You're Invited... Be a Part of the Business Leadership Network

This Wednesday, November 4 at 11 a.m. the Fort Wayne Business Leadership Network (BLN) will kick-off with a free luncheon here at the Chamber. The goal of the Business Leadership Network is to create a more diverse workforce by improving awareness among businesses regarding the resources for, and the benefits of, hiring people with disabilities.

Fort Wayne’s Business Leadership Network was formed in March of 2009 by the Chamber, the City of Fort Wayne and Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana. Founding members and service providers in the BLN include Three Rivers Federal Credit Union, Fast Print, IPFW, Parkview, Goodwill Industries of Northeast Indiana, Pathfinder Services, Inc./Resource Connection and Park Center.

“Here at 3 Rivers, we have seen immediate success in the partnerships that have been created through the BLN,” says Michelle Merritt, Culture and Retention Manager at Three Rivers Federal Credit Union. “The BLN provided us yet another great resource to find more awesome team members. The BLN is an additional great connection in our network and one we’re very proud to be founding members of. Without the BLN, we would not have connected with Holly at Pathfinder Services. Through the BLN meetings, she learned our company culture and was able to provide a candidate that was a great fit to our team. Bottom line: my hiring process was streamlined, efficient, and more cost effective thanks to my connections at the BLN. Just another great resource our amazing community provides!”

Mayor Tom Henry will speak at the event, along with National BLN Board member Erin Riehle. Ms. Riehle, MSN, RN is a recognized authority and national leader in promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. She is a founder and Director of Project SEARCH, an employment and transition program that has received national recognition for innovative practices. She is regularly invited to present at national and regional conferences, and has co-authored numerous publications and book chapters.

Ms. Riehle began her career at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center as a staff nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit and advanced to clinical director of the emergency department. Her interest in employment for people with disabilities grew from her frustration with high turnover rates among workers performing critical tasks such as re-stocking emergency room supply shelves. Riehle found that placing individuals with developmental disabilities in these positions was both an effective solution to her staffing problems and an improvement in quality of life for the workers she employed. This positive experience ultimately led to a systematic, hospital-wide effort, led by Ms. Riehle, to explore job possibilities for people with disabilities.

Chamber interim president & CEO, Mike Landram, says “We’re looking forward to introducing the Business Leadership Network to the Fort Wayne business community. We hope that many business leaders will join us for this luncheon and decide to be a part of the good work the BLN is doing.”

“The creation of the BLN will help all who are disabled find meaningful employment by educating local business leaders about the positives of hiring those who are disabled,” says Kassandra Flanagan, Employment Services Supervisor at Easter Seals Arc. “They are an untapped pool of skills, all different, and will become their employer’s most loyal employees.”

For more information on the upcoming BLN Luncheon contact Kassandra Flanagan at kflanagan@esarc.org. Visit fwchamber.org to RSVP for this free event.