Commissioner’s Disability Champion Award Presented to Smiths Medical Annual award by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs recognizes employers committed to diversity and inclusion.
KEENE, NH – The Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) presented its annual Commissioner’s Disability Champion award to Smiths Medical at a ceremony on March 29.
A leading global manufacturer of medical devices, Smiths Medical was recently acquired by ICU Medical. The company continues to work with Monadnock Worksource to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Joseph Doiron, director of BEA’s Office of Workforce Opportunity who presented the award, called Smiths Medical “an inspiration for other manufacturers to follow their example.”
With challenges facing the workforce, Doiron said the company’s creativity and “thinking outside of the workforce development box” help it remain competitive in the global marketplace and demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Working with Monadnock Worksource, Smiths Medical developed opportunities for people with disabilities to grow and thrive within a supportive and friendly environment, an environment that encourages ideas to be shared and outstanding work to be rewarded with advancement,” Doiron said. “The company really is a model for other companies and manufacturers to follow.”
Prasad Venkataraman of ICU Medical said hiring the right person is critical in developing a strong workforce.
“We believe our workforce should reflect our community,” he said. “We hire for talent, and we have found some of that talent by hiring individuals with disabilities for positions.”
For more information on workforce development programs available to New Hampshire employers, contact Doiron at 603-271-0416 or visit
www.nhworks.org/.