FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Arc of Shelby County received multiple achievement awards at the Alabama Association for Persons Supporting Employment conference held on June 18 at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile.

“This has been a great year for our employment program, with ongoing business partners and new business partners working together. We are thrilled to have this recognition and be recognized in such a meaningful way,” Karen Stokes, executive director of The Arc of Shelby County, wrote in a news release.

The Arc of Shelby County was presented with the Jim Green Agency of the Year Award. Costel Hofman’s Candlewood Suites in Alabaster was recognized as the AL-APSE Small Business of the Year for their dedication and commitment to providing opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities. Thomas Findlay of Thomas Andrew Art was granted the Best Practice Award for continued support of the Arc of Shelby County and Project SEARCH. Rosia Dowdell was recognized as AL-APSE Family/Support of the Year, her grandson, Mike Harve, is a recent Project SEARCH graduate.

“This is such a major achievement and such great recognition for The Arc’s job coaches! We are thrilled to not only be recognized as an agency, but to also see such wonderful community business partners acknowledged as well,” Heather Bell-Lawling, employment specialist coordinator for The Arc, wrote.

Located in Pelham, The Arc of Shelby County is an advocacy group that serves more than 1,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families through a number of programs and services.

“Everyone at The Arc of Shelby is a great team, and we are dedicated to providing quality services to the community,” Stokes wrote. “It is such an honor to be recognized as Agency of the Year by AL-APSE.”