Published On: Sat, Jul 30th, 2016

Boca Raton Advocate for People with Disabilities Honored for Outstanding Leadership and Service

Able Trust President & CEO Dr. Susanne Homant (left), Vice Chairman Richard L. Cole, Jr. and Board member Arlene Shackelford (far right) present Boca Raton Resort and Club (represented by Nancy Watson) with the Employer of the Year Award.

Able Trust President & CEO Dr. Susanne Homant (left), Vice Chairman Richard L. Cole, Jr. and Board member Arlene Shackelford (far right) present Boca Raton Resort and Club (represented by Nancy Watson) with the Employer of the Year Award.

Boca Raton Resort and Club is among the 2016 Ability Awards winners honored by The Able Trust — an organization dedicated to providing Floridians with disabilities opportunities for successful employment. Each year, The Able Trust recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals for their efforts to help more Floridians with disabilities enter the workforce.

The Able Trust selected Boca Raton Resort and Club as Employer of the Year. The Boca Raton Resort and Club has served as a long-time partner of the Palm Beach High School High Tech (HSHT) — a program designed to provide high school students with disabilities the opportunity to explore jobs or postsecondary education leading to technology-related careers. Over the past three year, the Boca Raton Resort and Club has hired eight students into full-time positions, and many more have obtained employment in the community through their experience at the resort.

“I was honored and excited about receiving this award from The Able Trust,” said John Tolbet, President of BocaRaton Resort and Club. “They do such great work in the community, and we are proud to have been recognized for fostering an environment of inclusion and helping those with disabilities explore career options.”  

Staff at all levels have embraced the program and are involved with mentoring and teaching the skills needed for their internships.

“Boca Raton Resort and Club has shown exemplary leadership and commitment to helping people with disabilities gain independence through successful employment,” said Dr. Susanne Homant, president and CEO of The Able Trust. “They have made a remarkable difference in the lives of their employees with disabilities and are a model for other business to initiate..”

The Able Trust annually recognizes outstanding achievements in several categories, including outstanding employment placement programs, legislators, youth leaders with disabilities, small and large employers, media representatives, volunteers and more.

Other winners of the 2016 Ability Awards from around the state include:

  •      High School High Tech Program of the Year – Ability1st (Tallahassee)
  •      Public Employer of the Year – City of Tallahassee
  •      Representative of the Year – Rep. Marlene O’Toole (Lady Lake)
  •      Senator of the Year– Sen. Andy Gardiner (Orlando)
  •      Employer of the Year – Innisfree Hotels (Gulf Breeze)
  •      Representative of the Year – Rep. Erik Fresen (Miami)
  •      Beverly Chapman Award for Outstanding Employment Placement Program– ARC Broward (Sunrise)
  •      Dr. George Spelios Leadership Award– Dennis Haas, President & CEO, ARC Broward (Sunrise)
  •      Adult Leadership Award – Anthony LaCava (Marietta, Georgia)
  •      Employer of the Year – Boca Raton Resort and Club (Boca Raton)
  •      Employer of the Year – FairPoint Communications (Port St. Joe)
  •      Volunteer of the Year – Richard L. Cole, Jr., ESQ (The Villages)

 

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