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creating a resume, submitting applications, and
practicing interviews. For Cory, the process has
been very rewarding. “The people [at Kroger]
are really nice,” he states with a smile. “It’s just an
awesome place to work at.”
The job search was not always smooth sailing,
however. Like many millennials, Cory had a lot of
applying and interviewing to do before he found
a position that fit him. Diane emphasizes the
importance of Cory’s persistence: “He was not so
discouraged by not being chosen for a particular
position that he would quit…we would regroup, we
would go out, and, as obvious, we were successful.”
Cory’s persistence and determination can be
traced back to his family. “I have a wonderful
family, and I’m grateful for that,” Cory
emphasizes. “They have always cared for me,
they always took care of me when I needed it,
and they helped me along the way.”
Cory’s response as to why his family has supported
him getting a job is textbook for a millennial:
“They just want me to get out of the house and do
something,” he says with a laugh.
A new job means far more to Cory than extra
money or time out of the house: it is a chance to
broaden his horizons and get involved with the
community. “At the Fairfield location, there are
quite a few people who are millennials,” Diane
states. “It’s an integrated environment, so Cory has
the opportunity to work in this environment, in a
diverse workforce...in terms of race, gender, able
and disabled, and it allows him to grow in a way that
he would not be able to in another environment, or
if he had not been working.”
As for his future in the workforce, Cory has big
dreams. “One of my major goals is to start my
own company, to start my own business, to
help bring more jobs into the community,”
he states. Cory would one day like to translate his
love of video games into his own company. For now,
though, he reflects “I’ve got all the time in the world.”
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Eric Sunderman
Profile of a Millennial: WORKING
AT LADD
Eric Sunderman recognizes the importance of millennials at LADD
not simply because he is one, but because of what the generation
represents. “When I think about millennials,” he says, “I think about the
future, what that’s going to look like for services for people who are
younger with disabilities.”
Eric began working with LADD while he was earning his undergraduate
degree at the University of Cincinnati. Now, a master’s degree and
almost five years later, his passion for the job keeps him coming back.
As Community Supported Living Coordinator, Eric is one of many staff
members whose job is to determine how best to serve each generation
at LADD. “What can we do at this point to help folks who are
younger to develop the skills they need to become successful
adults?” Eric asks, speaking of millennials specifically.
“Ultimately, that’s the same thing you do as a college student,
when you’re 25 and trying to find a job.”
Eric’s responsibilities at LADD vary widely: “Any aspect of a person’s life
that we support...ultimately is my responsibility to make sure it happens,”
he states. That constant variation reflects the kind of give and take that
Eric identifies as central to LADD’s success. “Our employees and our
individuals take the same paths,” Eric says with a smile. “They teach you
stuff, you teach them stuff...it’s a fun relationship.”
As for being a millennial, Eric feels that his knowledge of technology and
pop culture helps him to relate to other young people at LADD. “You
have to relate to someone based on their own age levels,” he states. “In
many ways it’s easier to talk to [millennials] and connect with them about
the things we share in common... many of those barriers to developing a
relationship are kind of removed.”
ISSUE 2
WINTER 2015
5