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PRIDE Industries is the leading employer of people with disabilities and those with other barriers to employment in the United States, including veterans and former foster youth. The company offers job training, placement, on-the-job coaching, and skills development for independent living. It has held IPC membership since 2000.
Darelyn Pazdel is vice president of workforce inclusion at PRIDE Industries and provides an overview of the company’s breadth and depth for employees with disabilities in its manufacturing services division.
What is the size of the PRIDE Industries staff?
Darelyn Pazdel: PRIDE Industries has nearly 4,500 employees. About 2,000 have a disability. We have a team of 425 people who assist individuals with disabilities in securing employment both within PRIDE Industries and in the community.
PRIDE Industries operates across several states. How many of these companies include electronics manufacturing facilities?
PRIDE Industries has 37 offices in 17 states throughout the United States. In some communities, we operate as a true integrated model, meeting people in their communities. Our flagship electronics manufacturing facilities are in Roseville, California, where we are unique in the industry because we produce quality electronics supported by a disability-inclusive team.
How did PRIDE Industries create employment specific to electronics manufacturing for individuals with disabilities?
Individuals with disabilities are successful in many industries. Given our nearly 60 years of experience with our mission to create employment for people with disabilities, it’s what we do naturally. Our team works with our employees to provide tools for accommodation. It is our experience that the learning curve may be a little steeper for individuals with disabilities; however, once they learn tasks and have the tools necessary, they deliver high-quality services and products. Electronics manufacturing for individuals with disabilities has been a natural fit for our organization.
To read the rest of this article in the Spring 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.
