201 Allen Road

Atlanta, GA 30328

venturesatl@gmail.com

404-500-1921

https://www.venturesatl.com/

Chet Hurwitz Chief Talent Officer

Jordan Greer, Operations Manager

“Data management services and product fulfillment service by people with disabilities. Currently trains and employs 20 employees with goal of 50-100 in three years.”

My Visit:

I was introduced to and spoke with Chet Hurwitz more than a year ago and was eager to meet in person while on a visit to Atlanta. Due to Covid, employees were mostly remote during the time of my 1/14/22 visit.

I was invited to join the zoom team meeting and listened as excited employees described new projects including doing price analysis for a local restaurant chain. Some spoke about being productive while doing remote work; others expressed appreciation at the consistency and variety of the work.

Chet is the “chief talent officer” who also interfaces with potential and current clients including large telecommunications company, a big private equity firm, a large healthcare company and a global professional services firm. Chet notes the high rate of unemployment in disabilities population is “out of line with their skills” and that Ventures ATL helps to “bridges this gap “ by creating jobs that utilize their areas of strength.

The Ventures ATL Management Team meet with the client and help create a set of “granular instructions” so that project is broken down into small pieces. The majority of employees at Ventures ATL work on data management projects while others work in product fulfillment.

From Website:

Ventures ATL is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide opportunities for meaningful and sustainable employment to qualified adults with autism or other developmental differences.

Ventures ATL is designed to address an important issue – Approximately 80% of these adults are unemployed (or underemployed), while at the same time, there is a strong demand for people with the skills these adults possess. While these adults may face several challenges in the job market (limited “soft skills”, transportation barriers, diminished community support in adulthood), they often have a relatively strong ability to perform the essential functions of many jobs. Ventures ATL bridges the “supply and demand gap,” enabling our employees to derive the personal satisfaction of meaningful employment and providing qualified resources to our business partners. We enable adults with autism to have access to a career path that is not otherwise available to them.

Operational Model:

The Ventures ATL model differs from those of other organizations in Atlanta that support the employment goals of such adults. The Ventures ATL approach is not based on a placement model but rather the concept that we employ these adults as we operate a portfolio of businesses that line up with their strengths and interests. In that respect, we take a fundamentally different approach that is designed to complement the existing efforts in the Atlanta market.

There are two aspects of sustainability that are essential to the operating principles of Ventures ATL. First, we operate businesses for which there is expected to be substantial and sustainable commercial demand for the services and products we provide. Second, the businesses we operate will provide jobs that line up with the abilities and interests of the individuals we employ. This is designed to ensure that our employees will have a strong chance of deriving long-term success and job satisfaction.

We recognize that engaging with Ventures ATL may have a certain corporate social responsibility element by providing jobs to an underutilized but capable domestic resource. However, it is critical that our engagements with customers support their primary business objectives and specific needs. We are committed to providing high quality services at a competitive price in areas of need for our clients.

While we are structured as a nonprofit, we believe that our organization’s enduring success is tied to our application of disciplines and practices typically found in successful for-profit business enterprises. Therefore, we will maintain a focus on identifying areas where the skills of our employees can be deployed to produce true business value to our customers in areas of genuine commercial demand.

Services:

Data Management Services: Our data management service line involves the provision of data management and other related services. Many enterprises wrestle with various data issues. This issue is particularly acute with respect to raw or unstructured data. This type of work is frequently outsourced to many third-party service providers (sometimes to offshore locations). We believe that we can successfully fill a niche by using an underutilized domestic talent pool to provide top-quality service at a competitive price. The data management business represents a very good fit for many adults on the autism spectrum as their ability to focus on information and data in a highly literal way makes them particularly effective in this role.

Product Fulfillment Services: Facilitating the fulfillment process by performing the pick, pack, label, and ship steps in the delivery of products to customers, employees, and other stakeholders.

Lessons Learned:

The primary lessons involve staying focused on one’s strategic objectives and operational model while remaining open-minded about potential new business opportunities. The first lesson-there are many companies who like our mission and may want to carve out some work we can perform for them. However, this well-intentioned gesture may not be the best utilization of our resources or the best chance for us to add value to a client. While it is hard to say no to a client that wants to give us business, it is sometime important to engage in projects where we can add the most value as the client will appreciate our skills even more in the long run.

The second lesson is to choose to work in areas where there is real commercial demand for our services. Staying connected to market trends is one of the best ways to ensure long-term financial sustainability for Ventures ATL and success for our employees. It is also a good way to learn of new opportunities for growth and expansion.

The third lesson is to do everything we can to make the experience of working at Ventures ATL rewarding and enjoyable for our employees. While we perform many “mission-critical “projects for our clients, we try to do it in a way that promotes personal growth and enjoyment for our team members.

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Original article published in the JNS

He broke records in the 1972 Munich Olympics, refusing to let the devastating events of those games break his spirit or his Jewish pride.

BY HOWARD BLAS

Mark Spitz at his Los Angeles home during a webinar where he received an award for his volunteer work with the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, Photo by Howard Blas.

(March 18, 2022 / JNS) Fifty years after the 1972 summer Olympics in Munich, swimmer Mark Spitz is still a household name and a Jewish legend. He is best known for winning seven gold medals in the 1972 games. This achievement lasted for 36 years until it was surpassed by fellow American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won eight golds at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Spitz, a father of two sons, humanitarian, businessman/entrepreneur, television personality, motivational speaker and “almost dentist,” was recently honored by the Israel Guide Dog Center in Israel. The Los Angeles resident shared stories from his illustrious career at a Zoom event that also featured Achiya Klein and his guide dog, Night; Kline recently competed in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

Michael Leventhal, who has served as executive director of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind for the past 14 years, recalled growing up being one of only six Jews in a school of 1,000. “We felt the sting of anti-Semitism,” he said. He credits Spitz and his accomplishments in the 1972 Olympics, as well as for “making me proud to be a Jew again.”

The center, based in Beit Oved, about 14 miles south of Tel Aviv, raises and trains guide dogs for Israelis 24,000 blind and visually impaired citizens.

Spitz recounted some of the behind-the-scenes, emotional story of the storming of the Olympic Village apartments of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists in the early morning of Sept. 5, 1972. Two Israelis were immediately killed and nine others taken hostage by a group known as Black September. After hours of negotiation and an attempted getaway by helicopter, the world learned that all 11 were, in the words of ABC Olympics announcer Jim McKay, “all gone.”

Swimming champion and winner of seven gold Olympic medals Mark Spitz at the Olympic village in Munich, Germany, September 1972. Credit: Giorgio Lotti/Mondadori Publishers via Wikimedia Commons.

He also shared sometimes humorous stories about where his medals—and his Olympic bathing suit—are kept (the medals are in a bank vault; the bathing suits are on display in his home). And, of course, he spoke about his famous trademark mustache, which he no longer sports, and about why people (incorrectly) think that he is a dentist.

“I am the most famous dentist who never became a dentist,” noted Spitz playfully. “Don’t come to me with a toothache!”

Spitz explained how he had planned to go to dental school after his swimming career (his signature strokes are freestyle and butterfly) and actually attended during the 1972 Olympics. He attributes his not returning to dental school in part to the massacre of the 11 Israelis.

Spitz recounts, “Two-and-a-half weeks after the last event in 1972, I was supposed to be on a plane to Indianapolis for the Indiana University dental school. The tragedy sidelined my plans. I elected to go home to Sacramento and ask the dean for a one-year leave of absence. I had the intention to go back but never made it.”

Spitz still clearly remembers the tragedy that took place in the same Olympics where he broke seven world records.

“They had just finished a documentary. I describe how I got out of the Olympic Village.” Spitz left Munich early and was escorted to London out of concern that Spitz, who is Jewish, might become a target for the Palestinians.

The jacket worn by Mark Spitz during the 1972 Summer Olympics, from an exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach. Credit: Alexf via Wikimedia Commons.

Spitz is proud of being Jewish, saying he and his two sisters were the only Jewish students in his California high school. “I advocate that when you get picked on, you allow it to happen. It can’t be escalated when you don’t put on a face.”

He is also a longtime supporter of the Jewish state, using the country and its citizens as an example: “Israel wouldn’t exist if she was timid. Everyone wants to bully Israel.”

His experiences at the 1972 Olympics solidified his feelings about being Jewish. Competing in Germany, “we were five or 10 miles away from Dachau. What better time to stand up for who we are?”

He added, “I never bargained for becoming a de facto spokesman for being Jewish, but I couldn’t hide under a rock!”

‘We affect the lives of so many’

Spitz, who also won two medals in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, retired from competition at age 22. He attempted an unsuccessful comeback at age 41 for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

His career has taken him through many interesting and successful ventures. In the years following the Olympics, he appeared in various ads (in a bathing suit, with his medals); in various TV skits, commercials (he was in an ad for the California Milk Advisory Board as well as for Schick razors and PlayStation); and worked for ABC Sports.

He has also been involved in a number of business ventures. “I had a product line of swimsuits was a co-partner with Adidas shoes; was a real estate developer, involved in the stock market, started a public company that was on the NASDAQ and have always stayed busy in the charity world.”

Spitz is an academy member of Laureus Sport for Good, a global charity that uses sports as a powerful and cost-effective tool to help children and young people overcome violence, discrimination and disadvantage in their lives. “The reward is that we affect the lives of so many who wouldn’t have a chance,” he said.

Spitz offered his audiences hope and inspiration and often uses humor. “Things don’t happen by chance, but by decisions we make, so challenge yourself. You may fall down, but it is how well you get up … it is never too late to be the person you thought you could be and continue to want to be.”

On swimsuits and swarthy mustaches

In Spitz’s quest towards personal growth and self-improvement, he noted that he recently lost 35 pounds. “Now, I am within two pounds of my weight at age 22, when I swam!” (In fact, he just may fit into that famous bathing suit he wore in the 1972 Olympics.)

“I wore the same suit in all seven events!” he reported, offering the somewhat humorous, embarrassing backstory. “They issued three suits per event, so I had 21 suits. But 20 had a revealing spot in front, so I chose to do all of the events in one suit.”

Mark Spitz and wife, Susan Weiner, May 1973. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Spitz also shared the famous story of his mustache, which he said he “grew out of spite.”

It started when a college coach said he couldn’t. “I grew it after senior year of college, and it took five months to fill in.”

He noted that he had planned to shave it off at the Olympic trials, but all everyone did was talk about it.

The media began asking questions, and the Russian coach asked him if it slowed him down. Spitz replied: “No, as a matter of fact, it deflects water away from my mouth, allows my rear end to rise and makes me bullet-shaped in the water, and that’s what had allowed me to swim so great. Within a few weeks, all Russian swimmers had mustaches!”

Spitz shaved off his mustache on Valentine’s Day in 1988. His wife of 48 years, Suzy (née Weiner), reportedly said: “He looked great with it; don’t get me wrong. But he also looks so handsome without it.”

(Spitz pointed out that he didn’t like seeing his mustache as it started to turn gray.)

Still, he looks belie his 72 years, and the Jewish athlete is still going strong and continuing to inspire audiences around the world.

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85 Oak Street

Hackensack NJ 07601

https://www.greensdogood.com/

https://www.reedautismservices.com/

Chantelle Walker CEO (Reed Autism Services): cwalker@reedfoundationforautism.org

Lisa Goldstein-sales director: lgoldstein@reedfoundationforautism.org

Jessalin Jaume-workforce development coordinator: jjaume@greensdogood.com

Matt Ravetier–farm manager

Jen Faust, Director of Operations-Workforce Development program, contact jfaust@reedfoundationforautism.org.

From Website:

“vertical hydroponic farming for people with disabilities, one of innovative programs of REED Autism Services of New Jersey. Farm supplies fresh greens to groceries, restaurants and food bank. Grads of REED’s teen internship program have access to placement in “green collar” field.”

My Visit:

I initially met Jake through his participation on an Israel trip where I served as group leader. As I got to know Jake during the trip, I learned that he is an entrepreneur and an incredibly interesting young mI was eager to visit Greens Do Good after a colleague mentioned their work. I had previously visited Vertical Harvest in Jackson, WY. It is not easy to find Greens Do Good as they are located in an industrial area of Hackensack, New Jersey in a complex of warehouses and garages. Behind the garage doors is a most impressive operation where people with disabilities are trained in hydroponic farming. Every aspect of the training, farming and distribution are carefully thought out and clients learn valuable work skills.

The tour started with work force development specialist, Jessalin explaining the training and showing state of the art visuals displayed on the walls (to serve as reminders of every step of the process) and a large computer screen displaying other relevant coaching tools. The workplace has various stations for each aspect of the work. There are two work slots per day of anywhere from one to three hours each. Three training semesters are offered per years.

Matt, the farm manager, provided a tour of the plant and described the technical aspects of watering, lighting and harvesting in detail. Microgreens and four main greens including basil, lettuce, kale and arugula are grown. Greens Do Good has many community partners and participates in the Bergen County Food Security Task Force.

LFrom Website:

Our mission is to transform the way our local community sources healthy produce by providing the freshest ingredients in a sustainable and socially responsible way. The program utilizes hydroponic farming, an innovative method of growing plants in a controlled, indoor environment. We use energy-efficient watering and lighting systems to nurture our crops, which are planted in stacked trays.

When you walk into Greens Do Good, among the stacked trays of basil, microgreens, and lettuce, you’ll see teens and adults with autism hard at work. Each person takes on tasks that match their interests and abilities, including crop maintenance, packaging, and inventory.

Through our Workforce Development Program, we provide more than 800 hours of training each year to teens with autism, teaching them environmentally sustainable practices along withessential job skills. This helps them build their resumes and lays the foundation for future employment. For our adult participants, we offer paid employment opportunities, valuable work experience, and meaningful community integration. To amplify the progress we’re making, we’re also working to grow our employment pipeline in partnership with other “green” businesses.

Our environment-friendly farming methods allow for year-round growing, using less space, water, and energy than traditional farms. We sell our products through home delivery and to local restaurants, country clubs, supermarkets, and food service providers — raising autism awareness as we go. We partnered with the Bergen County Food Security Task Force to provide surplus produce to families in need, right in our community.

Greens Do Good is part of the REED Autism Services family of programs, which provides support for individuals with autism so they can thrive and achieve their full potential throughout their lives.

Workforce Development:

Through our Workforce Development Program, we provide pre-employment training to teens with autism, teaching them environmentally sustainable practices and offering hands-on experience.

With the anticipated growth of the global hydroponics market approaching 22.5% through 2025, Greens Do Good provides a unique opportunity for job training within an expanding industry and works with many area schools and programs including:

Lessons Learned:

-I think first of all, we’ve learned that the demand for novel employment settings and experiences is significant. We were shocked by the response we received from a few press pieces after we launched the program.

-Employing the autism community continues to require a very individualized, methodical and supportive approach. Our interns who have lower support needs often work quickly and may want tasks of increasing responsibility, but in some cases don’t know how to advocate for that. Instead they may become frustrated when the work isn’t meeting their expectations, but perhaps cannot articulate the ‘why’. It’s required our team to hone a different set of skills that we are still refining.

-My third, and favorite lesson, is really just how we’ve observed the farm as its own ecosystem – and I’m not talking about the produce! On any given day you tour the farm and you see people with autism working alongside their neurotypical counterparts, talking about music, or politics, or life in general and I’m reminded that this is why Greens Do Good is so important. It’s work, yes, but it’s also fun. There’s a sense of accomplishment, belonging, and camaraderie. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career – I’m grateful to the team who had this wild idea many years ago to start an indoor hydroponic farm with the goal of employing adults with autism.

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John and Mark X. Cronin, co-founders of John’s Crazy Socks, spoke this morning at conference held by the Ramah Camping Movement. The conference focused on ways the nationwide chain of Jewish camps can support their staff. John and Mark spoke at a session focused on Ramah’s Tikvah programs that include young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the camps through vocational training and supported employment.

John said, “I love the way Ramah supports people with differing abilities. They make a difference in so many lives.”

Howard Blas, National Ramah Tikvah Network Director, invited the Cronins to join a panel with Dave Thompson from the Nicholas Center and Spectrum Designs to share their experiences and insights into recruiting, hiring and working with people with differing abilities. The three guest speakers addressed the conference at large and then met separately with Camp leaders to discuss ways to create more jobs for people with differing abilities and to enhance their existing vocational programs. 

Dave Thompson offered that hiring people with disabilities comes down to a mindset, a willingness to see the ability of all people to contribute.   

Mark X. Cronin echoed that though in saying, “We ask that you not be blinded by a person’s limitations, instead, be awed by their possibilities.” 

Mark X. Cronin added, “We loved these conversations. It is clear that Ramah has a deep commitment to inclusion and supporting people with differing abilities. We are glad to join this panel and were impressed by the achievements of the Ramah Tikvah Network.”

At the conclusion of the event, Howard Blas told John and Mark, “Thank you for joining us, sharing your story, and offering useful, practical advice to our attendees.  You have been a hit every time I have heard you speak!    

About the Ramah Camping Movement and the Ramah Tikvah Network 

The mission of the Ramah Camping Movement is to create and sustain excellent summer camps and Israel programs that inspire commitment to Jewish life and develop the next generation of Jewish leaders. Each year, more than 11,700 campers and university-aged staff members attend their ten residential camps, five-day camps, and Israel programs. 

Since the first Ramah Tikvah program opened in 1970, the Ramah Camping Movement has continued to be a pioneer in the inclusion of Jewish campers with disabilities. Tikvah programs now operate in all Ramah camps across North America, offering the inspirational Ramah experience to Jewish children, teens, and young adults with a wide range of intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities.

About John’s Crazy Socks

John’s Crazy Socks was inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks—what he calls his “crazy socks.” He and his father, Mark X. Cronin, started the company as a social enterprise with a mission of Spreading Happiness™. They do this by offering socks people can love that allows an expression of one’s true self. More than half their employees have a differing ability, and their Giving Back program has raised over $475,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society and the Autism Society of America. Most of all, they are Spreading Happiness™.

For more information about John’s Crazy Socks, visit our webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.

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