Lakeview Center

Certification

Gulf Coast Enterprises Receives National Certification

Representatives of NISH, a national non-profit agency that creates employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities, arrived at Lakeview Center, Pensacola, on Thursday, October 13, 2005, to present Gulf Coast Enterprises (GCE) with a special custodial certification. Gulf Coast Enterprises is the division of Lakeview Center which provides employment for people with disabilities.

Paul Plattner, NISH National vice-president of operations and Sheila Sandford, senior program manager for the NISH Centers of Excellence, were given a tour of Southeastern Vocational Services, Baptist Towers and the Lakeview Center campus. In addition, the NISH visitors, who also included Micky Gazaway of NISH South Region, were taken onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola for a tour of GCE’s janitorial and food service contracts there.

Rich Gilmartin, vice-president of vocational services for Lakeview Center, accepts the custodial certification from Paul Plattner, NISH National. Gilmartin thanked NISH for the support they have provided to GCE through the years. Plattner praised GCE contract employees who came for the presentation, saying, "Your commitment has allowed GCE to achieve something great. We have every expectation that with your supervisors’ help and your own hard work, you’ll just continue to get better."

Plattner and Sandford presented Rich Gilmartin, vice-president of vocational services for Lakeview Center, with a cut-glass trophy and the document which certifies that the custodial services offered by GCE meet the highest standards set forth by NISH National.

Since its establishment in 1986, Gulf Coast Enterprises, with nearly 1,000 employees, has grown to become the largest private employer of persons with disabilities in Northwest Florida. GCE also provides contract services for Ft. Campbell and Ft. Knox, KY; the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Washington, D.C.; and numerous veterans’ facilities and military installations throughout the state of Florida and Alabama.

Custodial services are GCE’s primary line of business; others include food service, assembly/packaging and administrative support services. Earlier this year, NISH designated GCE as one of only three NISH Centers of Excellence in the nation. Recognized by NISH for quality and innovation, GCE’s designation as a Center of Excellence allows its staff to mentor protege nonprofit agencies as well as to design and implement training programs in a variety of areas related to providing janitorial/custodial service.

NISH represents approximately 600 associated nonprofit agencies like GCE that train people with disabilities for cleaning and related service jobs and place these individuals in work settings. An agreement between NISH and the U.S. General Services Administration could benefit Gulf Coast Enterprises by increasing the number of new and diverse employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities as well as encouraging industry best practices as the best value for taxpayers.
  1. https://www.ceteresopolitano.org/
  2. https://www.crossingstoronto.com/
  3. https://www.jediism.org/
  4. https://www.badenumc.org/
  5. https://www.johnsevierchapter.org/
  6. https://www.trinitychapelmn.org/
  7. https://www.photogearnews.com/
  8. https://www.alz-nova.org/
  9. https://www.cigjournals.com/
  10. https://summa-edu.com/
  11. https://cpawilmingtonnc.org/
  12. https://bimometals.com/
  13. https://sosenvironmental.com/
  14. https://thefriary.org/
  15. https://post5theatre.org/
  1. slot demo