"Hello, this is my Boston Market"
On the job, its all in the Family

For Steve S and Cindy V., participants of the Avenues employment program, working at the Boston Market in Arlington Heights is much more than a job. It’s an opportunity to be part of an extended family, a family which includes management, co-workers and restaurant patrons alike.

Steve has been working at Boston Market for seven years, and Cindy for five. According to their manager, Ginger Cooper, both Steve and Cindy help to make the atmosphere of this particular restaurant inviting to customers. The management style and philosophy of Boston Market is family oriented, and Cooper says both Steve and Cindy go out of their way to make diners feel welcome and at home. Over the years they both have made many friends and acquaintances through their jobs, and enjoy serving the regulars who frequent the restaurant.

For Arlington Heights residents Don and Dorothy Maierhofer, dining at Boston Market would not be the same if Steve weren’t a part of the staff. They look forward to visiting with Steve during their weekly visits to the restaurant. The Maierhofers view him more as a friend than a Boston Market employee. Over the years, they say they have witnessed a growing confidence in Steve

According to Maierhofer, “Steve is  always extremely friendly, polite and helpful. She says his outgoing personality make her and her husband feel right at home while they dine.

Cooper is proud of the relationship Boston Market has developed with Avenues program participants, and feels it is an important goal of employers to offer opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to be a part of the working community.  

Cooper believes having employees with diverse backgrounds working with the public helps break down walls and stereotypes, and allows us to understand, accept and appreciate one another’s differences. She is delighted by the positive impact members of the Avenues employment program have on customers, an impact that extends to other Boston Market restaurants as well. With the Arlington Heights location being an employee-training~ site, managers in training have the opportunity to see the relationships between Steve, Cindy and patrons. When they move on to manage other locations they, in turn, hire other participants from the Avenues work program.

Currently. program participants are working at two other restaurants in the northwest suburbs.  In Mt. Prospect, Connie K and Andy A. consider this Boston Market their home away from home.  Program participant Jenny D is employed at the Schaumburg location. 

Connie has been working at Boston Market since 1996 and received her six year employee pin.  She was recently honored with the title of Employee of the Month.  According to her manager, Robert Miller, he wishes all his employees had the energy and stamina that Connie exhibits. In addition to her work as a lobby clerk, she has trained new employees both with and without disabilities. Andy, with his gregarious personality, enjoys greeting the children who come to dine at the restaurant with their families, and loves talking sports with customers and co­workers.

For program participants, being a part of the Boston Market family extends far beyond the satisfaction of earning a salary. For Cindy, her sentiments about her work are evident as she answers an incoming call to the restaurant, “Hello, this is my Boston Market.”

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