North Palm Beach Woman Receives Success at Work Award

(Palm Beach County, FL.) – Susan Abel of North Palm Beach, Florida, has been presented with the Success at Work Award for her outstanding commitment to serving people with disabilities. As the Director for Work Opportunities Unlimited in the West Palm Beach and Broward County regions of Florida, Abel has dedicated her career to breaking down the barriers to community-based employment for people living with disabilities.

“This year we presented our 100^th Success at Work Award and wanted it to go to someone who has made the biggest impact on the most lives of the people we serve,” says Steve Wood, President and CEO of Work Opportunities Unlimited. “One person stood-out above all others – Susan Abel.”

Since joining Work Opportunities Unlimited in 1987, Abel has dedicated her days to changing the world of work. Operating from the premise that people with disabilities deserve to work independently in their communities, Abel has successfully opened the doors to competitive employment for the countless individuals that she has served.

“Although we don’t have exact numbers, I think it is easy to estimate that Sue has been personally involved in over 2,000 client job placements,” says Wood. “We honor Sue Abel for her 32-year commitment to our core value, ‘We believe all people can work.’ Sue’s positive sense for identifying human strengths and helping co-workers and employers learn how to put those strengths to work, make Sue a great teammate and a Success at Work!”

During her tenure Abel has held several positions including Vice President of Field Services for six states and Vice President of the Maine division. “Over her career Sue has managed teams in the Portland, Maine area and now the West Palm Beach area. She is an expert in understanding client strengths and barriers and is a companywide resource for ideas when unusual challenges arise,” says Wood.

“The Success at Work award is an honor to receive,” says Abel. “The work we all do at Work Opportunities is important because having a job adds value and meaning to lives. Employing someone with disabilities also has a ripple effect. The family members connected to that individual also benefit by seeing the individual grow and become more independent and less dependent on them. The employer benefits from hiring a motivated, skilled individual who adds value to their workplace and expands their inclusive culture. And the individual benefits by becoming part of their community which empowers them to lead their best lives.”

About Work Opportunities Unlimited: With operations throughout the eastern United States, Work Opportunities Unlimited (WOU) is a community-based employment service provider specializing in placing job seekers who experience barriers to employment. The company serves thousands of adults and students annually. In addition to private citizens, WOU provides services to individuals referred by school districts, vocational rehabilitation programs, development disability agencies, Departments of Mental Health, Transitional Assistance, and Children and Families, as well as the U.S. Social Security Administration through the Ticket to Work program. For information, visit www.workopportunities.net.