Annual Employment First Awards

Celebrating Employment First Efforts in the Centennial State

The Colorado Employment First awards are presented annually by Colorado APSE. They recognize career seekers, professionals, businesses, and community partners who make exemplary contributions to advancing Employment First.

Congratulations to all award winners!

Colorado APSE was proud to present the following awards during the Annual Meeting in June 2023.

Wendy M Wood Emerging Leader Award:

Dezirae Gurule, DDRC Employment Services

Professional for Individual Award:

Malik Clark, DDRC Employment Services

Best Practice Award:

Shira Mandel

Personal Achievement Award:

Tha Blay and Amber Svitak

Excellence in Benefits Planning Award:

Jan Dabroski and Janelle Barto

Large Employer Award:

Kiewit Infrastructure Engineering

Colorado APSE was proud to present the following awards during the Annual Meeting in June 2024.

Wendy M Wood Emerging Leader Award:

Sydney Esch, Imagine! Colorado

Professional for Individual Award:

Amanda McConnell, DDRC Employment Services

Personal Achievement Award:

Hannah Skrastins, Chick-fil-A Team Member

Excellence in Benefits Planning Award:

Lisa Linder, Ability Connections Colorado &
Lee Sylvester, DDRC Employment Services

Large Employer Award:

April Lowden with Chick-fil-A

Small Employer Award:

Alain Aquino with Panera Bread

Colorado APSE was proud to present the following awards during the Annual Meeting in June 2025.

Wendy M Wood Emerging Leader Award:

Katie Taliercio, CDLE

Dave Hammis Innovation Leader Award:

Erlen Marsh, DDRC

Professional for Individual Award:

Jenny Jordan, HCPF

Personal Achievement Award:

Ty Smith, Atlantis

Excellence in Benefits Planning Award:

Chloe Pulliam & Janelle Barto

Large Employer Award:

Colorado Department of Transportation

Small Employer Award:

Atlantis

Colorado APSE was proud to present the following awards during the Annual Meeting in June 2026.

Wendy M Wood Emerging Leader Award:

Caitlin Pavlinek, Continuum

Dave Hammis Innovation Leader Award:

Sydney Esch, Imagine!

Professional for Individual Award:

Ray Clark

Personal Achievement Award:

Ethan Gurule

Excellence in Benefits Planning Award:

Anisa Whittemore

Large Employer Award:

Rebekah Kennedy & Kristin Corash -
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Small Employer Award:

Alpacka Raft

About the Awards

Wendy M Wood Emerging Leader Award

This award recognizes an emerging leader in Colorado that is developing a vision and creating action toward full inclusion of citizens with disabilities in our society.

Dave Hammis Innovation Award

This award is offered to individuals or organizations who demonstrate innovation in the area of technology, customized strategies, and/or self-employment for individuals with significant disabilities.

Professional for Individual Award

This award recognizes an individual for outstanding state-of-the-art practices and professional achievements in Employment First as a job coach, job developer, employment specialist, or other personnel.

Personal Achievement Award

This award recognizes an individual’s personal achievement, through integrated employment or self-employment.

Excellence in Benefits Counseling Award

This award recognizes work being done to promote the access to or provision of benefits counseling services within the State of Colorado.

Employer Award

This award recognizes a small employer (less than 50 employees) and a large employer (50+ employees) that is proving and demonstrating to be an advocate for Employment First through inclusive business practices and recognition of the contributions made to their business by hiring people with disabilities.