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| Mark Devlin holds the award that Chartwells received for its efforts in hiring special-needs adults. |
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| The renovations in Estes include new lighting and the addition of booths and windows. |
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| Devlin on employing special-needs adults: "This is a wonderful program that has become part of the community at R-MC." |
Chartwells Dining Services at Randolph-Macon College was presented an Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions in the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities at a banquet held by the Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services on Thursday, October 29, 2009. The banquet was held at the Belmont Golf and Recreation Center in Henrico, Virginia.
In 2004, R-MC began hiring special-needs adults to work in Estes Dining Hall. Mark Devlin, the college’s director of dining services and an employee of Chartwells Dining Services, is thrilled that R-MC is part of such an important initiative.
“This is a wonderful program that has become part of the community at R-MC,” says Devlin. “We could not be happier with the success of the program, which has proven beneficial to R-MC, Chartwells, Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services and especially the individuals that we employee through the program. Watching these individuals learn and grow both professionally and personally has been a fringe benefit that we never expected, but we are thankful to have had the chance to watch it firsthand over the years.”
There are currently four special-needs adults from Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services employed by Chartwells. “They have the same rights and privileges that any other worker has,” says Devlin. “That’s the biggest thing that helps them expand their horizons, and watching these employees blossom has been a wonderful experience for me.”
The college recently renovated Estes Dining Hall, something that makes Devlin especially proud. “We looked at other colleges’ dining halls over the years,” he says, “and we upgraded just about everything. New windows were added to one side of the dining hall; comfortable booths were installed; and the lighting was modernized. We think from an operational standpoint it gives us much more flexibility and curb appeal. We’ve created an inviting atmosphere, especially with the booths, windows and new layout.”