Local Businesses Celebrated at Goodwill Breakthrough Awards

FORT MYERS, Fla. - May 20, 2015 - PRLog -- On May 7 John Talmage of Sweet Melissa’s Café and Island Pizza Company, and Butch Borchert of Communication & Data Solutions were  honored at Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s Breakthrough Awards. The annual event honors businesses and members in the community who have assisted others, or themselves, in overcoming disabilities or barriers on their path to employment and independence. Talmage received the Breakthrough Employer Award, while Borchert received the Breakthrough Business Award.

Talmage was honored for his work in the Pine Manor community, specifically for his role in starting the Goodwill/Pine Manor Culinary Training and Certification program.

“Too often Pine Manor gets associated as ‘Crime Manor’,” says Talmage.  “That’s an unfortunate tagline because it’s not that at all.”

The program, which is for anyone in the Southwest Florida area, puts participants through a 12-week, 280 hour course, designed to prepare workers for employment in the quickly-growing food service industry. The program is offered in partnership with iCare. At the end of the program, taught by Chef James Fraser, participants get the opportunity to intern at Talmage’s restaurants.

During the past two years, Talmage has hired 25 people from the community, and now that the culinary program is up and running he plans on hiring future graduates.

Butch Borchert has been a part of the Goodwill family for nearly three decades.

“When we [Goodwill] were in the old warehouse,” says Borchert. “I just walked in and offered my services.”

Borchert owns Communication & Data Solutions, a company that offers everything from phone systems and data cabling, to video surveillance.  He and his team provide those services to Goodwill’s headquarters, the Opportunity Center, and the organization’s 30 Retail & Donation Centers.

Aside from frequently donating goods and services, Borchert also donates 10% back of everything he does. He also plays an integral role in the annual Goodwill Golf Classic.

“Not only did Butch start the tournament, but each year he works hard to recruit players, sponsors, and collect prizes,” says Madison Mitchell, Goodwill’s community relations coordinator. “The morning of the tournament, he’s the first one there. Setting up signs, and putting out breakfast. We couldn’t do it without him.”

Other Goodwill Breakthrough Award winners include Breakthrough Graduate Mike Drouin, and Breakthrough Achiever Jennifer Glawe. Goodwill also honored volunteer of the year Amanda Lynch.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by providing life-changing opportunities to achieve independence.  Revenue generated by Goodwill’s 30 Southwest Florida Retail & Donation Centers is used to support these programs. For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit the agency’s website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.

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