Gerdau Ameristeel Helps Disabled Veterans in Florida
As part of Disabled Veterans Employment Mentoring Month, Gerdau Ameristeel provided on-the-job experience to a group of veterans looking for employment. This program was produced in conjunction with Enable America, a non-profit committed to improving employment opportunities for all people with disabilities.
Tampa, FL, November 20, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Gerdau Ameristeel is Florida’s first company to provide on-the-job experience to disabled veterans during Enable America’s “Disabled Veteran Employment Mentoring” month. On Friday a group of five veterans participated in mentoring activities at Gerdau’s corporate headquarters in Tampa, as well as at the company’s manufacturing operation in nearby Plant City.
“Gerdau Ameristeel has been a strong advocate of the Enable America program,” said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Enable America. “This is just the latest in a series of mentorship sessions they’ve sponsored. The company continues to provide invaluable opportunities to all people with disabilities, and is to be commended for its commitment and leadership.”
Enable America is a non-profit devoted to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. One program is employment mentoring, which builds bridges between job seekers and the workforce. Participants not only gain industry experience, they make connections that can lead to employment. There is also great benefit for employers.
“We very clearly understand the value and the importance of diversity in our workplace,” said Mario Longhi, CEO of Gerdau Ameristeel. “That’s what creates the proper environment that leads to the ultimate identification of great solutions to the challenges that are in front of us. This is just a natural approach as we engage in trying to help the communities where we’re at.”
Among the participants was Billy Combs, a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the Army for more than seven years. Combs has 28 years experience in customer service, but is back on the job market due to workforce reduction at his former employer, Hewlett-Packard.
“It’s been an outstanding experience,” Combs said after touring the Plant City operation, and learning how Gerdau’s steelworkers manufacture rebar. “Coming out here, seeing this operation, getting some one-on-one time, it’s just been phenomenal. The experience I shared with the employees of Gerdau was very positive. It was a great day, overall.”
Longhi says not only should other people with disabilities participate in mentoring programs when given that chance, so should businesses consider working with Enable America as mentors.
“This is an organization fundamentally based on integrity and an honest commitment to make a difference,” Longhi said in discussing his experience with the organization. “They (businesses) should open up and hear what Enable America has to offer.”
People with disabilities and organizations that want to get involved in disability employment mentoring can contact the organization through EnableAmerica.org, or by calling toll free at 1-877-ENABLED (1-877-362-2533).
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About Enable America: Enable America was established in 2002 by attorney Richard Salem as a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities, including our nation’s wounded warriors.
About Gerdau Ameristeel: Gerdau Ameristeel is the second largest mini-mill steel producer in North America, with annual manufacturing capacity of approximately 12 million tons of mill finished steel products. Through its vertically integrated network of mini-mills, scrap recycling facilities, and downstream operations, Gerdau Ameristeel serves customers throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's products are generally sold to steel service centers, steel fabricators, or directly to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") for use in a variety of industries, including non-residential, infrastructure, commercial, industrial and residential construction, metal building, manufacturing, automotive, mining, cellular and electrical transmission and equipment manufacturing. Gerdau Ameristeel's majority shareholder is the Gerdau Group, a 100+ year old steel company, the leading company in the production of long steel in the Americas and one of the major specialty long steel suppliers in the world. Gerdau Ameristeel's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GNA.
“Gerdau Ameristeel has been a strong advocate of the Enable America program,” said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Enable America. “This is just the latest in a series of mentorship sessions they’ve sponsored. The company continues to provide invaluable opportunities to all people with disabilities, and is to be commended for its commitment and leadership.”
Enable America is a non-profit devoted to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. One program is employment mentoring, which builds bridges between job seekers and the workforce. Participants not only gain industry experience, they make connections that can lead to employment. There is also great benefit for employers.
“We very clearly understand the value and the importance of diversity in our workplace,” said Mario Longhi, CEO of Gerdau Ameristeel. “That’s what creates the proper environment that leads to the ultimate identification of great solutions to the challenges that are in front of us. This is just a natural approach as we engage in trying to help the communities where we’re at.”
Among the participants was Billy Combs, a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the Army for more than seven years. Combs has 28 years experience in customer service, but is back on the job market due to workforce reduction at his former employer, Hewlett-Packard.
“It’s been an outstanding experience,” Combs said after touring the Plant City operation, and learning how Gerdau’s steelworkers manufacture rebar. “Coming out here, seeing this operation, getting some one-on-one time, it’s just been phenomenal. The experience I shared with the employees of Gerdau was very positive. It was a great day, overall.”
Longhi says not only should other people with disabilities participate in mentoring programs when given that chance, so should businesses consider working with Enable America as mentors.
“This is an organization fundamentally based on integrity and an honest commitment to make a difference,” Longhi said in discussing his experience with the organization. “They (businesses) should open up and hear what Enable America has to offer.”
People with disabilities and organizations that want to get involved in disability employment mentoring can contact the organization through EnableAmerica.org, or by calling toll free at 1-877-ENABLED (1-877-362-2533).
###
About Enable America: Enable America was established in 2002 by attorney Richard Salem as a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities, including our nation’s wounded warriors.
About Gerdau Ameristeel: Gerdau Ameristeel is the second largest mini-mill steel producer in North America, with annual manufacturing capacity of approximately 12 million tons of mill finished steel products. Through its vertically integrated network of mini-mills, scrap recycling facilities, and downstream operations, Gerdau Ameristeel serves customers throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's products are generally sold to steel service centers, steel fabricators, or directly to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") for use in a variety of industries, including non-residential, infrastructure, commercial, industrial and residential construction, metal building, manufacturing, automotive, mining, cellular and electrical transmission and equipment manufacturing. Gerdau Ameristeel's majority shareholder is the Gerdau Group, a 100+ year old steel company, the leading company in the production of long steel in the Americas and one of the major specialty long steel suppliers in the world. Gerdau Ameristeel's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GNA.
Contact
Enable America
Chris Jadick
813-222-3204
http://www.enableamerica.org
Chris Jadick
813-222-3204
http://www.enableamerica.org
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