America’s Workforce – Empowering All

Reflecting a commitment to a robust and competitive American labor force, the 2018 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme is “America’s Workforce – Empowering All!” Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.

The Philadelphia “Employment 1st, Employment NOW!” Steering Committee is once again celebrating this event with a month of employment success stories. Each day we will be posting another success story about someone who is contributing to their community through employment. For those who have requested to receive our employment announcements, you will receive the link to the story in your mailbox. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the successes of people with disabilities working in our communities!

Drive of a Champion!

October 20 – Nick C

Picture of Nick standing in a file room — “Ever since I was little, I wanted to work at a car dealership. Thanks to CIS, I get to work at Granite Run Buick GMC. I am so grateful that I get to work here.” – Nick C

Nick always wanted to work with cars, and with people who love them as much as he does. Needless to say, he fits right in as one of the team at Granite Run Buick GMC. As a File Clerk, he is responsible for tracking a high volume of services and parts invoices, sales transactions, vehicle manuals, and inventory records. Even with a demanding workload, Nick always remains positive and consistently reports that he loves his job.

When Nick started his position 3.5 years ago, he quickly mastered the filing systems and began gaining independence. His clerical skills and knowledge of the product line impressed his employers, who recognized his potential and created additional job responsibilities to utilize his unique skillset. Nick is responsible for performing market research to ensure that the dealership’s prices remain competitive. He tracks and reports competitors’ pricing, helping the dealership maintain their edge in the crowded automotive sales field. Further, the dealership is regularly audited, which requires identifying, reconciling, and sorting hundreds of files with a quick turnaround. At first, the daunting task was a bit overwhelming, but he took on the challenge and learned to remain focused while managing an intense workload.

Picture of Nick with Nick Foles — Nick with Eagles Quarterback, Nick Foles

Nick is always friendly and helpful around the dealership, to coworkers and customers alike, and is a highly valued member of the team. When asked about his performance, his supervisors tell us “Nick’s the best!”

Just before NFL’s opening day, the dealership had a visit from Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Nick Foles, who lead our champions to Super Bowl victory last year. Here we see Nick pictured with the local hero during a meet and greet – talk about a job perk!

~Submitted by Community Integrated Services (CIS)