RESPECT of Florida Awards Micro-Enterprise Grant

This year, the Customer of the Year is Florida Commerce. Florida Commerce’s commitment to inclusive employment has been unwavering for the past ten years.

RESPECT of Florida's contact center line of business exists because one state agency was willing to go first. A decade ago, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, now the Florida Department of Commerce, brought RESPECT its first substantial contact center work. Until then, RESPECT had built its reputation on commodities and on facility-based services. Customer service delivery at a state scale was new ground, and DEO gave the program the volume it needed to become a real operation. The work was delivered with Lighthouse Works, whose employees handled the calls from the start. They met the agency's standards and kept meeting them, and in doing so became subject matter experts at the complex, high-volume public-facing service work being performed. The partnership was tested along the way - by surges in demand, by shifting requirements, by the sort of pressure that reveals what a customer relationship is actually made of. Through it the agency stayed a partner rather than a customer at arm's length: sharing what it knew, investing in the people doing the work, and adjusting alongside RESPECT as conditions changed.

Today, the work continues under Florida Commerce. What it has produced is not a set of temporary placements. It is careers - with wages, benefits, advancement, and the independence that comes with them. This partnership with Florida Commerce has generated more than $10 million in wages, and counting, for people with disabilities. Florida Commerce has also been generous with its credibility. Agency leaders have spoken for the program and made the case to their peers that contracting through Florida's state use program is a sound procurement decision, not a favor.



For ten years of partnership, for the confidence to be first, and for the Floridians whose careers exist because of it, RESPECT of Florida was proud to honor Florida Commerce as our Customer of the Year. RESPECT cannot thank Florida Commerce enough for your trust and your unwavering commitment to making a difference. We are honored to work alongside you.

RESPECT also enjoys honoring our partners. Our partners are responsible for hiring individuals with disabilities, training them, and managing their assigned commodity or service that is ultimately delivered to the customer.

This year, RESPECT's Employment Center of the Year was presented to The Right 2 Work Corporation. Right 2 Work was selected for their continued growth, professionalism, and commitment to creating employment opportunities for Floridians with disabilities. Over the past year, they have expanded their work across multiple districts, taking on new contracts and opportunities while maintaining strong relationships with existing customers. A great example is their ability to take on three contracts at the same time and make those transitions successful while continuing to deliver quality service.

Right 2 Work consistently meets deadlines, provides quality proposals, communicates well, and follows through on their commitments. They have continued to build trust with their customers and partners while taking on more responsibility and creating more opportunities for the individuals served. RESPECT appreciates The Right to Work Corporation for being an excellent partner!

Congratulations to our 2026 Outstanding Customer and Partner! 

Stay tuned to see the employees that were award recipients, which RESPECT will feature during Disability Employment Awareness Month.