Success Stories
Mark and Beau: Building careers at Lowe's!
Lowe's Home Improvement Centers (www.lowes.com) like to say, “Let's Build Something Together.” Through their partnership with LSE, they are building careers and improving the quality of life for some of our clients. Mark Wingate and Beau Phillips are the two newest members of the Salisbury Lowe's team, joining Calvin White who has been successfully employed at that store for 8 years.
Beth Little, Human Resources Manager of the Salisbury Lowe's store, speaks enthusiastically about the impact of hiring Mark and Beau. “They are both so excited and happy to be here. I adore them,” she said. Beth says that the attitude and commitment of these young men allows them to grow in their roles. Already, Mark and Beau are expanding their job responsibilities and finding more ways to serve Lowe's customers. “They listen and are very attentive. And when you correct them, they make adjustments very quickly,” says Beth. She jokingly added that she hoped Mark and Beau would rub off on some of their other full-time employees at Lowe's.
At the heart of any successful LSE partnership is the job coach. Colin Anthony works with many of our clients, shadowing them during their initial days at a new job and then providing regular check-ups with their employers. The job coaches are always available to the employers and help to function as an extension of an employer's Human Resources department. “The most important things we can do are keep the channels of communication open between the employer and our client, and help reinforce the employer's requirements,” says Colin.
For Mark and Beau, the opportunity to serve customers keeps them motivated and the enhanced self-esteem from earning regular paychecks helps them develop as young men. They love tending to plants in the garden center and frequently help customers carry merchandise to their cars. They are very happy with their new career and we still can't wipe the smile off their faces...but we really wouldn't want to.
The next time you are in Lowe's please say hello to Mark and Beau and thank the management team for hiring qualified, enthusiastic personnel from LSE.
Inside Works
Salisbury University's Dining Services department proved how workers with disabilities compete and win in the market for jobs. When the department advertised 20 job openings at the start of one semester, it received over 300 applications. In the end, six of the workers hired had disabilities and were represented by LSE. Those six workers beat over 280 other applicants for those jobs.
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