Businesses Ignited to See Ability- November 2005

PITTSBURGH -  Approximately 200 individuals recently attended the 2005 US Business Leadership Network Conference (November 2005) which was based on the theme “Ignite Business to See Ability.”  The conference was hosted in Pittsburgh , PA by the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network (PA BLN) in collaboration with the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). 

The conference featured top speakers who discussed topics about disability in the workplace, such as best practices of disability friendly employers; returning veterans to employment; youth mentoring and internships, recruitment strategies; marketing; and assistive technology and accommodations.

Speakers included: The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act; Greg Babe, president and CEO- Bayer Material Science LLC; Joan McGovern, vice president of the Access Ability Resource Center –JPMorgan Chase; Andy Imparato, president- American Association of People with Disabilities; Allan Woods, vice chair & CIO- Mellon Financial Group; and Dr. Ken Melani, president and CEO - Highmark Inc..

Nearly 50% of the conference attendees were representatives from the business community.   Surveys noted a high level of satisfaction with the education delivered at this conference. In fact, 95.33% of those completing surveys rated sessions delivered at or above a rating of 3 on a scale of 1-5.

When asked about the benefits of belonging to a Business Leadership Network, Mary Curet, manager, Workforce Development, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said that the PA BLN has given her a “place to call with questions and resources for everything related to disability issues.”  

This conference was funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy and from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.  The Pennsylvania Developmental Disability Council (PADDC) has been providing support to the efforts of the PA BLN since January of 2000.  Additional funds were received through sponsorships from various businesses, such as: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Bayer Corporation; Bender Consulting Services; Accessibility Development Associates, Inc.; SunTrust Bank; SunMicrosystems; Mellon Financial Corporation; UPMC; and Ability Magazine. 

The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) is the only national employer organization that is led by employers to provide the business perspective to other businesses regarding hiring individuals with disabilities and marketing to customers with disabilities. It is the nationally recognized disability voice for the business community. The USBLN is a non profit trade association that provides employers and its 43 BLN chapters with best disability practices. The USBLN has chapters in 32 states, including the District of Columbia .  The USBLN provides a unique resource to employers seeking to diversify their workforce by including people with disabilities. The USBLN makes the compelling reason for employers to include disability as a business imperative. The USBLN provides its member chapters with best practice strategies, specific industry perspectives, toolkits and resources.

For more information about the PA BLN, visit www.blnofpa.org or contact Ms. Stacy Kyle at stacy.kyle@blnofpa.org or by phone (717) 763-0968 ext.115.