service, or used an exceptional product, I want to not only publicly thank that business, but I want to help them grow and attract new customers. Social media has provided the opportunity to instantly and publicly rate and review services and products which can be detrimental to a business if the ratings are consistently poor. In my opinion, the value of a good testimony or a positive rating is priceless!

Here is what Executive Coach, Lyn Cikara said about our last Amplify! Event:

“The Amplify! Success conference I attended last October had a significant impact on me. I learned so much! My profession as an occupational therapist for many years had me focusing on getting people back to work after physical, mental and emotional illness. I thought that I was pretty knowledgeable. At Amplify! Success, I heard stories and opportunities that were created for people with the desire to work who would not typically have had job opportunities.

Amplify! has created an opportunity to fill the current unemployment shortages in an innovative way where employers get their work done, and employees with disabilities can have dignity and purpose. Karen Gaffney, the keynote speaker at the conference, had an impact on me when she highlighted the fact that after school many young people with disabilities have no hope, no purpose for getting up in the morning and see no future. What Amplify! offers is hope, dignity and a future. What a special contribution to our community and society.”

We encourage you to take time out of your day to spend 2.5 hours with us; you will be encouraged, inspired and equipped to take action toward creating greater purpose and hope for people with disabilities.

We look forward to seeing you on May 23^rd, and we can’t wait to share your testimony!

Register Today for Amplify! Rock Stars 2019

Secure your spot now and plan on another inspiring morning full of success stories and celebrations!

May 23, 2019 9:00am – 11:30am
Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington Square

Continental Breakfast & Networking
Inspirational Keynote Speaker: Heather Weldon, Strategic Advisor, City of Seattle
Success Stories from Individuals & Workforce Programs
Employer Awards & Recognition
Professional Development Breakout & More!

Job Opportunity Fair

Thursday, May 23rd, 2019
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Washington Square-Portland-Tigard
9000 SW Washington Square Rd., Tigard, OR 97223
MAP TO EVENT

For Job Seekers

Select employers who are interested in disability, diversity and inclusion will be on-site.
Talk to employers who have part time openings and are ready to hire now!
Job Coaches, Personal Service Workers and Employment Specialists are welcome!
Bring your resume and come prepared to share your career goal.

Participating Employers

City of Beaverton
Chick-fil-A
Embassy Suites
…More to Come!

For Employers

$150 Registration Fee Includes:

1 ticket to Amplify! Rock Stars event (9am – 11:30am)
1 boxed lunch during 11:30am – 12:00pm lunch break
1 table / 2 chairs for Job Fair (12:00pm – 2pm)
1 social media acknowledgement
Your logo on the Amplify! website and at the event

If you are an Employer who would like to participate in the Job Fair, please contact Cindy Bahl at info@amplifysuccess.org or 503-258-7715.