Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 26, 2023
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

Festival Foods Recognized for Diverse and Inclusive Hiring Practices

PORTAGE – Hanging on the wall in the Festival Foods break room are the grocer's values of execution, community involvement, associate development, service, and servant leadership. Human Resource Manager Kerri Bredemann emphasized servant leadership during an event Oct. 25 honoring Festival Foods in Portage as an Exemplary Employer for its diverse and inclusive hiring practices that welcome individuals with disabilities into its workforce.

"What a better way to show our community that everyone has a place in the workforce than to give everyone a chance to be part of our family," she said. "We want to make sure all of our employees feel welcome, are free to be themselves, make a difference, and learn and grow."

The Exemplary Employer award was presented as Gov. Tony Evers proclaimed the month of October National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Wisconsin to highlight businesses that recruit and hire people with disabilities. Last year, more than 2,000 employers created more inclusive workplaces in Wisconsin. Festival Foods is one of 25 businesses being recognized throughout the month for leading the way toward building a more diverse workforce in the state. In addition to Bredemann, the award ceremony featured remarks by DVR Business Services Consultant Chantel Kilmer and DVR Management Services Director Deanna Krell

"Festival Foods in Portage is setting a great example, and we hope other Wisconsin businesses provide opportunities for this skilled, dedicated, and capable workforce as well," DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek said. "At the DWD, we stand ready to help employers meet their recruitment and retention needs, and we encourage them to contact our DVR Business Service Consultants for assistance."

Since opening in 2017, Festival Foods in Portage has collaborated with DVR and local rehabilitation service providers like Northwoods Incorporated of Wisconsin. They have worked with 17 individuals with disabilities, 13 of whom are current store employees.

DVR's business services consultants can connect employers with a variety of free resources to help recruit and hire people with disabilities, build staff diversity, and retain well-trained employees.

DVR helped over 3,350 Wisconsin residents with disabilities find work over the past year. Individuals with a disability looking for ways to find a job, keep a job, or get a better job are encouraged to contact DVR at 800-262-0050, visit a local DVR office, or visit the DVR website.

Festival Foods in Portage was presented with Gov. Tony Evers' Exemplary Employer Award on Wednesday, Oct. 25, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Pictured, from left, Deanna Krell, DVR Director of Management Services; Steve Berg, Assistant Store Director; Kerri Bredemann, Human Resources Manager; Chantel Kilmer, DVR Business Services Director; and Keith Buswell, Festival Foods Senior Director of Operations.

New Job Accommodations Training

To help provide employers with educational resources to diversify their workplace and create work environments that help retain employees, and to give employees information about their rights and responsibilities in the workforce, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has created new online accommodation trainings for employers, workers, and job seekers.

The Accommodation Training Library consists of brief, informational videos that cover topics, including hiring people with disabilities, the reasonable accommodation process, disclosing a disability, disability discrimination, and other topics related to employment law. The new accommodation training videos can be found on the DWD Career Pathways website.

The videos were created as part of a U.S. Department of Education Career Pathways Advancement (CPA) Initiative grant awarded to DVR in 2021. The CPA Initiative is allowing DVR to create resources and opportunities to support DVR consumers as they advance in their careers.

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.