RESPECT of Florida Newsletter

September 2024

Take A Glimpse At RESPECT’s Video Sneak Peek 

During the RESPECT of Florida Annual Awards Ceremony, RESPECT shared a sneak peek of our new video about the program. The video showcases several dedicated workers with disabilities or who are blind or visually impaired that work in various capacities across the state. 

 

In October, the full video will be released while we observe Disability Employment Awareness Month. During Disability Employment Awareness Month, RESPECT will also be celebrating the accomplishments of Floridians with disabilities that work providing services as part of our contracts or through one of our commodities.

 

RESPECT looks forward to unveiling our full video with each of you so you can see the meaningful testimonies of the individuals employed and impact the RESPECT Program has in creating employment opportunities for Floridians with disabilities. In the meantime, click on our video sneak peak above.

RESPECT of Florida Awards Micro-Enterprise Grant

RESPECT of Florida recently awarded Darian Roman a Micro-Enterprise Grant to expand his business, Roman Empire.

 

Since 2018, Darian Roman has been a part of the MacDonald Training Center (MTC) community. He has demonstrated incredible determination and creativity in building his business. The journey of Roman Empire began as a tribute to family and loved ones. Darian was inspired to create unique t-shirt designs that commemorate special occasions and honor the memory of those who have passed. His designs are not just clothing; they are a way to evoke emotions and capture significant moments.

 

Darian’s vision for Roman Empire is to provide high-quality, meaningful apparel that resonates with customers. He currently has three graphic designs that can be featured on t-shirts, bags, hoodies, and coffee cups. His Facebook page highlights his designs, and he is actively working on establishing a presence on TikTok. With the support of the grant, Darian plans to expand his business by enrolling in MTC’s Small Business Entrepreneurship Certification program. This will equip him with essential skills in graphic design, marketing, and logistics enabling him to create an exclusive e-commerce platform and reach a broader audience. He will also be able to purchase the necessary equipment to print his designs and lessen his reliance on external tools, which will give him the flexibility to develop and expand his business further.

 

Darian’s business, Roman Empire, not only provides him with a creative outlet and income but also allows him to be a productive member of society.

 

RESPECT is happy to say that Darian Roman is officially open for business! 

RESPECT Recognizes Outstanding Customers and Partners

At our annual awards, RESPECT recognizes its Outstanding Customers and Partners (Employment Centers). RESPECT enjoys honoring our customers. Any time we can show appreciation for an agency's commitment and support we like to do so. 

This year, the Customer of the Year for Commodities is Florida’s Turnpike Enterprises. They have supported the RESPECT program for over sixteen years through their purchase of transponders. This contract has demonstrated to the community the quality of work that individuals with disabilities and the organizations that serve them are capable of. Through the demands of this contract, individuals with disabilities have learned valuable job skills that they can use throughout their careers. RESPECT appreciates Florida's Turnpike Enterprises for their continued support of the RESPECT program.

RESPECT also honored the Florida Department of Transportation- District 3 as Customer of the Year for Services. The Florida Department of Transportation, District Three is a model for the relationship RESPECT depends on for the success of the program. That relationship is established in trust, professionalism, accountability, and common sense. While impartial, their communications and decisions are fair, supportive, and foster a partnering relationship. Their support is the impetus for RESPECT, and our stellar service providers, to go above and beyond, ensuring a commitment to the travelers in the state of Florida. We appreciate Florida Department of Transportation, District 3’s continued support. 

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 for Commodities was presented to MacDonald Training Center. Since 2007, MacDonald Training Center (MTC) has been packaging transponders for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprises through the RESPECT program. From design to scanning the transponders into the Florida Department of Transportation database, MTC trainees oversee the packaging process, from start to finish. MTC and their SunPass Team recently celebrated the amazing accomplishment of packaging and shipping the 20 millionth SunPass transponder. We appreciate our MTC team and the work they do to package and ship the SunPass transponders for Florida's Turnpike Enterprises.

RESPECT's Employment Center of the Year for Services was awarded to The Arc of Emerald Coast. They consistently exceed all expectations, maintaining the highly trafficked Okaloosa and Santa Rosa rest areas while also performing Litter Pick Up services that total over 68,000 acres annually across three Northwest Florida counties. Their dedicated and conscientious Supervisors lead a blended team of individuals with varying degrees of disabilities who set the pace for the rest of the district. Their hard work does not go unrecognized as visitors to the rest areas share their appreciation for the well-maintained grounds and the clean and inviting restrooms. As for their commendable litter pick up services, The Arc Emerald Coast’s crews annually receive superior marks from the Florida Department of Transportation for timeliness, quality, and safety. They are truly a professional organization who are a pleasure to work with and exemplify the capabilities of those individuals we serve.


Congratulations to our 2024 Outstanding Customers and Partners! 

 

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

RESPECT Provides ISSA Cleaning Management Institute Training

In mid-September, RESPECT held an ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) certification train the trainer session for our Employment Centers. The training was an intensive three-day program focused on industry best practices and standards for effective cleaning operations. From learning about industry benchmarks to the specifics of floor care, the experience offered a deep dive into what it takes to lead effective cleaning operations. The training emphasized key areas like leadership, communication, and the critical role of regular inspections, leaving participants feeling well-prepared to put this practice to work. Participants gained technical knowledge about cleaning management and an appreciation for the importance of upholding high standards in the services we provide to our customers. 

 

RESPECT is excited to have newly certified ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) trainers across the state to implement best practices to provide quality services to our customers. 

Featured Commodity: Mops

RESPECT of Florida offers a variety of cut-end and looped-end cotton mop heads for your janitorial needs. Designed for heavy-duty industrial cleaning, cut-end mop heads are made of 8-ply cotton that is cut at the end (rather than looped). They are available in 16, 20, 24, and 32 oz. sizes. Mops are packaged 12 per case.

Designed for heavy-duty industrial cleaning, looped end wet mops deliver longer life with superior on-the-floor performance and greater productivity. Made of 4-ply cotton, the 24 oz. mop head features looped-end yarns that reduce fraying and unraveling and leave less lint than the cut end style.

DID YOU KNOW?? EVERYONE benefits when you purchase from RESPECT!

 

  • Floridians with disabilities employed by our Employment Centers across the state benefit from the security and pride of steady, gainful employment.
  • State agencies and local government offices save valuable time and money by bypassing the competitive bid process when purchasing directly from RESPECT.
  • Your organization benefits from securing quality commodities and services at competitive pricing.
  • Florida’s taxpayers save money and our overall economy benefits by decreasing the number of individuals who are dependent upon welfare and other tax-supported subsidies.


Browse our online catalogue for all options of commodities and services available for your organization! 

SHOP MOPS

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RESPECT of Florida is the Central Non-profit Agency for the state of Florida that creates employment opportunities for over 1,000 Floridians with disabilities through contractual services and production of commodities that are sold to government entities. Learn more or browse our catalog at respectofflorida.org.

1113 East Tennessee St., Suite 100 Tallahassee, FL 32308
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