L to R: Nick Mastrella, Jill Rowell, Elena Stroeble
Work Opportunities Unlimited (WOU) is pleased to announce that Career Resource Specialist Jill Rowell on the York County, Maine team is the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Frank Loughran Award. The award recognizes excellence in supported employment and is given each year to an individual who has exhibited creativity in job development for people with disabilities, and a commitment to fostering natural supports in the workplace.
Jill has helped several individuals find and retain employment this past year, but one individual’s success in particular exemplifies Jill’s achievements in supported employment. The individual had previously worked with Jill as a high school student completing a work-based learning assessment. Now an adult, he was struggling with job retention and was excited to work with Jill again to find new employment. Jill secured him a tour and interview at a mushroom farm, where he was offered an opportunity as a packager. To help ensure her client’s success, Jill fostered a relationship of natural support with an experienced coworker, who helped the individual become proficient in all aspects of the packaging department. Another WOU client working at the mushroom farm also helped the individual, showing him how to modify the computer screen so it was easier for him to see when clocking in and out. By encouraging the development of natural supports, Jill has helped the individual grow his independence. His manager says he is a great fit for the team, and he loves going to work every day.
York County Director Nick Mastrella, who nominated Jill for this award, states, “Jill builds successful, reciprocal relationship with not just managers but each and every person that we meet as part of our services. She was able to build a successful natural support relationship for the individual, and he has thrived because of this. Jill is a role model for the whole York County team, as she is never satisfied and always focuses on each client as if it were the only client she was supporting.” Congratulations, Jill!
###
Work Opportunities Unlimited, an ESOP Company with operations throughout the eastern United States, is a community-based employment service provider. WOU has been helping people with barriers to employment find meaningful jobs since 1982. The company serves thousands of adults and students annually. For more information, please visit www.workopportunities.net.
