ARRM News and Public Relations

Opportunity Partners awarded 3-year CARF accreditation

CARF International announced that Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka has been accredited for a period of three years for its Employment and Community Services programs. The latest accreditation is the sixth consecutive three-year accreditation that the international accrediting body has awarded to Opportunity Partners.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. 

Opportunity Partners is a nonprofit organization with offices throughout the Twin Cities area. It has been providing services for people with disabilities since 1953.

In addition to its three-year accreditation, Opportunity Partners was awarded “exemplary conformance” for its Certified Learning Platform program which provides training in collaboration with Dunwoody College of Technology The program, piloted in 2010 with a certificate in professional cleaning, has recently completed several classes in retail services. A third certificate program, office assistant, is now under development.

“I am proud to work with a team of employees that supports and demonstrates the high quality level of performance and services as defined in the CARF accreditation report,” said Opportunity Partners President & CEO George Klauser. 

 CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information, refer to http://www.carf.org

Opportunity Partners – redefining “disability” through advanced learning, deep community support, and meaningful work – proving that everyone, when given the opportunity, adds value to our world.  Help redefine disability – become a partner in our cause at http://opportunities.org/

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Hammer Residences, Inc. names John Estrem as new CEO

WAYZATA, MINNESOTA, January 27, 2012 - Hammer Residences, Inc. has selected John Estrem as its new CEO. This appointment follows the unexpected passing last August of Tim Nelson who had served as the organization’s leader since 1998. In Nelson’s absence, Lisbeth Armstrong has acted as Interim CEO at Hammer. Armstrong will resume her position as the Director of Program Services when Estrem begins his responsibilities as CEO on February 21, 2012. 

“Our diligent search process led us to an exciting choice in John Estrem,” said Jon Matejcek, Hammer Board President. “His business acumen and experience in advocacy, fundraising and public affairs are what Hammer needs right now. John’s experience will be an excellent complement to the quality and operational expertise already in place at Hammer.”

Estrem’s background includes 24 years of commitment to local social service organizations. As CEO for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Estrem led 550 people and 42 different programs serving families in crisis and managed a $36 million operating budget. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of Episcopal Community Services, a multi-service social services agency in Minneapolis.

"Joining Hammer is a great honor for me,” said Estrem. “I worked as a direct support professional early in my career. I have always held in my thoughts that I might return to this field and support people with developmental disabilities once again.”

“John’s passion for our mission was evident at our first meeting. His dedication to serve and to provide exemplary services closely mirrors mine and that of all of our employees. I look forward to working with him as we begin a new chapter at Hammer,” said Armstrong.

Estrem is a servant leader with a passion for advocacy. He has significant leadership experience in operational effectiveness, fundraising, public affairs, volunteer management and working with boards of directors. Estrem began his academic career at St. Cloud State University studying special education; he completed his undergraduate work at St. Thomas University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Divinity from St. Paul Seminary and a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

“My vision is to continue a legacy of service in the disability services field unmatched in Minnesota,” said Estrem. “Since Alvina Hammer founded this organization in 1923, this organization has held a unique place in the hearts and minds of Minnesotans. Hammer is a community that breathes life into words like ‘respecting an individual’s abilities and realizing dreams.’ It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work side by side with the men and women who have made Hammer the thriving organization it is today.”

Hammer is a nonprofit organization with a passion for providing quality services for adults and children with developmental disabilities. Founded in 1923, it was one of only two Minnesota organizations at that time to offer people with disabilities the opportunity to thrive in a school and home setting. Hammer supports 275 individuals in both residential and in-home settings, and more than 500 individuals through customized support services. It manages 36 residential sites and runs 9 apartment programs throughout the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. Hammer has 443 dedicated employees and 550 active volunteers.

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Nathan Bauer goes to Washington

Learn how Hammer's Nathan Bauer is advocating for himself and others with developmental disabilities.

http://blog.alfranken.com/2011/11/23/kare-11-nathan-bauer-goes-to-washington/

Opportunity Partners hands out awards to four companies

MINNEAPOLIS – Opportunity Partners recognized four companies’ work with people with disabilities during the November 1 Celebrate Opportunity event at the Doubletree Park Place.

Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year Award, Whole Foods Market

Emily Stockinger of Whole Foods Market accepted the Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year Award. The award spotlights a company with an inspirational strong work ethic. Whole Foods Market’s dedication to hiring workers with disabilities whenever it can and proactively contacting Opportunity Partners with job openings made them the perfect recipient for this year’s award.  

Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic food retailer with more than 300 stores and $9 billion in sales last year.

Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year Award, General Mills

The Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year Award recognizes a company that provides outstanding supported employment work opportunities in the community. Twenty Opportunity Partners participants currently work at one of three General Mills locations each week. The award was accepted by General Mills’ Mike Hon.

General Mills’ quality brands began with Gold Medal Flour in 1880. General Mills is now home to some of the world’s best-loved brands, including: Betty Crocker, Green Giant and Cheerios.

Customer of the Year Award, Graco  

The Customer of the Year Award is presented to a company that has provided exceptional work opportunities to Opportunity Partners’ participants. Since 2004, Graco has provided 5,000 hours of work for people with disabilities each year. Everyday, up to 10 people package a variety of filters and strainers for the company. In 2010, more than 200,000 units were packaged for Graco. Karl Hurston, Strategic Sourcing Manager at Graco, accepted the award.

Founded in 1926, Graco is a world leader in fluid handling systems and components.  

New Customer of the Year Award, Lunds & Byerly’s

Julie Griffin, Director of Lunds & Byerly’s’ Private Brands, accepted the New Customer of the Year Award. In the last year, a 100-person workforce from Opportunity Partners packaged more than 70,000 tubs containing 35 varieties of candy.

Lund Food Holdings Inc. owns and operates 10 Lunds’ and 11 Byerly’s’ supermarkets in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

The awards were presented by Opportunity Partners’ President and CEO, George Klauser. Four Opportunity Partners participants helped present the awards: Andy Tanghe, Katie Worrell, Jake Kukla and Michael Young.     

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Margaret Tjosvold celebrates birthday with big bash

ARRM  member Mary T. threw a birthday bash for its founder's mother, 93 year-old Margaret Tjosvold. Read more about it in this article.

OP to hold networking and business recognition luncheon Nov. 1

Join Opportunity Partners for Celebrate Opportunity, an executive networking and business recognition luncheon.

When: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis – Park Place, 1500 Park Place Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416

Learn: How Opportunity Partners helps local businesses, including General Mills, Lunds & Byerly’s, Graco, Whole Foods Market and many more, increase productivity, meeting community involvement and diversity goals, increase their customer base and hire qualified employees.

Network: With leaders from some of the top Minnesota companies during our executive networking session and three-course lunch.

Emcee: Frank Vascellaro, WCCO 4 News anchor

Keynote Speaker: Randy Lewis, Walgreens, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management

Presentation: Businesses and Disability – Promoting Ability

Walgreens’ goal is to fill 20 percent of its distribution center jobs with people who have disabilities. The drugstore promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce, marketplace and supplier chain.  Learn how this multi-million dollar company benefits in countless ways by seeing the “ability” in everyone.

Co-hosted by: TwinWest Chamber of Commerce

Sponsored by: Wells Fargo, General Mills and LinkedMinnesota

Contact Noel McCormick at 952-912-2494 or events@opportunities.org for more information or to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

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ARRM Mourns Loss of Former Board Vice-President

The disability community loses a leader, hero, advocate and visionary

SOUTH SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) is saddened to announce the unexpected death of Hammer CEO Tim Nelson, who was a former vice-president and board member at ARRM. He passed away Tuesday at the age of 58, and is survived by his wife, Jean Nelson, two children, and one grandchild.

“Tim was a sweet and supremely caring man and one of the truly great leaders in the disability community, said ARRM CEO Bruce Nelson. “No one had more credibility than Tim. He was brilliant, had a brother with a developmental disability and was a leader among advocates and providers. When Tim spoke, people knew his perspective was from both his heart and his head. He was able to bridge the gap and find solutions among differing ideas.”

Tim Nelson started working for Hammer in 1977 as a direct support professional, and was appointed CEO in 1998 after having served Hammer in a variety of capacities. He was responsible for the overall management and operations of Hammer, and during his tenure as CEO, worked tirelessly to elevate Hammer as a visionary organization that employs dedicated staff to help people with disabilities experience the highest possible quality of life and independence. 

Under Nelson’s leadership, Hammer was named a “Top Ten Minnesota Workplace” in a Star Tribune survey in 2010 and 2011, and a “Top 50 Places to Work” in a survey conducted by the Nonprofit Times, a national publication for nonprofit executives. In June, 2011, Nelson received a Changemaker Award from the Arc Greater Twin Cities for his efforts in positively changing systems and policy that benefit individuals with disabilities and their families.

A lifelong advocate for people with developmental disabilities, Nelson was the board president of The Arc of Minnesota, where he helped to advance public policy efforts locally and at the federal level. He also served on many committees, boards and task forces for a wide variety of disability organizations and agencies, such as the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized.

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Two ARRM members show why Minnesota ranks high in volunteerism

Earlier this week, it was announced that the Twin Cities ranks first for volunteerism in the United States. Two ARRM members that provide a variety of volunteer opportunities -- Hammer and Lutheran Social Service -- were featured in local and national media stories. Click on the links below to read and view the news stories.

August 9th piece on WCCO/CBS

August 10th Star Tribune article

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Member news: Disabilities group makes dream come true for Vikings fan

A person served by Hammer was profiled on KARE-11 Wednesday evening. Learn more about Deb Eaton, who says she is the Vikings' biggest fan.

Range Center receives Red Cross 'Community Partner Award'

The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross presented Range Center, Inc. of Chisholm with the “Community Partner Award” at their annual meeting June 28, 2011. 

Range Center provides vocational and residential services to adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities in Buhl, Chisholm and Hibbing. Dawn Lamping, Education Coordinator, and Brenda Fagan, Director of Human Resources, received the award on behalf of Range Center, Inc. 

Through a comprehensive training program, Range Center has approximately 160 staff certified in CPR/First Aid at any given time.  Range Center has partnered with the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross for the past 15 years to certify staff in adult CPR and First Aid in order to maintain the highest level of staff training possible. 

As an extension of their partnership, the Red Cross also uses Range Center’s swimming pool and training facilities to provide instructional services to the general public.

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