Employer Partners of Inclusion Award

To be considered for an Employer Partner of Inclusion Award, businesses must be an Employer Partner with OOD and have hired at least five OOD job seekers during the year-long evaluation period.

OOD recognizes employer partners at four levels of awards using criteria that establishes each employer’s level of diversity and inclusion. These award levels are Champion of Inclusion, Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Criteria include efforts to recruit and retain Ohioans with disabilities, hosting disability etiquette and awareness training for employees, and other best practices to foster an inclusive work environment.

2020 Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards

We are pleased to announce the 2020 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Award Winners!

Congratulations to the Champion of Inclusion Award Winner:

The Kroger Co. has collaborated with OOD for several years to increase employment opportunities and job retention for people with disabilities throughout its grocery stores and distribution centers in Ohio. Over the past year, Kroger has hired 217 OOD job seekers. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kroger took the initiative to create accessible communications to ensure the health and safety of its associates with disabilities. 

Platinum Level, Gold Level, and Silver Level Award Winners

Platinum Level

• Advance Auto Parts
• FedEx
• Giant Eagle
• OhioHealth
• The Ohio State University and OSU Wexner Medical Center
• Walgreens

Gold Level

Silver Level

• Amazon
• Incept Corp
• University Hospitals

2019 Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards

We are pleased to announce the 2019 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Award Winners!

Congratulations to the Champion of Inclusion Award Winner:

Giant Eagle operates more than 400 food, fuel and convenience retail locations throughout Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana and employs more than 32,000 Team Members. Giant Eagle has excelled in building an inclusive workplace, immersing an OOD Talent Sourcing Coordinator within their company to support recruitment and retention of Giant Eagle Team Members with disabilities. For more information, watch a video about the partnership. 

Platinum Level, Gold Level and Silver Level
Award Winners

Platinum Level

• CVS Health
• FedEx Ground
• OhioHealth
• Walgreens Distribution Center

Gold Level

Silver Level

2018 Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards

We are pleased to announce the 2018 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Award Winners!

Congratulations to the Champion of Inclusion Award Winner:

Champion of Inclusion
Crown Equipment Corporation

New Bremen, Ohio

Crown Equipment Corporation is one of the top five largest lift truck manufacturers in the world and employs over 4,000 Ohioans. Crown has collaborated with OOD on many diversity and inclusion initiatives since 2015, including piloting an on-the-job training program this year.

Platinum Level, Gold Level and Silver Level
Award Winners

Platinum Level

• CVS Health
• FedEx Ground
• Fifth Third Bank
• Giant Eagle
• Heartland at ProMedica/HCR ManorCare
• OhioHealth
• The Ohio State University
• Walgreens Perrysburg Distribution Center

Gold Level

• Aramark
• Kroger
• Meijer
• Teleperformance
• University Hospitals of Cleveland

Silver Level

• G4S Secure Solutions
• InfoCision
• MaritzCX Research
• Marriott International
• MetroHealth System
• Renhill HR on Demand
• Speedway
• U.S. Social Security Administration

2017 Opportunity Award Winners

Champion of Opportunity Award

• Natural Essentials INC - In the northeast Ohio region, Natural Essentials INC has committed itself to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workplace by hiring an internal job coach to assist in the successful development and sustainability of their workforce. Natural Essentials is very open to making workplace accommodations, including teaching American Sign Language to their management staff so they can better communicate with their deaf/hard of hearing employees.
   
• The Ohio State University – Based in Columbus in the southeast region, The Ohio State University (OSU) is a committed partner dedicated to providing an inclusive work environment. OSU has created a culture which encourages the support and advancement of employees with disabilities. OSU has coordinated multiple disability awareness trainings in an effort to educate their employees about people with disabilities and promote an inclusive workplace. OSU partnered with OOD to embed a Talent Sourcing Coordinator full-time on campus, as a result the OOD Talent Sourcing Coordinator has become engrained in OSU’s human resources team leading to the hiring of OOD’s candidates.
   
• Miami University –  In the southwest Ohio region, Miami University is a committed partner dedicated to providing an inclusive work environment.  Miami has  created a workplace culture that encourages the support of and fosters the advancement of employees with disabilities. As a partner agency in Project Search, Miami has hired several of the participants in the past year. Miami is committed to retaining their inclusive, diverse workforce and partners with OOD to offer job save services to their employees when challenges arise on the job.
   
• Heartland (HCR ManorCare) –  Located in Sylvania in the northwest region, Heartland has provided quality employment opportunities for OOD candidates during this period and has hired 14 OOD individuals. The Heartland at ProMedica facility has especially gone above and beyond by working with OOD staff to identify positions and discuss options for OOD individuals to be successful. They have shown willingness and flexibility in offering work schedules that meet the needs of OOD individuals.

Creating Opportunity Award

Committed to Opportunity Award

2016 Opportunity Award Winners

Champion of Opportunity Award

The Champion of Opportunity Award honors companies that have gone above and beyond and who serve as statewide examples of what it means to provide quality employment opportunities and increased independence for individuals with disabilities.

CVS Health – In the northeast Ohio region, CVS Health created a pilot program to assist individuals with disabilities in learning needed job skills. Huntington Bank – Based in Columbus in the southeast region, Huntington Bank spends time getting to know job candidates, so they can better advocate for them during the hiring process. Meijer – In the southwest Ohio region, Meijer has face-to-face contact with potential applicants and gives them tours of their facilities. This helps to provide quality vocational guidance for every candidate. Sauder Woodworking Company – Located in Archbold in the northwest region, Sauder Woodworking Company works with OOD on accommodations, including the splitting of full-time positions into part-time positions.

 Creating Opportunity Award

The Creating Opportunity Award recognizes companies who have recently begun hiring individuals with disabilities.

 Committed to Opportunity Award

The Committed to Opportunity Award recognizes companies with a proven commitment to integrating individuals with disabilities into their workforce.

2015 Opportunity Award Winners

Champion of Opportunity Award

Kroger, Cincinnati

The TJX Companies, Central Ohio

JSI Janitorial Services, Cleveland

MaritzCX, Toledo

Creating Opportunity Award

Committed to Opportunity Award

2014 Award Recipients

Champion of Opportunity Award

• OhioHealth MedCentral Hospitals, Mansfield
• Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati
• Giant Eagle, Central Ohio
• InfoCision, Akron

Creating Opportunity Award

• Advantage Sales and Marketing, Cincinnati
• Piada Italian Restaurant, North Canton
• Rachel Wixey & Associates, Maumee
• Sandridge Foods, Medina
• Walmart, Westerville
• Best Western Plus, Steubenville
• BurgerFi, Mentor
• ClearPath, Akron
• Honda East Power Equipment, Cincinnati
• Parkview Care Center, Fremont
• Scioto Corp, Cincinnati
• Scioto Downs, Columbus
• Shoppers World, Columbus
• Steve’s Market and Deli, Urbana
• Travel Centers of America, Hebron

Committed to Opportunity Award