Recent News
Ashley Nordlie Receives 2016 MOHR Greater MN Employment Service Award
Please join the Functional Industries’ team in congratulating Ashley Nordlie for being selected as the recipient of the 2016 Minnesota Organizations for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR) Direct Support Professionals Employment Service Award in Greater Minnesota (outside the 7 County Metro Area). Holly Sunderman, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services at Functional Industries, nominated Ashley for this prestigious award. The complete Nomination Narrative submitted by Holly to the MOHR review committee for consideration is reproduced below. Congratulations Ashley!
Ashley Nordlie, Transition Services Manager, has worked for Functional Industries Inc. (FII) for three years, and has shown exemplary regard for individuals served. In Ashley’s short tenure, she has quickly become a role model not only to her students but to other professionals in the industry as well. I nominate her for the MOHR 2016 Award and the following are reasons for doing so.
She is a leader. Ashley is the manager of FII’s school to work program; however she carries a full caseload of students and is willing and able to jump in to cover coaching needs at a moment’s notice. She is team oriented within Functional Industries’ community placement teams as well as the work floor and work crew programs. Wherever help is needed, Ashley schedules herself to meet the need; she wears many different hats each and every day!
She is an active participant. As Vice Chair of the Wright County CTIC (Community Transition Interagency Committee: a group of professionals who work with transition-age youth and meet monthly to discuss best practice in supporting their students), Ashley provides direction to the committee. She’s taken a lead role in coordinating Work Skills Day which is organized for transition-age youth to practice many different yet essential employment skills including applications, interviews, problem solving, and general knowledge. Ashley is largely involved in both the event planning as well as the one-on-one interaction with the students at Work Skills Day. She is beyond encouraging, respectful and supportive to all students.
She is a professional. Attending Buffalo and Monticello Chamber meetings, Ashley has confidently integrated herself into the community which has further assisted her to develop strong, professional relationships with businesses for work experience sites for students. It’s also afforded her a better chance at advocating for them as well. From presenting to board members about FII’s services to presenting to high school students about work skills, Ashley can adapt to any topic, crowd, or individual to meet the needs of the situation.
Last but not least, she is creative. Ashley has gone above and beyond in supporting her students by making “task boxes”. If a student is unable to complete the work given, they are encouraged to complete tasks out of a task box designed to strengthen their work skills moving them toward more independent work. This takes patience and resourceful thinking, however; Ashley wants each individual to be included and given the opportunity to reach their work goals.
Ashley’s gentle nature splashed with a dash of directedness has given her the ability to truly connect with the individuals she serves, empowering them to achieve things they may not have thought possible.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaime Baker
jbaker@functionalindustries.org
763-233-5162