When a Duman Opportunity Center job seeker was hired as an elevator operator at The Breakers at Edgewater Beach, a senior living facility in Chicago, it opened the door for five more individuals with disabilities to secure positions there in the following months.

It all started when former Duman Assistant Director Leah Rudy came across a job posting for a full-time elevator operator at The Breakers. Knowing one of Duman’s employment specialists was working with someone who would be an ideal candidate for the position, Leah passed along the information. The employment specialist, Sheldon Schwartz, helped the candidate, named Josh, apply for the job.

Then Business Services Representative Leslie Glazer got involved.

“I work with the businesses, but I also work with our candidates to ensure there’s a good match,” Leslie said. “I take time to understand the hiring needs of the business and the expectations.”

In this case, The Breakers was hiring a full-time elevator operator, and although Josh could only work part-time, he possessed a lot of compassion and desire to help others. 

“They were willing to make the position a part-time role once they met him and realized he was a great fit,” Leah said.

Josh has been working at The Breakers for about a year, and he not only treats the residents and other employees with kindness and respect, or kavod, a JCFS value—but they do the same for him. 

Josh operates the elevator three days a week, transporting residents safely to their destinations. He also has the added responsibility of bringing first responders up to residents who are experiencing an emergency.

“I like this kind of work,” Josh said. “And I know people need me.”

He not only feels included, but Duman staff have heard repeatedly that Josh is one of their most valued employees at The Breakers, Leah said.

And because Josh has become such a respected employee, The Breakers’ hiring manager reached back out to Duman to fill another part-time elevator operator position. The candidate they hired, named Annie, is passionate about working with seniors and was also interested in food service work. Staff from Duman and The Breakers worked together to customize a role for Annie, and now she works two days a week as an elevator operator and two days in dining services.

“They’re wonderful additions to the team and they’re well-liked by both residents and employees,” said Donna Pennekamp, Business Office Manager at The Breakers. “I love that they love it here because they just make my life so much easier. I have dependable people on my staff that are doing a job, and they’re doing it well, and I appreciate that very much.”

Today, there are six employees at The Breakers who were hired through Duman. In addition to the elevator operator roles, they work in the dining room and maintenance. Josh has even referred a couple of his friends, who have since found jobs there—a testament to respect he has earned in his workplace.

“When a position becomes available, the Director of the Breakers often calls me personally before the job is posted publicly,” Leslie said. “She wants to give me a head start in identifying qualified candidates because she trusts my judgment and has confidence in the individuals I refer.

“This level of partnership reflects the strong relationship we have built and the consistent quality of the candidates we provide. It demonstrates the confidence employers have in JCFS Chicago as a trusted hiring partner.”

Sheldon said The Breakers has been an ideal employment partner not only for providing Duman job candidates with opportunities, but also for also fostering a respectful and inclusive environment with plenty of natural supports. While Josh is quite independent and even takes public transportation there on his own, he benefits from the supportive environment at The Breakers.

“He relies on the receptionist, he relies on the office manager and his manager,” Sheldon said. “Everyone there is very supportive.” 

Leslie agrees.

“The Breakers has been especially great,” she said. “They have given our candidates confidence, and they’ve gotten great employees.”