ServiceSource recognized the achievements and contributions of its program participants, staff and community partners during a Service Excellence Awards program held on Thursday, October 4 at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens in Fayetteville, NC. Nearly 200 guests helped ServiceSource celebrate the achievements of the people with disabilities served by the organization’s North Carolina regional office.

Jim Aynes, regional executive director, recognized employees Lee Jackson, Jim Brooks, Amanda Weaver, Christopher Foy, William Bailey, Eric Smith and Danny Davis with Service Excellence Awards.  Janet Samuelson, president and CEO, recognized Kena Farrington (Employment Specialist) with the Staff Employee of the Year Award, Ashley Lederer (Hostess at Cook Out Restaurant) with the Private Sector Employee of the Year Award, and Ernest Dixon (Cherry Point Food Service) with the AbilityOne Employee of the Year Award.  Dwayne Beason, Sr., with the Wounded Warrior Careers Program, part of the National Organization on Disability, was recognized as the Community Partner of the Year.

“It is an honor to be recognized as ServiceSource’s Private Sector Employee of the Year,” said Lederer. “ServiceSource, along with the management and staff at Cook Out, are like a family to me.”

The ServiceSource Foundation, created in 2004 to raise and distribute funding for programs that serve people with disabilities, presented the Service Excellence Awards program. To date, the foundation has raised over $3.2 million to support programs for people with disabilities. Corporate sponsors included InspiriTec and Streetlevel Media.

“I am so proud of the employees who were chosen as winners this year,” remarked Aynes. “Every one of them exemplifies ServiceSource’s mission to provide exceptional services; both to individuals with disabilities and to our customers.”