Marietta, Georgia (August 13, 2018) – Steven Weiss, a Tommy Nobis Center program participant, was named Red Lobster’s Team Member of the Year for the mid-south region at the company’s General Manager Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Weiss, who was accompanied by Tommy Nobis Center’s President & CEO Dave Ward, was one of five Red Lobster employees recognized at the company’s red-carpet event. Tommy Nobis Center is a Marietta-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment.

“I am so incredibly proud of Steven,” says Ward. “Steven dominated his goals, dominated the obstacles in front of him, and found his workplace success.” When Weiss first came to Tommy Nobis Center, he had been struggling to find a job due to his lack of a support system and reliable transportation. After completing Tommy Nobis Center’s individualized program by attending job readiness classes, participating in mock interviews and creating a resume, Steven was hired by Red Lobster in Austell, Georgia.

“[It] has given me self-worth and independence,” says Weiss. “I had been knocked down so many times I didn’t even believe I got the job…Most people would not give me or [other individuals with disabilities] the chance.”

“I’ve been in this industry for fifteen years, and I can tell you that Steven is one of the most dedicated employees that I have ever come across,” said Karen Atkins, Weiss’ General Manager at Red Lobster who nominated him for the Team Member of the Year Award. Weiss showed dedication to his job by walking over five miles to work one day in the pouring rain -and arriving early. Now that he has been working for over a year, he has been able to save enough money to buy a moped so he can ride to work.