In Fulton, NY, there is an organization that provides life and career programs and services to adults with disabilities. The various programs run by this group, Oswego Industries, Inc., includes pre-vocational and vocational training, along with finding sustained employment for individuals. As a private, not-for-profit Community Rehabilitation Program, the 40-year old organization offers a variety of manufacturing, warehousing, assembly, custodial, and shipping services to industry, medical, and government partners across the U.S.
Most recently, the custodial service team received several commendations for outstanding performance and customer satisfaction.
Among them, crew leader, Thomas Adams of Syracuse, NY, has been named a winner of The William B. Joslin Outstanding Performance Award for 2008. The Joslin Award is presented by the New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. (NYSID) and serves to celebrate vocational and personal growth by New Yorkers with disabilities.
Adams has been with Oswego Industries since the spring of 2007, when he joined the custodial team. In January 2008, he became the first Oswego Industries employee with a disability to be named a Disabled Crew Leader. His 12-person crew, working at the Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) in Syracuse, has received favorable written mention from the DSO on several occasions. Adams will be formally presented his award at the CNY DSO offices next Thursday, November 13.
Another custodial team, responsible for cleaning the Stewart Army Reserve Center in Mattydale, NY, also received a written commendation last week. This recognition resulted from a regional inspection by an Army Reserve General Officer. The Army Reserve Center, which houses the 403 Civil Affairs Battalion, 108th Drill Sergeant School, 1019th Service & Support, 2200 USAR Military Intelligence Group, and the United Marine Corps Reserve, was reported to be the cleanest of any Center in the Northeast Region of operations.
The facility manager there, Leonard D. Stephens, stated, “The cleaning staff has been doing an outstanding job keeping this military installation clean, keeping it at or above Department of Defense Standards. All of the cleaning staff personnel are a pleasure to work with and it is clear that they take pride in their work product. I look forward to working with them for years to come.”
Finally, the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversees all government owned buildings, announced as part of its 2008 customer survey results that the James M. Hanley Courthouse and Federal Building rated as one of the best federal buildings to work in throughout the country. Oswego Industries’ custodial team, working through Ability One and NISH, is responsible for cleaning of the Federal Building.
Oswego Industries noted that few buildings of the size and function of the Federal Building receive a 90% rating or higher in any survey year. This year’s survey showed the building received a record overall customer satisfaction rating of 95.2%. The announcement from the James M. Hanley Federal Building property manager specifically commended Oswego Industries for their custodial work in the building, contributing to its high satisfaction rating.
