SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. This October Cal Poly Campus Dining employee Damon Parker is being honored by the U.S. Department of Labor during a virtual ceremony commemorating National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The Oct. 20 event is part of an annual national celebration of America’s workers with disabilities. Parker will be recognized for his hard work and dedication to keeping the Cal Poly community safe.
“Every day, I see Damon’s commitment to his coworkers and customers in the way that he so thoroughly and thoughtfully completes his work and keeps the dining facility sanitized and safer for everyone,” Vista Grande General Manager Kaitlin Gibbons said. “And he does it with a smile and his quiet, pleasant demeanor.”
Parker works in Cal Poly’s new Vista Grande Dining Complex where he is tasked with making sure all high-touch surfaces are properly cleaned and sanitized, including in the dining room and the silverware and beverage stations.
Constantly walking around the building ensuring a safer experience for customers and staff, Parker is all smiles as he carries out his duties.
“Damon is a pleasure to work with and upholds our mission of enhancing the student experience with his friendly and upbeat attitude,” Gibbons said. “He is a star employee and we feel so lucky to have him.”
Along with the honor for Parker, Campus Dining will be featured in an employer highlight on the U.S. Department of Labor social media channels for its commitment to inclusive hiring.
Campus Dining works with PathPoint, a local non-profit that provides work placement and encouragement for individuals with disabilities and mental health diagnoses and supports them in living the life they choose.
“Working with PathPoint is mutually beneficial and a great partnership for Campus Dining,” Gibbons said.
