The University of New Mexico Purchasing Department recently received an Employer of the Year Award from the Adelante Development Center as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. NDEAM was created to increase awareness regarding employment for people with disabilities. Adelante recognizes companies in the community that have made an outstanding impact on employment for the individuals they support.

Director of Sales Jaymerose "J.R." Lopez said that UNM was selected because of support Adelante received from the Purchasing Department. “They helped us schedule presentations for various UNM departments and allowed us to use their conference room,” she said. “They also included us in the annual small business vendor show and the bi-annual Administrative Support Alliance Conference.”

UNM’s support of the company facilitated shredding services to 106 locations, including the UNM Cancer Center, UNM Gallup and Los Alamos campuses, and the employment of 60 people with disabilities. Lopez said that the work acquired from UNM has a profound impact on the lives of their employees.

Thomas Pino has been a Document Imaging associate with Adelante since 2010. “I like it here,” he said, “10,000 percent of it. I love the people and I love the coordinator…we work like a team. They give me freedom here.” Pino was recently awarded Employee of the Month.

For more than 35 years, Adelante Development Center, a locally-founded nonprofit agency, has provided individualized support services to over 950 New Mexicans with mental, physical and developmental disabilities, as well as adults with neuromuscular diseases, disabled veterans and the elderly. The agency currently provides employment, vocational and life skills training.

For more information, visit www.GoAdelante.org, call 505-341-2000, or email Info@GoAdelante.org