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Clarks: Commitment to Quality

April 1, 2011

By Joan Leotta

Shoes. Some love them, obsess about them, spend small fortunes collecting and wearing them. Others just find them a practical necessity. But some, like the executives at Clarks Companies, N.A., use their passion for shoes not just to share quality footwear with the world but also to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the communities where they operate.

Bob Miller (Sr VP of Clarks Companies Retail), Ryan Toomey (current First Step Intern and Triangle Client), and Henry Winkelman Photo credit: Clarks

Bob Miller (Sr VP of Clarks Companies Retail), Ryan Toomey (current First Step Intern and Triangle Client), and Henry Winkelman
Photo credit: Clarks

Jim Salzano, Interim President of Clarks, says, “We have found that capabilities, passion and commitment to work are not defined by what some call ‘disabilities.’” For Clarks, this mission of “standing tall” involves recognizing “a responsibility to help in the communities in which we live and work… [as] an important part of the way we do business.”

The Power of Triangle

Clarks’ efforts to employ people with disabilities stem from the company’s relationship with the Massachusetts-based employment advocacy group Triangle, Inc. Serving more than 3,000 people with disabilities from 170 communities throughout Southern New England, Triangle offers an award-winning School-to-Career program, career placement services and an array of life development services for youth and adults with disabilities.

“Most of the people served come to Triangle for training to establish a career or live a more independent and meaningful life in their own community,” says Triangle CEO Michael A. Rodrigues. Providing this type of opportunity is where Clarks comes in.

In 1997 Bob Infantino, then Clarks President, joined Triangle’s Board of Directors. Rodrigues notes that Infantino “toured our Malden headquarters and was amazed by the opportunities for career and personal development that Triangle offered.” Since that time many Clarks executives, including the currently serving, Interim President Jim Salzano and Senior Vice President for Retail Bob Miller, have served on Triangle’s Board and worked with the organization to develop creative strategies for helping Triangle’s target populations enter the workforce. [Read more…]

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Tags: employment

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New Partnership for New Mobility

February 1, 2011

By Joan Leotta

Paul Tobin of the United Spinal Association and Jeff Leonard of New Mobility

Paul Tobin (left) of the United Spinal Association and Jeff Leonard of New Mobility celebrate the joining of their two enterprises.

For more than 20 years, Americans with disabilities and their families and friends have come to rely on New Mobility magazine for news and features of interest to their community. The first-of-its-kind lifestyle magazine for people with mobility issues, New Mobility remains the leader in its niche. Now, in a move designed to strengthen the magazine’s role within the community, New Mobility will join forces with United Spinal Association to improve the daily life and outlook of those with mobility impairments.

Paul J. Tobin, president and CEO of United Spinal Association, says that as a result of the acquisition, both entities “will simply be in a better position to support each other’s efforts and continue to serve those who are mobility disabled.” SaysNew Mobility publisher Jeff Leonard and CEO of Leonard Media, “The new whole will be greater than the sum of the individual parts.”

New Mobility grew from a few thousand subscribers to a readership of almost 20,000 subscribers under its ten-year affiliation with Leonard Media. Similarly, United Spinal Association developed from a small Veterans’ group of around 2,000 in the 1940s to a 12,000-member organization with a presence in all 50 states and a program of services that includes publications as well as advocacy.

[Read more…]

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Tags: new mobility, partnerships, Paul Tobin, United Spinal Association

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Quick Facts

The disability market consists of 56M people, representing an annual disposable income of $544 billion.

The disability market is more than twice as large as the tween market (20M), and has almost 3X the disposable spending power ($180B).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 69.6 million families in the U.S., 20.3 million families have at least one member with a disability.

A University of Massachusetts Boston survey found 92% of consumers felt favorably toward companies hiring people with disabilities; 87% prefer to do business with such companies.

By the year 2030, 71.5 million Baby Boomers will be over the age of 65 and demanding products, services, and environments that address their age-related physical changes.

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