Being Disabled Is Not a Disadvantage at St. Ambrose University
By Monica Zimmer, Director of Public Relations

Sodexo General Manager Stephen Finn, St. Ambrose University Dining Services, Foodservice Manager Caroline Rasmussen and Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge

Early in her Sodexo career at St. Ambrose University Dining Services, Foodservice Manager Caroline Rasmussen partnered with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and other disability employment programs in Davenport to hire and foster disabled workers. Later, Rasmussen experienced first-hand Sodexo’s support for its disabled employees.

Now in a wheelchair from her spinal cord injury and with limited hand function, Rasmussen and the Sodexo St. Ambrose University team extended their support to about a dozen disabled employees, more than 10% of the 80-person dining services workforce.

Rasmussen and her supervisor, General Manager Stephen Finn, received the 2008 Large Employer of the Year Award—presented by Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge on behalf of the Iowa Commission of Persons with Disabilities—at the Governor’s Annual Awards Ceremony October 3rd at the Rotunda in the state capital in Des Moines. Rasmussen submitted the application that garnered the award for Sodexo Campus Services at St. Ambrose University.

Finn credits the St. Ambrose students for helping to create a positive work environment for the disabled workers. The student newspaper nominated one blind employee who works on the tray-return line for the employee-of-the month award. "We don’t see the disabilities—we just make the employees know they’re part of the team,”says Finn.