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Jim Pierce accepts the APSE Award on behalf of Alliance Data
David Hoff, APSE President, and Laura Owens, APSE Executive Director, congratulate Jim and Alliance Data on earning this award.
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Media
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Jim Pierce's acceptance speech and interview
Jim's short-but-sweet acceptance speech and interview with In-Focus News about Alliance Data's relationship with LaunchAbility and why hiring people with disabilities is good for business
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Warren
Warren, one of three LaunchAbility clients currently employed at Alliance Data, has been with the Company nearly 10 years.
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Jim Pierce accepts APSE National Award
Jim Pierce, VP Corporate Administration at Alliance Data, accepts the APSE National Award in the Large Employer category on the Company's behalf.
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Jul 30, 2012 02:16 PM CST
Alliance Data Wins APSE National Award for Demonstrating Success in Hiring People with Disabilities
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PLANO, TX - July 30, 2012 - Alliance Data, a leading provider of data-driven loyalty and marketing solutions based in Plano, Texas, was honored with the Best Employer National Award from Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE) in the large employers category, after being nominated by long-time community partner LaunchAbility.
Jim Pierce, vice president of Corporate Administration at Alliance Data, accepted the award in Arlington, Va., on the company’s behalf. “It just makes good business sense to hire people with different abilities,” said Pierce. “Once people understand the business case—that these employees perform real and productive work, come to work every day, on time, and work for a fair wage—I would think any employer would want to implement a program like this. These employees are a best-kept secret, and they shouldn't be. Getting the word out is absolutely key.” Pierce, a staunch personal advocate of employing people with disabilities, serves on the LaunchAbility Community Advisory Board as well as the Dallas Mayor’s Committee, the latter of which educates employers about hiring people with disabilities.
The APSE Best Employer Awards are presented each year to the companies who best succeed in integrating people with disabilities into their workforce. This year, Alliance Data was nominated alongside T.J. Maxx and Rowe Furniture. Past winners in the category include Lockheed Martin, Cintas, Sodexho, and Food Lion of Fayetteville.
“LaunchAbility is proud to have such a multifaceted and deeply-rooted partnership with Alliance Data,” said Kathryn Parsons, LaunchAbility's vice president of supported employment. “Our clients have successfully found fulfilling careers in the environment Jim and Alliance Data helped to create: one that focuses on their different abilities, not their disabilities. We're so pleased that Alliance Data has earned this award.”
Since 2001, Alliance Data has partnered with LaunchAbility, a Dallas-based non-profit organization dedicated to placing individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, such as autism or Down's syndrome, in rewarding, fulfilling careers that help them achieve personal independence. Currently, the company employs three LaunchAbility clients, each considered valuable company employees.
To learn more about Alliance Data and its commitment to corporate responsibility, visit the company's website at www.alliancedata.com.
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Quotes
"LaunchAbility is proud to have such a multifaceted and deeply-rooted partnership with Alliance Data. Our clients have successfully found fulfilling careers in the environment Jim and Alliance Data helped to create: one that focuses on their different abilities, not their disabilities.”
- Kathryn Parsons
VP Supported Employment, LaunchAbility
"Once people understand...that these employees perform real and productive work, come to work every day, on time, and work for a fair wage—I would think any employer would want to implement a program like this. These employees are a best-kept secret, and they shouldn't be.”
- Jim Pierce
VP Corporate Administration, Alliance Data

