Lighthouse for the Blind is a recruitment project that has a special place in the heart of many in Greater Spokane Incorporated. GSI’s team worked with Lighthouse on their original recruitment to Spokane in 2008, and also aided in their subsequent expansions in the area. The company has around 40 employees, and continues to make important contributions to our region.
Robin Toth, GSI’s VP of Business Development, attended a recent event for Lighthouse for the Blind, celebrating their tenure here. Read her experience below and learn about this great business!
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I recently attended the Decade of Opportunities Breakfast in Spokane at the invitation of The Lighthouse for the Blind Inc. This was a celebration and recognition of the tenth anniversary of the opening of their Spokane facility, their first satellite manufacturing facility outside of Seattle. Not only was the company celebrating this event, they were also recognizing the 100th anniversary of the opening of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. in Washington state this year.
The company currently has 40 employees who are blind at the Spokane location, and are looking at opportunities to expand their services and increase the number of employees.
It may be surprising that while the company initially started with producing brooms, baskets and jigsaw puzzles, they currently manufacture aerospace parts for The Boeing Company, and make products and provide services to other customers including the U.S. military. This was a great opportunity for their employees to experience the independence and camaraderie that working at the Lighthouse provides!
Sitting at the table that morning, I learned that each guest in attendance had a connection to a family member or close friend who had lost their sight, or were dealing with sight impairment, myself included. The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. empowers employees who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities. In addition to being an employer, they also provide support and vital training programs for this population, enabling many to gain their first employment opportunity.
Learn more about The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. at www.thelighthousefortheblindinc.org.
