Their Success is Our Success

Each year, RESPECT of Florida honors employees with disabilities who work diligently to produce RESPECT commodities and/or services. Awards are given for Commodities Employee of the Year, Services Employee of the Year, Most Improved Employee of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.

Each of the nominees are guests of honor at the Annual Awards Luncheon. The celebratory occasion formally recognizes all the nominees for a job well done, and for the category award winners, it is also an opportunity to be recognized for exceeding their employer's expectations. The nominees not only benefit from this very special sense of achievement, it is also a significant high point for the nominee's family members and caregivers.

The recognition process celebrates employment achievement - which is truly at the heart of the missions of both RESPECT of Florida and its partner Employment Centers. The goal is to celebrate employees with disabilities who have genuinely made significant progress towards independence, and who have demonstrated success in their employment and relationships with others. Congratulations to our 2024 winners!
 

2024 Employee of the Year Commodities

Laura Bravo has worked for six years with RESPECT partner MacDonald Training Center (MTC) and progressed tremendously, both personally and professionally. She is an integral part of the team that packages the SunPass transponders for the Florida Turnpike Enterprise. Laura's versatility and dedication are truly commendable, as there is no job duty she cannot perform, from scanning to writing numbers for the QC code. In recognition of her exceptional skills and abilities, Laura is being promoted to take on additional leadership responsibilities as an instructor for MTC’s new pilot program. This program is a logistics-based internship designed for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. We are confident that Laura's positivity will greatly support the interns, as they benefit from her kindness, willingness to help others, and excellent workplace skills. Laura embodies the qualities of a true leader and mentor. Her journey from a key team member and now an instructor is a testament to her hard work, resilience, and unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth.

2024 Employee of the Year Services

Robert Sykes has been with RESPECT partner Challenge Enterprises for the past seven years and throughout his tenure, he has proven to be a huge asset to the team. Working at the APD Tacachale facility in Gainesville, Robert performs custodial duties in four buildings per day, totaling approximately 23,679 sq. ft. His tasks include cleaning restrooms, dusting, sweeping, mopping, disinfecting doors and handles, vacuuming, and emptying and cleaning trash containers as needed. Robert is a highly skilled employee who consistently goes above and beyond in his duties. The building managers recognize and appreciate Robert's cleaning style and personality, describing him as kind, considerate, and polite. Robert has a good relationship with his co-workers, with whom he frequently communicates about their lives. His Project Manager Judy Thompson says that he is one of the most thorough employees she has ever worked with stating, "Robert can comprehend any job assignment and complete it correctly without me having to worry if the assignment was done." Even in conversation, Robert is very disciplined about his job assignments. He recognizes that his job assignments are a priority but maintains great working relationships with all of the individuals he comes into contact with.

2024 Most Improved Employee of the Year

Evelyna Seabolt has worked with RESPECT partner Lighthouse Works for 4 years and has shown exceptional growth and transformation. Her performance has improved remarkably, moving from a starting scorecard average of 2.7 to an outstanding 4.7 within a year – one of the highest scores among the Call Center Agents. This improvement is particularly impressive given the demanding nature of her role, assisting Floridians with unemployment claims during a challenging period. Evelyna's ability to handle sensitive situations with kindness, compassion, and respect has significantly enhanced the quality of customer care provided by our team. She stands out due to her dedication, positivity, and compassion. Evelyna shows a strong commitment to her role, consistently striving to improve her performance and contribute to the team's success. Her upbeat attitude and encouraging demeanor create a supportive environment, uplifting both clients and colleagues. Evelyna excels in handling sensitive situations with empathy and respect, making a positive impact on those she interacts with. Her key goal was to enhance her performance scores to qualify for remote work. She diligently acted on all feedback provided, leveraging the opportunities, and training available through the RESPECT contract. This contract played a crucial role in her development by offering structured feedback and targeted support that helped her refine her skills. As a result, Evelyna achieved her goal of working from home and significantly improved her productivity.

2024 Rookie of the Year

Keya Grant works for RESPECT partner Pine Castle. Her journey with us began with numerous obstacles. Initially, she struggled with making connections and socializing with others. However, her unique ability to overcome these challenges has truly set her apart. Since joining the drug kit assembly team, Keya has embraced various tasks and thrived in the structured environment provided by RESPECT. Her willingness to learn and follow directions has greatly contributed to her personal advancement. Keya consistently arrives on time, ready to tackle the work projects that need to be completed. Her primary goal is to enhance and improve her work skills, and she is highly motivated to increase her knowledge to achieve these objectives. Through the RESPECT contracts, Keya has learned to take instruction positively and accept constructive criticism. Keya's thoughtful, positive, and motivated nature has not only contributed to her personal growth but has also inspired those around her.
 

Special Recognition Award

Hillip Battles has been working on RESPECT contracts since July 18, 2016, at the Leon Rest Area & DOT/Midway Buildings. He is one of Gadsden ARC’s most dedicated and reliable employees. Hillip quickly mastered the tasks required for the Rest Area and is an excellent trainer for new employees. He is always looking for ways to improve the daily tasks and has shown unwavering loyalty to the agency, even when the Rest Area was closed for almost two years for renovations. Despite receiving several job offers, Hillip chose to wait until "his" Rest Area reopened. Hillip rarely misses a day of work and is always willing to fill in when someone is out, even if he has already worked that day. In addition to his work at the Rest Area, Hillip also performs janitorial tasks at the DOT/Midway Building every afternoon. Hillip has worked all his life and, after retiring from his previous job, he sought new employment opportunities because he wanted to stay busy. When he applied for a position with Gadsden ARC, he seemed to expect another rejection due to his age. Hillip's dependability, conscientiousness, and hard work make him an invaluable member of the team. His commitment to excellence and his positive attitude inspires those around him to strive for greatness.

2024 Outstanding Employees