LOTT INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES NEW MISSION AND VISION
Contributors: Emily Dammeyer, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce; Whitney Rofkar, Thread Marketing Group
A new Lott! For more than 60 years Lott Industries has been a vital community partner and resource to businesses in the Toledo region while offering employment to adults with developmental disabilities. Currently undergoing a powerful transformation, Lott is expanding services and programming to assist more people with disabilities and barriers to employment. Broadening habilitation and employment services to provide a more comprehensive approach that assist individuals to reach their full potential, the new mission of Lott has a fresh, integrated approach. What does this look like? Tim Menke, CEO of Lott, explains, “Our new mission is to empower people with barriers to employment, transform businesses, and enhance our community. With our new mission in mind, we are excited to expand services and our network of partners in the Toledo business community and surrounding region.” Lott has helped countless businesses reach their goals by filling their workforce and production needs, while also removing barriers to employment for thousands of adults with developmental disabilities.
Walking the more than 120,000-square-foot facility on Hill Avenue, visitors will find employees engaged in an impressive number of diverse projects. From packaging thousands of meals to be distributed to local children who need to access food on weekends, to the manufacturing of highway safety cones and barrels, Lott employees serves a variety of industries. Lott employees are part of the success of two different meal programs, the Weekender Meal Program with local nonprofit Mobile Meals and the national VISTA program. More than 1,600 local students that would otherwise have inadequate nourishment on Saturdays and Sundays benefit from the partnership between Lott and Mobile Meals. Lott employees also help to ensure the safety of thousands of construction workers each year in the state of Ohio by manufacturing construction cones and barrels. Lott is the Ohio Department of Transportation’s exclusive provider of highway safety devices, as well as the supplier to many private paving and construction companies throughout Ohio. Beyond food packaging and highway safety, Lott also serves the automotive, tool and die, chemical, and many other packaging industries. Several of the high-rise office buildings in downtown Toledo, including One Government Center are provided janitorial services from Lott and many local businesses utilize the organization for lawn maintenance, and document destruction services.
In 1956, Lott made history by opening their doors as the first organization in the United States to offer work opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. Operating as a nonprofit 501(c)3 since its inception, Lott received national recognition in 1990 when it became the first employment program for persons with disabilities to receive the prestigious Ford Motor Company Q1 Award. Lott has worked in partnership with the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCBDD) for over 50 years. A 2014 federal mandate called Conflict Free Case Management, prevents county organizations like LCBDD to both administer services and accept Medicaid funds to provide services. This summer, Lott embarked on a transformation separating and operating independently from the LCBDD. Lott is excited to undergo this transformation and engage in additional community partnerships and programs. Led by CEO Tim Menke, the community can rest assured that Lott will continue to serve as a workforce partner, while taking on the challenge of operating as a stand-alone provider of habilitation and direct care services.
As part of this transformation, the leadership team at Lott is excited to announce their vision to expand programming to incorporate community-based integration, wellness, social, educational and cultural activities. Lott’s expanded services will continue to enhance the lives of adults with developmental disabilities and will include homemaker personal care, community employment, supported employment, career counseling, and other services to help fully engage individuals in the community. Tim Menke states, “Lott now has the opportunity to grow its services to the surrounding region beyond Toledo and Lucas County. We are excited for Lott’s expansion and our ability to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and barriers to employment.” Lott’s new logo and brand reflects these goals.
As part of this transformation, the leadership team at Lott is excited to announce their vision to expand programming to incorporate community-based integration, wellness, social, educational and cultural activities. Lott’s expanded services will continue to enhance the lives of adults with developmental disabilities and will include homemaker personal care, community employment, supported employment, career counseling, and other services to help fully engage individuals in the community. Tim Menke states, “Lott now has the opportunity to grow its services to the surrounding region beyond Toledo and Lucas County. We are excited for Lott’s expansion and our ability to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and barriers to employment.” Lott’s new logo and brand reflects these goals.
“What else do you want for your children? As a parent to know that when you’re not here anymore this place will still be here; he’ll be coming to work here, it’s all I could ever want. That’s all you ever want for our disabled guys, is a good place like this,” said Christine Babiuch, mother of Lott Industries employee Kyle Babuich.
Get InvolvedDozens of local businesses currently utilize the production floor and the well-trained, reliable workforce at Lott for labor-intensive assignments, including light assembly, packaging, sorting, mobile work crews, documentation destruction and highway safety products. From small sub-assembly to detailed and custom kit assembly, the employees at Lott can provide valuable services to your company. If you have a workforce need, “Think Lott!”
Due to the recent changes, Lott is starting to seek community support through increased business contracts and private and corporate contributions. To learn more or take a tour, please contact Milva Valenzuela Wagner, Director of Development.
Due to the recent changes, Lott is starting to seek community support through increased business contracts and private and corporate contributions. To learn more or take a tour, please contact Milva Valenzuela Wagner, Director of Development.
Please email Emily Dammeyer, Communications Manager, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce to submit a story for our blog.
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