November 9, 2018
Ann Marie Goldsmith has been working at the Port of Seattle for over 20 years, facilitated through a supported employees program between the Port and Trillium Employment Services, an organization that helps businesses recruit, train, and retrain employees with disabilities. The program provides job support or coaching for employees with developmental disabilities and allows them to work side-by-side with and experience the same benefits as other employees. Goldsmith works with her managers and Trillium staff to receive the support she needs to be successful in her job.
When the formal program ended, Goldsmith’s managers and coworkers kept her on, not wanting to lose a valued friend and colleague. She currently works as an office clerk in the Port’s Aviation Project Management Group.
“Just because we don’t have a formal program doesn’t mean we still don’t have a person working for us who we’d like to keep around,” said Wayne Grotheer, Director of the Port’s Aviation Project Management Group.
National disability employment awareness month
Because of the Port’s efforts to continue to support Goldsmith, Trillium recently presented the Port with an Inclusive Employer Award in October for National Disability Employment Awareness month. The award recognizes organizations around the country that support an inclusive workforce. The Port of Seattle was nominated for “its contribution to the inclusive workforce and support of accomplishments of those with disabilities in the workforce and community as a whole.”
Trillium defines an inclusive workforce as a “working environment that values individuals and harnesses their abilities, enabling a company to embrace different backgrounds and perspectives. This inclusive workforce has boosted staff morale and helped increased productivity at the Port of Seattle with the added bonus of demonstrating to the community that the Port is an innovative and diverse leader in employment.”
Supported employees program
The Port of Seattle began the initiative to include people with developmental disabilities into its diverse workforce around 1995 with the Supported Employees Program. The Port worked with Trillium to employ several employees and to fill workflow gaps with assistance in filing, greeting guests, ordering materials, updating calendars, and other general administrative tasks.
Trillium’s program tailors tasks to the supported employee’s strengths, facilitates learning, and helps the employee work toward developing independence in performing their job.
Trillium’s research shows that a diverse workforce enhances an organization’s ability to achieve goals and meet customer needs. Diversity has many facets when it comes to workforce integration, but one of the least represented sectors of talent is people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Even though we don’t have the supported employee program any more, we have continued our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace,” said Kim DesMarais, Interim Senior Director of Human Resources at the Port. “Diversity and inclusion is part of our long range plan — it’s part of the fabric of what we do.”
A supportive environment
Kelly Wolf, Goldsmith’s manager, says that Goldsmith is more than just a coworker.
“Being here is like a family (for her),” she said. “She’s a friendly face and she treats everybody the same. She keeps us going.”
Michelle Carioto, Port Project Manager, said she goes to church each Sunday with Goldsmith. They’ve gone camping together and often have coffee together at Carioto’s home.
Wolf said when the Project Management Group moved into a different office, the department didn’t have silverware, so Goldsmith took the initiative to go to Goodwill and pick some up for the team.
Goldsmith’s coworkers and friends gathered to celebrate the Port’s award and to support Goldsmith.
Donna Wynn, Goldsmith’s former supervisor, said Goldsmith brings a good work ethic to the Port.
“She’s always willing to try to do anything asked of her,” she said.
“Ann Marie kept me straight for a long time,” said Dave Soike, Port Chief Operating Officer. “We have kidded each other for a long time.”
This is the third job I’ve had and I like this one the best.
Goldsmith told her coworkers and friends “This is the third job I’ve had and I like this one the best.”
Diane Marunda, senior employment consultant at Trillium who works with Goldsmith as a job coach, said the Port has provided an inclusive environment for Goldsmith by including her in just about everything they do.
“She talks about the Port all the time and looks forward to going to work,” Marunda said.
Wynn said the Port has provided Goldsmith with much needed support over the years as she has needed to overcome adversity, including the loss of her mother and the lack of communication with family members, as well as help performing certain job-related tasks.
Although she is not part of a formal program, the Port continues to work with Trillium to make sure Goldsmith is supported through regular check-ins with her supervisor and with her Trillium job coach. Port employees also provide classes and training opportunity to help Goldsmith improve and advance her skills.
“She’s an important person in her role, not only for the work she is doing,” Wolf said. “She has many capabilities and catches on very quickly. She holds her own. People don’t necessarily see how much she can do until they give it to her and it’s a welcome surprise.”
