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The U.S Chamber of Commerce created The Business Leadership Network (BLN) in 1994. The BLN concept is endorsed by the U.S. Labor Department and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.
In 1998, The Missouri Governor's Council on Disability met with several employers and service providers to create the Missouri BLN. Since then, several of Missouri's private-sector employers have moved to MOBLN's leadership forefront.
This core group of employers came together to work on the initiative in the St. Louis region to access this qualified pool of candidates with an unacceptable unemployment rate. With what business is facing today with the aging workforce, we need to look at this untapped pool of applicants and reach across attitudinal barriers to employ those who are different than ourselves. MOBLN promotes statewide activities that increase community inclusion of individuals with disabilities in Missouri's workforce and enhance public disability awareness.
MOBLN provides its participating companies with the training and resources they need to effectively hire, retain, and market to people with disabilities.
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Board of Directors - 2011
President: Gina Watkins, UniGroup, Inc.
Vice President: Saundra Eckstadt, Ameren UE
Treasurer: Gary Immekus, WellPoint BCBS
Secretary: Jane Skinner, Life Skills
Ex-Officio Past President: Lori Flotte
Board Member as Chair Communication/Membership: Kari Meece, Scottrade
Board Member as Co-Chair Communcation/Membership: Kevin Wilson, Monsanto
Ex Officio Board Member as Chair Advisory Council: Gena Oswald, Maryville University
Committees:
Executive Committee
President: Gina Watkins, UniGroup, Inc.
Vice Pres: Saundra Eckstadt, Ameren UE
Treasurer: Gary Immekus, Wellpoint BCBS
Secretary: Jane Skinner, Life Skills
Finance committee
Chair: Gary Immekus, Wellpoint BCBS
Co-Chair Debby Gabris
Communication/Membership Committee
Chair: Kari Meece, Scottrade
Co-Chair: Kevin Wilson, Monsanto
Member: Gary Immekus, Saundra Eckstadt
Advisory Council:
Chair: Gena Oswald, Maryville University
Members:
Jane Skinner, Life Skills
Sharon Silverstein, Rehab Services for the Blind
Linda Baker, Governor’s Council on Disability (GCD)
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