DePaul Industries, the Northwest's Premier Social Entrepreneur Corporation, Wins Oregon Ethics in Business Award

PORTLAND, Ore., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a grand affair held at The Governor Hotel in Portland, on Wednesday night, June 15, 2011, DePaul Industries won the Oregon Ethics in Business Award; which honors those organizations and individuals who have demonstrated ethical business practice in its broadest interpretation: in the workplace, the marketplace, the environment, and the community.

The recipients of these awards have, by act and example, gone beyond the expected to achieve excellence in ethical business practices.

CEO, Dave Shaffer, accepted the award on behalf of the DePaul team. DePaul Industries is a not-for-profit which provides people with disabilities the opportunity to work. 2011 Oregon Ethics in Business Awards were led by a keynote speech by Dave Frohnmayer - past President of the University of Oregon, served as Dean of the University for the Oregon School of Law and served as the Attorney General of Oregon.

DePaul Industries was honored for their contributions to business excellence and the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, and civic and social responsibility.

DePaul Industries is celebrating its 40th year as a Portland-based not-for-profit organization. Its primary mission is to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to work. The organization employs people with a variety of disabilities, including injury and illness-related disabilities that preclude gainful employment in traditional settings. More than 50% of DePaul-trained employees find comparable work in "traditional" organizations after six months.

Dave Shaffer helms this not-for-profit organization that is recognized for its entrepreneurial bent in the marketplace while achieving high marks for ethics.  Mr. Shaffer's focus is on advancing the platform of social entrepreneurialism.  Recognition of DePaul's ethical approach and adding the company to this echelon of Oregon Ethics in Business honorees makes the effort all the more significant and gratifying.

"It was thrilling to be there and to have our team recognized at such a level," says Dave.  "An ethical approach blended with a social mission is embedded deep into our DNA.  Transparency is the key to our ethics and one of our basic tenets.  It's an essential ingredient - as we're on an important and exciting dual mission."  Dave added: "We serve customer & market needs while we help a growing employee base live the best lives they can. That's a powerful and rewarding business to be in."

"We are so honored to have won the Oregon Ethics in Business Award. It demonstrates that we got the entrepreneurial mix right, and that we've got our heads on straight.  This is an important reinforcement for us and we are most grateful to receive this recognition," says DePaul CEO Dave Shaffer.

DePaul Industries, a not-for-profit organization that helps employees with disabilities live better lives while competing in a highly competitive for-profit world, continues to rack up impressive awards for the services it delivers to major businesses throughout the Northwest during challenging economic times. It has a special "blend for success" that is ethical and it works.

The Rotary Club of Portland, in collaboration with Willamette University and The Portland Business Journal, solicited nominations for the annual Oregon Ethics in Business Awards.

A committee of community leaders selected finalists from the nominations received. Student teams from the Willamette University MBA Program conducted research and prepared reports to be used by a second committee to select award recipients.

Nominees for the Oregon Ethics in Business awards demonstrate ethical behavior above and beyond legal requirements and standard industry expectations.

About DePaul Industries:

DePaul Industries, celebrating its 40th year anniversary in 2011, is the Northwest's most comprehensive outsourcing specialist focusing on 3 areas:

• Business Works – which encompasses three core disciplines:
  • Food & Consumer Goods Packaging
  • Temporary Staffing Services
  • Security Services
• Social Works - with a supported work group and Project Search
• Future Works - customer relations, integration and strategic growth implementation

All businesses are supported by certified training programs that prepare workers for ever changing needs and expectations of industry.

DePaul was named "Food Processor of the Year" by the Northwest Food Processing Association; specially citing DePaul's innovative HOW (Heart of The Workforce) Program focused on entry level training program to generate ready-to-work employees.

The firm has been honored by a number of publications as an exceptional place to work, including OREGON BUSINESS Magazine's "Oregon's Most Admired Companies" and the PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL's "100 Best Companies."  And most recently as a Northwest Entrepreneur of the year as recognized by a panel sponsored by Ernst and Young.

Over the past five years DePaul Industries has employed more than 10,000 individuals and paid more than $65 million in wages.  With its headquarters in Portland, OR, DePaul Industries incorporated in 1971 and opened its doors in 1972 as a vocational job shop and training center.  

DePaul Industries provides services throughout Oregon, the Puget Sound area and Southwest Washington from offices located in Portland, Salem, Corvallis, and Eugene, Ore., and Bremerton, Wash.  Newer units have been created to serve Hermiston/Eastern Oregon and Sierra Vista, Arizona.

More information about DePaul Industries is available by contacting:  Dave Shaffer at (503) 331-3816 or by visiting www.depaulindustries.com.

© 2011, DePaul Industries, Portland, OR

SOURCE DePaul Industries