“Creating Jobs that Change Lives” is more than a marketing tag line at Skills, Inc. We were recently recognized as the Large Non-Profit of the Year by the Governors Committee on Employment and Disability Issues. This in an incredible honor and recognition of the importance of our social mission at Skills. The core of our social mission is our people – and every day, the people at Skills make our tag line a reality.
Read the Committee’s Press Release Below:
Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment Announces Individual and Employer Award Winners
Media contacts: Matt Storey, 866-773-3622, Mike Hatzenbeler, 206-826-1044
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) announced that Brenda Carlstrom and Randy Revelle were co-winners of the Governor’s Individual Award.Ms. Carlstrom and Mr. Revelle were presented with the Carolyn Blair Brown Trophy recognizing their outstanding achievement by an individual with a disability in promoting the hiring of people with disabilities.The Awards Program was held October 23rd, 2008 at the Seattle Airport Marriott. The annual breakfast recognizes individuals, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in Washington that have excelled in promoting the hiring people with disabilities.
The Awards Program is organized by the Washington State Business Leadership Network (WSBLN) and the GCDE.Award categories exist for individuals, non profits, government, and private employers.
Here is the list of 2008 award winners:
| Award Category | Individual Award Winner | Nominator |
| Governor’s Trophy Individual Award | Brenda Carlstrom | Home Care Quality Authority |
| Governor’s Trophy Individual Award | Randy Revelle | Disability Rights of Washington |
Employer Award Winners | ||
Private Employer (large) | Eurest Dining Service | Nominated by Jairul Rahaman |
Private Employer (medium) | The River Casino | Nominated by Helen Hill |
Private Employer (small) | Coastal Candies & Gifts | Nominated by Jacqueline Campbell |
Nonprofit entity (large) | Skills, Inc. | Nominated by Kathy Powers and Adriana Tossini |
Nonprofit entity (small) | Eastern Washington Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | Nominated by Hiram Hill |
Public Employer (Washington State) | Washington State Dept of Social and Health Services | Nominated by John Evans |
Public Employer (Local) | Clark County | Nominated by Paula Johnson |
Congratulations to all who were nominated.
| Award Category | Individual Award Nominee | Nominator |
| Governor’s Trophy (individual award) | Linda Wilder | Beth Sutton, WSDSB |
| Dylan Kuehl | Kathy Goldenberg, Creative Employment & Stars | |
| Karen Minahan | Erin Colwell, Orion | |
| Paula Bouwer | Peggy Frisk & Lynn Van Vactor, WVS | |
| Steven Kelly | Scott Shinsato of Goodwill | |
| Kirk Hennig | Tammy Wilber, Varilite | |
| Employer Award Nominees | ||
Private Employer (large) | Comcast Cable Communications | Nominated by Matt Storey |
Home Depot Lander Store | Nominated by Christina Davidson | |
Safeway | Nominated by Julie Zander | |
Walgreen Drug Store | Nominated by Tammy Merrill | |
Private Employer (medium) | Nisbet Oysters Co – Goose Point Oysters | Nominated by Helen Hill |
Roadside Multimedia | Nominated by Greg Gibbons | |
Janicki Industries | Nominated by Deborah Maxwell | |
Private Employer (small) | Starman, Inc. | Nominated by Judith Skillman |
Starbucks Longview #3268 | Nominated by Helen Hill | |
Nonprofit (large) | Harrison Medical Center | Nominated by Jennifer White |
Lighthouse for the Blind | Nominated by Carolyn Hojaboom | |
Skookum | Nominated by Marie Campanoli | |
Clark County Fair | Nominated by Paula Johnson | |
Nonprofit (medium) | YMCA Longview | Nominated by Helen Hill |
Cascade Vocational Services | Nominated by Meredith Moyer | |
Nonprofit (small) | Pace Nutrition Center | Nominated by Hiram Hill |
Public Employer (local) | City of Mountlake Terrace | Nominated by Jan Engelhart |
Stevens County | Nominated by Bill Kinyon |
About the Governor’s Individual Award Winners
Brenda Jean Carlstrom is a 2008 co-winner of the Governor’s Individual Award and received the Carolyn Blair Brown Trophy.Ms. Carlstrom was appointed to a board position of the Home Care Quality Authority (HCQA) in 2002. The Home Care Quality Authority was established by citizen initiative in November 2001 to improve the quality of long term In-Home services provided by In-Home providers through improved regulations, higher standards, increased accountability, and the enhanced ability of consumers to obtain services. Ms. Carlstrom has worked tirelessly as a leader and advocate of disability issues at the state and national levels.
Randy Revelle is a 2008 co-winner of the Governor’s Award and received the Carolyn Blair Brown Trophy. Randy has been one of the nation’s most highly visible and effective advocates of disability issues and mental illness. In 1981, while serving as King County Executive, Randy volunteered to assist in a newspaper story about bipolar disorder. The description of his disability became a major news story and challenged stereotypes about the abilities of people with mental illness. Randy has led campaigns at the state and national levels to pass mental health legislation that makes a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
The GCDE would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: Auntie Anne’s Pretzel, Carpenter’s Local 131, the Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Disability Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC), the University of Washington Do-IT Program, Dole, the Hearing Speech and Deafness Center, Lucky Eagle Casino, Microsoft Corporation, Q13 Fox, the Seattle Airport Marriott, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpentry, and Yuen Lui Photography.