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NEW ULM – Fresh Ideas at MLC College was awarded the MRCI (Managed Resource Connections Inc.) Community Impact Award Tuesday morning.
MRCI helps people with disabilities find employment opportunities. There are currently eleven MLC College Fresh Ideas dish room workers employed through MRCI. Out of the eleven workers, nine have been there since Fresh Ideas joined MLC College.
The retention was one of the key reasons for choosing Fresh Ideas for the award, noting that it is reflective of a supportive workplace.
The award is a celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness month.
Employee Specialist Tim Leskey, who chose Fresh Ideas for the award, said that Fresh Ideas have the clients interests in mind.
"They're a very inclusive workplace, real easy to work with and accommodating," Leskey said. "They always keep them a priority, it's been a really great partnership.
Fresh Ideas took over kitchen operation services at MLC college in January of this year. Part of the agreement was that all workers were to be retained.
Leskey said that working alongside Fresh Ideas and individuals supported by MRCI allows him to see how impactful supportive employers are to the wellbeing and growth of employees.
"Their willingness to work with each individual, recognize their strengths, and provide the support needed for them to succeed," Leskey said, "it makes them Fresh Ideas stand out."
One shared trait of every worker is their great attitude.
"No matter what is going on around, things can be running like garbage and they still always have great attitudes," Dish Room Supervisor Shanda Sellner said.
She has been working with the college for five years.
"Some of these guys have been here 12 to 16 years," Sellner said.
Work in the kitchen involves cleaning all the dirty dishes.
"We have a system we do in there, scrape, spray, scrub, send. Then it goes through the machine and gets disinfected," Sellner said. "Then we have a group that is always on the clean side that always puts everything away. We do kitchen dishes, cafeteria. We're just always cleaning."
Despite their busy workdays, the team makes sure to enjoy their time together.
"We have fun, we jam with our music back there, we tell jokes, we have fun as we get our work done. This is what keeps me coming, these guys," Sellner said.
Abigail Deters, who has worked in the dish room for about five years, agreed with Sellner.
"I like the whole team here and that everyone has a positive attitude," Deters said.
