The Home Depot in Lawrence’s acceptance, encouragement and continued employment of people with disabilities earned the store an Employer of the Year award from Supported Employment Services, a program of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

The store was among four nominees honored during a luncheon Friday at the center. More than 70 people gathered to acknowledge the nominees’ efforts and to recognize the work of others who have found work through the program that helped place at least 70 workers with about 50 employers in Douglas County.

The Home Depot has worked with three people enrolled in the Bert Nash program, embracing them with a safe, friendly and warm environment, said Heather Jones, team leader for employment services at Bert Nash.

Cynthia Stoner, the store’s human resources director, said that the relationship with Bert Nash reached well beyond community service. It’s also good business.

While many traditional job applicants come saddled with a long list of questions – Will they show up on time? Will they show up at all? – workers placed through Bert Nash come without such uncertainties, she said.

Michelle Mathias, left, receives the Employee of the Year award for her work at Pizza Hut during Supported Employment Services' third annual Employment Recognition Luncheon. Vanja Petroman, right, presented the award to Mathias on Friday at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

“We know they can do the job; they want to do the job. You know that person’s going to be there,” Stoner said. “It’s a huge benefit. There’s not all these ‘unknowns’ with these employees.”

Diversity also is an important goal for The Home Depot, Stoner said, and she encourages other employers to get involved.

“Sometimes you’re very skittish about things you don’t know,” she said. “We’re not so skeptical. We hope you are open to those opportunities.”

Also nominated as Employer of the Year were Maceli’s, Minuteman Press and Pizza Hut.

Other awards presented during the luncheon:

¢ Employee of the Year: Michelle Mathias, who cleans at Pizza Hut restaurants on Sixth Street and 23rd Street.

¢ Optimism: Sean Amon, who works at Wendy’s.

¢ Entrepreneur: Steven Smelser, who works at Minuteman Press and is perhaps best known as “The Button Man,” the custom-button business he founded nearly a decade ago.

¢ Longevity: Mike Stevens, who has missed one day at work during his six years at University Book Shop.

For more information about Supported Employment Services, contact Heather Jones at 830-1827 or hjones@bertnash.org.