Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) leader Robert Hines has joined PRIDE Industries as Workforce Development Director for the organization’s Inclusive Talent Solutions (ITS) business. In his role, Hines will grow and maintain partnerships to support the employment and training needs of businesses and people with disabilities, while providing leadership and strategy for the ITS line of business.
Hines was formerly Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) for the state of Washington where he oversaw 320 employees, a $60 million annual budget, and established Washington’s DVR as a leader among state VR agencies.
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“Rob joins PRIDE at the perfect time. His knowledge and passion for creating sustainable employment for people with disabilities complements our seasoned team of VR professionals,” said Jeff Dern, President and CEO at PRIDE. “At PRIDE, we aim to normalize workforce inclusion for people of all abilities. Rob’s leadership experience in workforce development and VR systems will be invaluable as we expand our ITS operations throughout the country.”
Hines joins PRIDE’s Inclusive Talent Solutions, which encompasses recruitment, training, and coaching for people with disabilities. ITS also provides inclusive workforce training so companies can create a culture where people of all abilities thrive. Hines will develop and cultivate relationships with various government and non-governmental agencies to identify and secure talent, as well as funding, in order to supply the inclusive talent pipeline.
“Joining PRIDE affords me an opportunity to help move the employment needle, on a larger scale, for people with disabilities,” said Hines. “It’s time we make a measurable impact on the employment rate for people with different abilities by engaging the business community and connecting them to the nation’s largest – and virtually untapped – talent pool.”
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