Able SC to host 11th annual Employer Summit

Able South Carolina and Hire Me SC will host the 11th annual Employer Summit during National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will be held at Dominion Energy’s VC Summer Nuclear Learning Center in Jenkinsville.

The Employer Summit is a one-day conference for business managers, executives, HR professionals and service providers who want to include people with disabilities in their workforce. The summit will host two tracks, according to a news release: one for employers and one for disability service providers. Employers and providers will come together over lunch, followed by an interactive keynote and vendor session. Attendees who complete the sessions will receive 2.5 hours of nationally transferable SHRM and HRCI credits.

Employers will delve into topics such as HR Mythbusting, featuring two distinct business models — a small-scale manufacturer (Beyond Distilling Co.) and a large-scale financial institution (AgFirst). The business leaders will demonstrate how inclusive hiring is a viable, high-return-on-investment strategy regardless of company size and services, according to the release. Employers will also explore real-world examples of how reasonable accommodations can strengthen their company by reducing risk, supporting consistent decision making, and strengthening workplace culture, as presented by Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd Law Firm.

Through a conversation featuring the director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, disability service providers will review how, when local service providers work together, they can maximize their collective impact to help their clients find meaningful employment, the release stated. Then, representatives from Clemson University will show how the smartphones we carry every day can serve as assistants to help providers’ disabled clients achieve workplace success.

The afternoon of the Employer Summit will feature interactive sessions designed to maximize attendee engagement and leave them with practical tools to apply their new knowledge and skills. A new “exhibitor deep dive” session will give attendees a fast-paced, gamified chance to map local resources, with a prize on the line for the sharpest audience member. This is following the keynote session of the day, “Kickin’ it with Kimberly: Insights from Business Leaders.”

The conversation will mimic the no-nonsense style of the monthly blog series of the same name written by Able SC CEO Kimberly Tissot. Together with Sam Slagle of Dominion Energy, the two will discuss the benefits of disability-inclusive employment, successes and challenges, and practical approaches to building lasting partnerships that balance performance, culture and opportunity.

Sponsorship opportunities to support the event and the efforts of the event organizer, Able South Carolina, are available. Sponsors receive perks, including recognition and tickets to attend. Register, sponsor, and learn about becoming an exhibitor/vendor at hiremesc.org/employer-summit.