Capitol News

Fourteen individuals and four businesses in Michigan were recognized for their commitment to supporting people with disabilities at the 17th annual Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) Champion Awards ceremony. The event took place at Heritage Hall in the Michigan State Capitol, Lansing, coinciding with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Michigan Rehabilitation Services operates under the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and worked alongside the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services to honor employers and individuals who have contributed significantly to public vocational rehabilitation efforts.

Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, stated: “We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the individuals and businesses who were honored as Champion Award recipients. By working with both individuals with disabilities and businesses, Michigan Rehabilitation Services supports LEO’s work to ensure all Michiganders have equal access to a great job, a livable wage and a chance to contribute to our state’s future.”

Sigrid Adams, Director of MRS, said: “Vocational rehabilitation plays an important role in creating opportunities and helping individuals with disabilities reach their full potential. The work of our dedicated team at Michigan Rehabilitation Services helps to ensure more workplaces are accessible and Michiganders with disabilities have the skills to pursue competitive employment opportunities.”

Candidates for individual awards were nominated by MRS staff from across the state. To qualify, recipients demonstrated success in their vocational rehabilitation journey by overcoming obstacles, excelling academically or professionally, participating in leadership development, or inspiring others through community engagement.

The following individuals received MRS Champion Awards: Kathleen McLogan (Spring Arbor), Donald Hall (Detroit), Clayson Cook (Montrose), Mason Morgan (Caledonia), Matthew Crandall (Grand Ledge), Charlene Jackson (Clinton Township), Brylea Johnson (Lansing), Sarah Montney (Shepard), Timothy Decker (Ithaca), Katlyn Risselade (Traverse City), Jacob Modock (Lake Orion), Thomas Stone (Decatur), Edward Stump (Monroe), and Teresa Bower (Muskegon).

Businesses considered for recognition had to show they promoted advancement for employees with disabilities by offering reasonable accommodations and serving as role models for inclusive employment practices. This year’s business honorees included Family Farm and Home in Big Rapids and Grand Rapids Building Services in Grand Rapids as small business winners; Milestone Senior Services in Kalamazoo and Over the Rainbow Zootopia in Eaton Rapids were honored among large businesses.

Ben Hall, Vice President of Human Resources at Grand Rapids Building Services, remarked: “One of our main missions here at GRBS is to positively impact the lives and the communities in which we serve. And by doing that, we strive to offer all of our team members honorable employment and opportunities to improve their lives with sustainable wages, opportunities for experience. We want to make sure that we are impacting not just the people that we serve, but the communities in which we operate. We are honored to win the Business Champion Award. It is something that we believe really represents who we are and our commitment to our communities and to the state of Michigan as a whole.”

MRS provides workforce solutions tailored for businesses while helping people with disabilities prepare for competitive jobs that lead toward financial independence. In 2024 alone, MRS worked with over 5,000 businesses statewide while assisting more than 43,000 individuals; over 6,600 received training services while approximately 6,400 secured employment.

More information about Michigan Rehabilitation Services can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mrs.