DECATUR, Ala. – Six local businesspeople and employees, along with three local employers, this month were honored at the North Alabama Area Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (NAACEPD) Annual Awards Luncheon in Decatur. This committee, one of several set up by Gov. Kay Ivey throughout the state, represents Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan Counties.
Cullman area residents and employers took most of the regional honors, being named in seven of the 12 award categories.
Honorees
Included are category definitions supplied by NAACEPD.
- Advocate of the Year – Lisa Dickinson, Alabama Career Center Cullman. This award is public recognition of an individual (such as a family member or volunteer) or rehabilitation professional who has demonstrated exceptional devotion to duty toward promoting self-advocacy, employment, and improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
- Collaboration Award – Gary Clements and Hollis Baggett, veteran volunteers with the Cullman/Blount County Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 28. Their office, Alabama Career Center Cullman, also received the award. Billy Dussett, center manager, accepted. This award is presented to an individual or a team that has demonstrated the true spirit of cooperation via collaborative resources and networking on initiatives that contribute to the employment of individuals with disabilities.
- Educator of the Year – Summer Walker, Cullman County Child Development Center. This award is public recognition of an educator who has significantly contributed to students with disabilities and demonstrated an on-going interest in people with disabilities.
- Employee of the Year, Large Business (50 or more employees) – Jordan Davis, Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism. This award is public recognition of an individual who has demonstrated personal courage, motivation and outstanding performance in overcoming obstacles in his/her personal rehabilitation and for dedication shown in productive employment.
- Employer of the Year, Large Business (50 or more employees) – Cullman County Revenue Commission, Commissioner Barry Willingham and Chief Clerk Darla West. This award is public recognition of a large business that has shown outstanding outreach, initiative and performance in employment of people with disabilities.
- Employee of the Year, Small Business (under 50 employees) – Jimmy Carter, Metrology South, Inc. in Hanceville. This award is public recognition of an individual who has demonstrated personal courage, motivation and outstanding performance in overcoming obstacles in his/her personal rehabilitation and for dedication shown in productive employment.
- Employer of the Year, Small Business (under 50 employees) – Metrology South, Hanceville. This award is public recognition of a small business that has shown outstanding outreach, initiative and performance in employment of people with disabilities.
Award winners are also eligible for state level honors later this year.
According to Dickinson, “Nominees are sent into the chairman of the committee who forwards them to an anonymous panel who selects one winner for each category from all the nominees submitted in each category. The winners from this North Alabama Committee along with all the other Governor’s Committees statewide are then submitted to another anonymous panel of judges in Montgomery. This panel of judges then selects a state winner for each category from all winners on the area level. The State Awards event is held in Montgomery in December.”
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