Penn-Mar program matches consumers with jobs

By ASHLEY M. WISLOCK
Daily Record/Sunday News

York, PA - Ed LaRicci spends 20 hours a week cutting glass samples -- a task he considers to be "the best job in the world."

"It's pretty fun," he said of his position at Archetype Frameless Glass in York Township. "And the people are really nice."

Lik LeRicci, Amy Gemmil enjoys the time she spends with her co-workers at Brown's Orchards & Farm Market in Springfield Township.

LaRicci and Gemmil both found their jobs through an employment program at Penn-Mar Human Services, which has offices in York County and Maryland

The organization's customized employment program works with 36 individuals, said Laura Tieman, director of Penn-Mar's Maryland programs.

Penn-Mar assists people with developmental disabilities through a range of educational, vocational and residential programs.

The organization's employment program matches consumers with open positions, said Greg T. Miller, president and chief executive officer at Penn-Mar.

Once a business reaches out with an available position, Penn-Mar pairs a client's skills with the company's needs.

"We're not trying to fit a square box in a round hole," Miller said. "We want to find a position for a person that is in line with their skill talents and their career goals."

Consumers in the program can work full-time hours or just a couple hours a week, Miller said.

"It's not a one-size-fits-all thing," he said.

Customized employment allows clients like LaRicci and Gemmil to experience something others might take for granted, Miller said.

"We all want to be doing things that add value to our life, and a job is something that everyone feels a sense of pride in," he said. "Our goal is to help people get what they want out of life."

Last summer, Archetype Frameless Glass called Penn-Mar about finding an employee to fill the sample-cutting position, said Paul Weber, president and owner of the company.

Weber said he heard about Penn-Mar's program through a friend and decided to try it out.

LaRicci started in September and is "reliable, focused and eager to work" everyday, said Paul Weber, president and owner of the company.

"Since September, he's never missed a day of work and he's never been late," he said.

LaRicci said he enjoys the steady pace of his job and likes working with different types of glass, which can include colors, designs or even fabrics.

"I like the colors they have, it's very pretty," he said.

Weber said he would recommend the program to other business owners.

"It's a great way of getting something while giving something back at the same time," he said.

Stan Brown, owner of Brown's Orchards, said he feels the same way.

Gemmil works three afternoons a week, cleaning the caf? area and restocking table supplies.

"She does a thorough job and she takes her job very seriously," he said.

Gemmil has been working at Brown's for the past seven years, and has made plenty of friends.

"When I'm here, I feel like I'm part of the family," she said.

Fast facts

Penn-Mar assists people with developmental disabilities through a range of educational, vocational and residential programs. One of their programs is customized employment, which matches Penn-Mar consumers with jobs throughout the area.

Here are some facts about Penn-Mar:

36: Number of Penn-Mar consumers in the Customized Employment program

33: Number of businesses in Pennyslvania and Maryland that employ Penn-Mar consumers through its customized employment program.

Participating businesses include:

- Peak Mobility, Loganville

- True Value, Shrewsbury Township

- Genesis Golf Trips, Stewartstown

Source: http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_21012930/penn-mar-program-matches-consumers-jobs?source=rss_emailed

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