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MRS develops customized workforce solutions for businesses and individuals with disabilities.
In 2025, the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), in partnership with MRS, introduced the inaugural Disability-Owned Small Business Award as part of their annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business ceremony. This award honors businesses owned by individuals with disabilities for both their innovation and community impact.
The inaugural recipient was Justin Caine of Good Fruit Video, a former MRS customer who was recognized for leveraging his unique perspective as a competitive advantage.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer was in attendance at the event, lending her voice in strong support of Michigan’s small business community. As she emphasized during a prior announcement, “Michigan’s small businesses are the driving force behind our economy.” This echoes the tone she set by joining the awards ceremony, underscoring her belief that entrepreneurs are the backbone of Michigan’s economic vitality.
“The ‘Michigan Celebrates Small Business’ awards recognize the extraordinary contribution that entrepreneurs make to Michigan and our economy,” said SBAM President Brian Calley about the significance of the new award category. “MRS was instrumental in the creation of the ‘Disability Owned Business’ category this year, recognizing that people with disabilities are an essential part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
This milestone reflects a broader commitment to inclusivity in Michigan’s business community, ensuring talented entrepreneurs of all backgrounds receive visibility and support.
Justin Caine, inaugural recipient of the 2025 MCSB Disability-Owned Small Business Award. The Careers in STEM page was created to support individuals with disabilities pursuing competitive integrated employment through the Disability Innovation Fund grant. The page provides information about obtaining employment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the benefits of working in STEM, and STEM-related event announcements for MRS customers. The page also has resources for people who are interested in career exploration and employment, along with a career library of virtual tours and interviews of people with disabilities working in STEM.
The 2025 Abilities, Opportunities and Future of Work (AOFOW) Conference delivered another highly successful event, drawing standing‑room‑only attendance and participation from 69 organizations across higher education, private industry, workforce development, nonprofit and government. Aligning this year’s event with National Disability Employment Awareness Month added purpose and visibility to LEO’s commitment to advancing disability inclusion throughout Michigan.
Opening remarks, including those from MRS Bureau Director Sigrid Adams, underscored the essential role of universities, research and interdisciplinary collaboration in building an inclusive workforce for individuals of all abilities. Keynotes from Dr. Feranmi Okanlami (University of Michigan), Dr. Michael Stein (Harvard University), and Dr. Susanne Bruyere (Cornell University) further grounded the day in themes of redefining excellence, accessible design and inclusive organizational culture.
A panel of industry leaders explored the role of AI, technology and intentional design in advancing equitable recruitment and retention. Kathleen West‑Evans, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation Business Director, highlighted national infrastructure available through The National Employment Team to support coordinated disability employment strategies, and Professor Sriram Narayanan shared examples of Michigan State University’s interdisciplinary work with industry to advance inclusive workforce innovation.
This year also featured expanded storytelling and participant engagement. In partnership with Peckham, Inc., videographer Jack Schaberg produced three videos capturing why attendees found AOFOW impactful, their encouragement to organizations to “commit to the idea,” and why future participants should not hesitate to attend. These testimonials featured voices from private sector businesses and county government.
“AOFOW represents the kind of collaborative platform we need to meaningfully address the broader challenges of disability employment,” noted Dr. Sriram Narayanan, leader of the AOFOW initiative. “The State of Michigan’s partnership elevates this effort, making the conference’s potential truly transformative for employers across Michigan and beyond.”
Located in Plainwell, MCTI offers 11 certified vocational training programs to help individuals with disabilities earn industry skills.
The Michigan Career & Technical Institute offers a community-based Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program in each of its satellite campuses. The programs are designed to serve Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo residents with disabilities.
The program empowers individuals who otherwise could not access traditional training opportunities, fostering economic mobility and workforce development within the local healthcare sector. There are two cohorts of 10 students offered at each campus per year.
The CNA program takes a community-based approach with training occurring locally, eliminating transportation barriers and reducing participants’ time away from their families.
To ensure students have the best chance of success, MCTI works with MRS staff to provide job placement assistance to graduating students. In the past two academic years, 100% of participants graduated, 97% completed their license and 74% work in their trade!
The program has become a popular and valued resource in the Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo communities, creating sustainable career pathways and improving quality of life for participants and their families.
