Maine's CHOICES CEO Project
Spotlight on Workers Archive
Starting Her Own Business
Lisa McLeod is well on her way to operating her own business raising goats and making goat cheese. McLeod, who has a disability, took a moment to share her experiences starting a business.
McLeod said the inspiration for her business came from her rural Maine setting and her infant daughter's dairy allergy. The benefits of running her own business include being her own boss, staying home with her daughter, and the pride of saying, "I made that cheese and people like it." Thinking about this last point, McLeod added, "I love to feed people."
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Sandy Tolman and Gertie’s Graffics
Gertie's Graffics
At first, Sandy Tolman looked for a job like most people would; she sent out résumés and went to interviews. Although she found work as an administrative assistant, she began to feel that some employers were more focused on her disability than her abilities. At one job, Sandy was hired to fill a quota, while at another job, a new manager was “uncomfortable” with an employee that used a cane. Sandy started to feel disillusioned. With an associates degree in computer science and experience as an administrative assistant, she believed self-employment might work for her.
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Dave Cann works for Time Warner Cable
Dave Cann enjoys working as a customer service representative for Time Warner Cable in Portland Maine. Cann has been employed by Time Warner Cable for almost seven years. “I’m pretty lucky with this job,” he said. “The part-time schedule is good for me. It keeps me busy. I like the idea of being productive and knowing that I contribute.”
Cann, who suffered a spinal cord injury 33 years ago and uses a motorized wheelchair to get around, heard about the Time Warner Cable position through a relative. Cann contacted the company and requested an interview. Previously, Cann worked for L.L. Bean at its Portland call center. The telephone and computer skills he acquired at L.L Bean helped Cann get the Time Warner Cable job and become a successful customer service representative.
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Both Judith and Duane enjoy working
Judith and Duane have been married for six years. Both have disabilities, including deafness, and both work. Judith is employed at a steakhouse on the busiest nights of the week — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. She does prep-work, such as rolling silverware in napkins. Judith likes earning a wage but especially enjoys the camaraderie of her fellow co-workers. Duane, an accomplished artist, works a five-day-a-week, part-time schedule. Like Judith, he is in the food service industry — clearing and cleaning tables and putting away dishes.
The Portland office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) was instrumental in helping Duane and Judith on the path to employment. About the time that they married, a job developer at DVR found Judith the position at the steakhouse. They provided job coaching and sign language interpreting — essential to getting Judith trained for her new job.
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