2025 Awards Ceremony: Celebrating the Achievements of Prince Georgians
Celebrating Achievement: 11th Annual Employment Awards Event Honors Prince Georgians with Disabilities
On October 23, 2025, the Prince George’s Provider Council
proudly hosted its 11th Annual Employment Awards Breakfast at
Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland. Each year, this signature
event brings together leaders, employers, families, and community
partners to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Prince
Georgians with disabilities, the professionals who support them, and
the businesses committed to creating inclusive workplaces.
This year’s gathering drew more than 180 attendees, a powerful
reflection of the county’s dedication to employment, equity, and
opportunity. With the generous support of the Provider Council’s
sponsors, the morning served as both a celebration and an inspiring call
to continue expanding pathways to meaningful work for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Inspiring Voices and Shared Commitment
Jade Gingerich (right) presents State Proclamation recognizing October as Disability Employment Awareness Month to Lori Sedlezky, Chair, Provider Council’s Board of Directors.
The program featured distinguished speakers whose leadership has shaped opportunities across Maryland including Jade Gingerich, Director of Employment Policy at the Maryland Department of Disabilities and Corey Smith, Disability Services Training and Community Outreach Coordinator for the M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. Special thanks also to Onesta Duke, Southern Maryland Regional Director for the Developmental Disabilities Administration as well as Corey Smith for presenting the awards to our awardees.
An example of our keynote moments with Corey Smith during our Awards event.
Honoring Excellence Across Prince George’s County
Throughout the morning, award recipients were recognized for their resilience, dedication, and exemplary contributions. Individuals with disabilities were celebrated for achieving personal employment goals and demonstrating leadership in their workplaces. Direct Support Professionals (DSP) received recognition for their unwavering commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities. And, local employers were honored for fostering workplace cultures that uplift and empower employees with disabilities. Their commitment to inclusive hiring practices strengthens the county’s workforce and sets a model for businesses across Maryland. Congratulations to the following awardees:
Onesta Duke (right) presents awards to the DSP honorees.
EMPLOYEES
Brittney Coates Ardmore Enterprises Inc.
Eric Dunn Heart of Gold, Inc.
Emmanuel Gaskins New Horizons Supported Services, Inc.
Marlon Hargrove Opportunities Inc.
Kenneth Huff Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Jimmie Jackson The Arc Prince George’s County
Marquies Jones Robinson Entities
Julie Kenney CALMRA, Inc.
Andre Martin Maryland Community Connection
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
Crystal Ali The Arc Prince George’s County
Tania Cole Ardmore Enterprises Inc.
Dominique Easton Melwood Community Services
Miatta Grant Compass, Inc.
Omar Hassan Maryland Community Connection
Sierra Jones Rock Creek Foundation
Shedonna Jordan Opportunities Inc.
Katrina McMurray-Brown Heart of Gold, Inc.
Blessing Okwesili Living Hope Inc.
Genia Taylor Gana CARAFAP
Coleman Varney Abasi WeAchieve Inc.
Aani Wilkins EBED Community Improvement Inc.
EMPLOYERS
Bowie State University Opportunities Inc.
Chesapeake Coffee Roasters Co.- WeAchieve Inc.
Crofton, MD
Department of Interior Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Flagship Carwash- Bowie, MD Living Hope Inc.
IAD Auto- Beltsville, MD Frontline Community Services
LA Fitness- Bowie, MD Maryland Community Connection
Marshalls – Landover, MD Ardmore Enterprises Inc.
Marshalls- Hyattsville, MD Compass, Inc.
Safeway- Clinton, MD New Horizons Supported Services, Inc.
Scott’s Cleaning Svcs., Michael Scott The Arc Prince George’s County
Honoring Excellence Across Prince George’s County
The energy in the room reflected more than celebration, it reflected momentum. The strong turnout, broad sponsorship support, and inspiring stories shared throughout the program demonstrated the enduring commitment of Prince George’s County to employment inclusion.
For more than a decade, the Provider Council’s Employment Awards Event has continued to highlight what becomes possible when communities invest in people’s strengths, dreams, and potential. The Provider Council recognizes the following sponsors and extends its deepest gratitude for their leadership, partnership, and generosity.
Allied Community Care
Arc of Prince George’s County
Ardmore Enterprises
CALMRA, Inc.
CARAFAP
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Compass, Inc.
EBED Community Improvement Inc.
Frontline Community Services
Living Hope Inc
Maryland Community Connections
M-NCPPC, Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince Georges County
Maryland Neighborly Networks
Melwood Community Services
New Horizons Supported Services, Inc.
Opportunities Inc
Resource Connections
Robinson Entities
Rock Creek Foundation
Safeway
WeAchieve
We look forward to continuing this important work together, building an even stronger, more inclusive future for Prince Georgians with disabilities.
The Employment Awards Ceremony left attendees inspired, reinforcing the importance of inclusion and empowerment in our community. The memories created that morning will resonate long after the final applause—a celebration not only of achievements realized but also of the promise of future successes. Check out a few of our photos from the event below. See our awards program book for 2025 - click here
