SALT LAKE CITY- (October 2, 2008) The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, in conjunction with the Salt Lake Chamber and Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce, will honor local business leaders and others for their efforts in hiring people with disabilities at the Annual Golden Key Awards Luncheon to be held at the Salt Lake Hilton tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. 

Employers of the Year winners are Affiliated Computer Services and Sears Grand for their extraordinary efforts in both the number of people with disabilities hired and management training to better communicate with blind and deaf employees.

Ace awards will be given to Ryan Berube of Associated Food Stores and Stephen Ehrlich of Sears Grand for overcoming tremendous obstacles in employment due to their disabilities.

KSFI – FM100 is the winner of the Media Award this year for its commitment to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities in their “Focus on Ability Heroes” campaign. 

Northrop Grumman will receive the first Freedom Award in recognition of its “Operation Impact” program that targets the newest veterans of the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to the Director of the Utah Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Terry Schow, sixty percent of the 10,000 Utahns who have served so far in these conflicts have returned with some degree of disability or injury. Northrop Grumman seeks out the most severely disabled of these young veterans and offers employment. 

Keith Rattie, Chairman, President and CEO of Questar will present the awards and FM100 morning show hosts, Brian Foxx and Rebecca Cressman will be the speakers. 

About the Chamber
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest business association and Utah’s Business Leader. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber has been standing as the voice of business, supporting its members’ success and championing community prosperity for over 100 years. The Chamber represents over 4,200 businesses statewide and one in every three jobs in the Utah economy. Chamber affiliate organizations include the Downtown Alliance and World Trade Center Utah. 

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