One Bowling Green agency and three local individuals earned state recognition at Friday’s annual Ohio
APSE meeting. APSE is an organization of professionals in the supported employment field.
The Bowling Green Recycling Center received one of two outstanding employer awards for those who
demonstrate the best and most innovative practices in employing individuals with developmental
disabilities. The center received the small employer award presented to those employing fewer than 25
employees.
It employs six people, including one person with a developmental disability, who has worked there since
October of 1989.
The center also employs an enclave of four individuals with disabilities, and it supports the Wood Lane
Recycling & Refuse program, which employs five persons with disabilities.
The center also worked with Wood Lane to help start a shredding operation and to purchase four trucks to
collect and bring materials to the Wood Lane site.
Recently the recycling center added another sorting facility and has employed more people with
disabilities.
Kristen Fisher was one of two people recognized with the Supported Employee Award.
She works full time as a clerical worker and receptionist for Wood Lane.
Previously she worked as a bagger at Giant Eagle, a material handler at Calphalon and then held a
clerical position at Walgreen’s Distribution Center.
She was praised for always doing her best at whatever job she has and for her willingness to assume a
more responsible job.
Jeanne Novak, an assistant professor in intervention services at Bowling Green State University, received
the Wendy Wood Award, given to a professional who is emerging as a national leader in the field of
supported employment.
At BGSU, she instituted a “Campus Workers” program — a partnership between BGSU, the Wood County
Educational Service Center and five local school districts. The worked-based learning partnership
engaged university students enrolled in support employment course to provide job training and support to
high school students at their campus work experience sites.
Vic Gable, manager of Wood Lane’s Employment Services, received the Rebecca McDonald Award, presented
annually to APSE chapter leaders who demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism and extraordinary commitment
to the mission and vision of APSE in their work with their state chapters.
A former state president of Ohio APSE, Gable has served on several national APSE committees and has been
active on the Bowling Green Transit Advisory Committee and the Northwest Ohio Placement Association.
At the awards ceremony he was praised for being “the perfect example of someone who fully embraces the
idea of individuals having valued employment choices so their independence and self-esteem will continue
to grow.
Receiving honors at the Ohio APSE meeting in Columbus Friday were (from left) Eric Reiman, representing
the Bowling Green Recycling Center; Jeanne Novak, an assistant professor at Bowling Green State
University; Kristen Fisher, Wood Lane receptionist who earned the Supported Employee Award; Scott Reiman
of the recycling center; and Vic Gable, manager of Wood Lane’s Employment Services, who received the
Rebecca McDonald Award for being an outstanding APSE chapter leader.
