Over 100 local employers receive great benefits from hiring workers through BI. Here are just a few:

• Agilent Technologies
• City of Santa Rosa
• Food Maxx
• County of Sonoma Regional Parks
• Mary’s Pizza Shack
• Hilton Sonoma County
• Parkpoint Club
• City of Healdsburg

Benefits to your Business
• Provides productive, dependable, and diligent workers
• Reduces recruitment, turnover, and training costs
• Adds diversity to your workforce
• Enables you to meet certain ADA requirements
• Provides consultation for adapting your work environment

Services Available
Group Employment
• Prescreened applicants
• Groups of 3 or more individuals
• 100% supervision
• Flexible hours-Part-time
• Sub-minimum wage may be available

Individual Employment
• Prescreened applicants
• On-the-job coaching
• Hours-15-40 hours per week
• Tax credits may be available

Successful Employees Can Perform As:
• Maintenance Worker • Cashier
• Clerical Assistant • Concession Assistant
• Courtesy Clerk • Data Entry
• Food Handler • Janitorial
• Instructional Aide • Restaurant Preparation
• Landscape Worker • Laundry Worker
• Mail Clerk • Mechanic Assistant
• Messenger • Office Equipment Operator
• Production Worker • Sales Clerk
• Stock Clerk • Warehouse Person
• Recycler • Litter Abatement Worker
• Paper Shredding • Packaging and Collating

Is your business in need of capable, hardworking, and conscientious employees? If so, BI can help!

To hire individuals directly into your workforce contact:

Employment Services
Main Campus
1425 Corporate Center Parkway
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
Phone: 707-524-6600
Fax: 707-527-1206
TTY: 707-526-6711
Map and Directions

Susan Heskett - Director of Employment Services
707 524-6602
sheskett@becomingindependent.org

For crews in Santa Rosa, contact Jeff Shaver at (707) 524-6668 or email jshaver@becomingindependent.org

For crews in Sonoma Valley, contact Lea Ronald at (707) 996-5988 or email at lronald@becomingindependent.org

For crews in Sebastopol/West County, contact Penny Synder at (707)823-8755 or email at psnyder@becomingindependent.org

For crews in Healdsburg/North County, contact Shari Silva at ssilva@becomingindependent.org

Gaining Strength through Community Employment Partnerships
For many individuals, employment is the most important service they can receive from Becoming Independent.  This may include community job placement or on-site vocational training in preparation for community-based work.  In 2005-2006, individuals with disabilities served through Becoming Independent’s Supported Employment and Day Service programs received over  $784,969 in annual wages.  It is the following employers who, working in collaboration with Becoming Independent, have made a huge contribution to the lives, and pockets, of the approximately 400 people employed last year.

Employment Services
Kmart of Santa Rosa has been a dedicated supporter of BI/The Middle Way’s Supported Employment program and clients. After hiring five individuals as seasonal employees, Kmart chose to keep all of them on permanently. They have taken an active role in each of the clients’ lives and careers, and assigned various duties to each individual that are most complimentary of their different skills and preferences. After many months of working together, The Middle Way awarded Kmart manager Elizabeth Hood and HR manager Christy Brassfield with the first annual BI/The Middle Way Employer of the Year Award. When presented with the award, store manager Liz Hood stated, “This has been a great experience for us. It’s been a true learning experience for the managers and associates and we enjoy working with the coaches. I just think all employers should give it a shot.” We do, too, Kmart, thanks for all your support!

In 2006, the Home Depot was nominated for and won the 3rd Annual Employer Best Practice Award as presented by the Sonoma County Mayor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.  The Home Depot was nominated because of the dedication the business has shown to the employment of persons with developmental disabilities.  Additionally, the Home Depot’s management was recognized for their above and beyond efforts to support employees on both a professional and personal level.  BI/Employment Services has been successfully placing individuals at Home Depot for over a decade.

The City of Sebastopol has been showing their support by providing meaningful work to BI/The Middle Way clients in Sebastopol for over 15 years. Workers perform litter abatement in the city Plaza, downtown corridor and parks. This task has been the starting point for most of BI/The Middle Way’s clients who have successfully transitioned into community-based jobs. They also graciously provide us with the space used to run the recycling program on city property. The City of Sebastopol has created a more diverse and accepting community for all by supporting the BI/The Middle Way program and helping integrate their clients into the city’s workforce.

Since the year 2000, Becoming Independent has had a successful partnership with Ham Delles Corporation. On a daily basis, BI workers gain practical work experience by maintaining the appearance of Ham Delles properties.  The corporation’s support of Becoming Independent has helped to provide BI/Santa Rosa work teams with jobs and extra income for their efforts. BI/Santa Rosa is extremely grateful for the relationship they have with Ham Delles and looks forward to working with them in 2007 and beyond!

In 2006, BI/Santa Rosa was contacted by RNM Properties to do litter abatement services at their Adobe Creek Center.  The relationship has now grown to the point that BI workers now keep ten of RNM’s properties free of debris. BI workers love working at the beautifully landscaped properties in Petaluma and take great pride in maintaining the grounds for RNM. 

BI/Sonoma Valley would like to give special recognition to the Benziger Family Winery with which BI/Sonoma Valley clients have been working since March of 2005. Staff and clients enjoy the work and are especially grateful for Bob Benziger’s ongoing support, enthusiasm and recognition. Bob greets the workers daily and tells them that they are doing a “great job!” The Benziger Family Winery provides employment for nine individuals and has given Becoming Independent an opportunity to provide meaningful paid work in a beautiful, supportive setting.  The crew works M-F for 2 hrs each day raking footpaths, doing litter abatement and emptying trash.

The purpose of Sonoma County Mayors’ Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is to encourage and promote the hiring, retention, and promotion of people with disabilities by creating a strong, friendly collaborative partnership between employers, human services agencies, local government and elected officials, individuals with disabilities and the general public in Sonoma County.

The Mayor’s Committee maintains liaison with the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board, the Sonoma County Employer Advisory Council, the California State Employment Development Department, the California Department of Rehabilitation, Sonoma County Job Link, and local service provider.