Sodexo Honored as Breakthrough Employer

FORT MYERS, Fla. - May 27, 2016 - PRLog -- Sodexo has been honored as Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida's Breakthrough Employer. The award was presented at Goodwill's 50^th anniversary celebration and Breakthrough Awards at ceremony on May 6. The Breakthrough Awards honor businesses and individuals who have assisted others, or themselves, in overcoming disabilities or barriers on their path to employment and independence.

Sodexo is an international food service and facilities management company. Locally, Sodexo oversees the Hendry County School District's lunchrooms and food production.

Magdalena Flores, Goodwill's Job-Link consultant in Labelle, first contacted Sodexo in 2015 when she learned that Sodexo had been contracted to operate the school lunchrooms in Hendry County. Flores' goal was to find jobs for her Job-Link clients.

"Magdalena knew we were looking for people," says Erwin Evans, Sodexo's general manager.  "We started talking about how she could help me find folks who were looking for employment.

Goodwill's Job-Link Centers (http://www.goodwillswfl.org/joblink) provide employment services, skills training, and family strengthening resources.  Job-seekers can use Job-Link computers free of charge to look for jobs, create resumes, complete applications, and apply for social services and unemployment.  Job-Link centers also assist employers, who often reach out to Job-Link centers to fill open positions.

"It's really important to have a great partnership between the business and Goodwill," explains Flores.

In LaBelle and Clewiston, Goodwill helped Evans fill Sodexo's needs by referring a bilingual administrative assistant and numerous cafeteria workers.

"I'd highly recommend Goodwill," says Evans.  "When you're interviewing someone, you have to assess their skills as well as who they are as a person. Working with Goodwill, half the job is already done."

Sodexo was one of several Breakthrough Award winners honored at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs.  Other winners include Breakthrough Business Sullivan; Breakthrough Graduate Natalie Galindez; Chet Perry Breakthrough Achiever Jessica Estrada; Breakthrough Volunteer Jacob Dudoit; and Breakthrough Philanthropists SunTrust and the SunTrust Foundation.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is celebrating its 50^th year serving the people of Southwest Florida.  The organization, which was founded in 1966, is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by providing life-changing opportunities to achieve independence.  Supported programs include Job-Link resource centers, disability-accessible housing, small business training, youth mentoring, education and more.

For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit the agency's website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.