Forum focuses on jobs for people with disabilities
AUGUSTA – Rep. Arthur Lerman, D-Augusta, is partnering with the Choices’ Comprehensive Employment Opportunity Project to hold a public forum at the State House. It’s an effort to identify strategies for how people with disabilities can attain financial independence and employment.
The forum, which is open to the public, will be in the chamber of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Called “We Want to Work: Creating New Opportunities for People with Disabilities,” the forum will seek to identify policy changes needed to better develop the jobs and supports needed to increase employment for people with disabilities.
Invitees include people with disabilities, family members, employers, policy makers, advocates, service providers, school officials and teachers.
Forum attendees will spend most of the day in work groups. The five work groups will focus on: benefits that support employment; employment support service options; transition strategies for youth; work-place environment and attitudes; and transportation and housing.
Preregistration is necessary since space is limited. To register, people can contact the SUM Conferences Department by e-mail: [email protected]; or by phone (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays): voice: (207) 780-5951; Fax: (207) 780-5963; or TTY: 780-5646.
Oct. 13 seminar keys on planning and execution
PORTLAND – Scott Bryant of Dirigo Partners will be the keynote speaker at a “Strategic Planning & Execution” seminar presented by the Maine Marketing Association on Oct. 13.
The seminar will be 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the University Events Room of the Glickman Family Library at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
With nearly 25 years of operations experience in direct marketing, Bryant says successful companies have a commonality in their strategic planning: a steadfast focus on execution. His background includes applying technology, process re-engineering and team-building to accomplish organizational goals of world-class service, productivity improvement and employee satisfaction in such organizations as L.L. Bean Inc., The Mark Group and New Roads Inc.
Those who attend the seminar will also hear from David Vazdauskas, founder of Victory Branding in Brunswick; George Schmidt, marketing manager, corporate sales of L.L. Bean; and Paula Valente, executive director of the YWCA, Greater Portland. They will present local case studies on the importance of strategic planning for all businesses.
The cost to attend is $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers and $15 for students with valid student IDs. To register, people can contact the Maine Marketing Association at [email protected]. The association formerly was the Portland Marketing Association.
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