MIDDLEBURY — Mike Rainville and the management team at Maple Landmark Woodcraft in Middlebury on Oct. 13 received the 2015 Spirit of the ADA Award for Addison County, presented by the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The Governor’s Committee was represented by Chris Loso, chair, and Neal Meier, executive coordinator. Robin Scheu, executive director of Addison County Economic Development Corp., and Sue Hoxie, president of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, attended the award presentation, as did members of the Creative Workforce Solutions team in Addison County, who nominated Maple Landmark for the award. Creative Workforce Solutions is a collaboration of partner organizations that provide assistance to Vermont jobseekers and offers free staffing services to employers. 
Maple Landmark was recognized for its long-standing commitment to providing opportunities to jobseekers with disabilities. This has been reflected in Maple Landmark’s recognition of employees’ strengths and interests and matching these to meet specific company needs, creatively adapting positions to individual talents. Maple Landmark has consistently included employees with disabilities, such as autism, physical limitations, developmental disabilities and significant visual impairment, in their workforce in creative ways that have allowed each person to become an integral and valued member of their team.
The staff has gone the extra mile to ensure that employees receive all necessary supports. Mike Rainville has also been supportive when employees have needed to take a medical leave due to disability-related issues and has worked with the employee and staff to find solutions to enable the person to return to work with appropriate accommodations, including reduced hours or changes in schedule.
Maple Landmark offers training and ongoing support to every employee. Rainville has custom tailored workstations, scheduled around support staff availability and has been willing to install any assistive technology that has been recommended.
Maple Landmark’s commitment to providing opportunities to individuals with disabilities is part of its broader commitment to be a socially responsible business and an employee- and family-friendly place to work. One employee, a single parent, recently said, “It’s definitely a good place to work. They encourage you to try new things and learn new skills. They are also very flexible about allowing employees time to attend to family needs.”
Maple Landmark (www.maplelandmark.com) has provided opportunities for jobseekers with a variety of challenges while growing a highly respected and recognized business. Rainville and his management team are an excellent example of a business that recognizes that diversity makes a business stronger, more creative and productive, while maintaining the highest standards that have earned many quality awards for their products. Their employment practices truly reflect the Spirit of the ADA.