GCCC Director of Food Services Helps Win Outstanding Business Award
[Garden City, KS] August 9, 2022 -- Garden City Community College is proud to recognize Marie Ross, Director of Food Services, for her exceptional performance and passion for inclusion, which lead Great Western Dining to win the 2022 Outstanding Business Award from InterHab.
The Outstanding Business Award is presented to a Kansas business that has demonstrated notable and continued support of individuals with disabilities (i.e., supported employment, volunteer work, donations, etc). This award is based on a nomination process and the nomination for Great Western Dining (GWD) was glowing, featuring many key points about Marie's leadership of a diverse and inclusive team.
Some excerpts from the nomination narrative included:
- - "Marie Ross has been a champion for those we serve. Her patience and example of encouraging those employees with an IDD has shown her staff the potential that everyone has and in turn the kitchen feels more like a large family that works there, instead of just people waiting to clock out."
- - "Over the year's Marie and her staff have accommodated persons served with tolerance, compassion, support, and firmness."
- - "The greatest support [GWD] offers is inclusion. When observing the team, there is support and encouragement offered to all the employees."
Through a partnership with Mosaic, a disability services & support organization in Garden City, Great Western Dining (GWD) employs 4 individuals with IDD disabilities on a staff of 20+ employees. Great Western Dining, located on the GCCC Campus, manages the school cafeteria, caterings, and specialty orders for the community.
The Outstanding Business Award is presented to Great Western Dining by InterHab, an organization that has been working to improve the lives of Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("IDD") for over 50 years. InterHab has become the predominant voice in Kansas for persons with IDD, their families, and the providers of services and supports needed to live independently and inclusively. For more information visit https://interhab.org/.
Marie was honored during the All-Employee In-Service on August 8, 2022, at GCCC. Additionally, Marie and Great Western Dining will be featured in a professional video and publicly recognized at a special Awards Brunch at the Power Up Conference on Friday, October 14th in Wichita, KS. This annual conference is designed to inspire, educate, and empower professionals who support persons with disabilities.
Garden City Community College would like to congratulate Marie, and her extraordinary staff, on this award and thank them for their dedicated service and delicious food.
--
Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.