The partnerships that made a difference. "You got this!" This is what former Elevate Academy intern Jordan has to say to new participants in one of the newest programs offered by Bobby Dodd Institute. He says these words with his signature smile and unmatched positivity. These exact qualities did not go unnoticed when he first started as an intern and later became a production worker with HD Supply. "Jordan is one of the most naturally positive people I have ever met. On day two, he was already throwing fist bumps at everybody. The work that he did just spoke for itself. He earned the spot," said Jeff Gardner, an HR Generalist at HD Supply. Elevate Academy is a five-month internship for young adults with disabilities. Participants receive education, training, and ongoing on-the-job support to help them prepare for future employment. They are also paid for the work they do. The comprehensiveness of the training was evident from the start. Angie, who works directly with Jordan, was instrumental during his adjustment period. She immediately noticed that he came to the job fully prepared and then some. He did not rely solely on his natural abilities. Instead, he dedicated himself to learning, which quickly led to additional responsibilities and opportunities to work on a variety of new projects. Jordan's confidence has grown exponentially ever since. So has his independence. Several days a week, he now takes Uber to work and enthusiastically shares that he enjoys meeting new drivers on his way to the HD Supply warehouse. "He is the prime example of what Elevate Academy is all about. He came in fresh, looking to learn. He tried different internships, and one of them was HD Supply. The staff liked him immediately. He likes the environment; he had an amazing coach who helped him learn the job. I am so proud of him," said Christine Raidford, program manager of Elevate Academy. She added that partnerships like the one with HD Supply made this success possible. From the very beginning, HD Supply collaborated with BDI to find the best ways to support interns. From environmental accommodations to ensuring fair pay while protecting their benefits, the company paid attention to every detail. "They didn't want to make a mistake, and that's why we were here to help," Christine noted. HD Supply also appreciated the collaborative approach and the support it received throughout the program. The organization is committed to continuing its partnership with BDI to create more opportunities for future interns. "Bobby Dodd Institute is fully integrated within the business community and the Atlanta community in general. The level of communication and the level of training the interns had have been fantastic, and we would be happy to continue working with them," said Jeff. He also has advice for employers who may be hesitant to hire people with disabilities, noting that every individual learns differently. In his view, this gives employers and staff an opportunity to embrace everyone's unique talents and use those differences as an advantage. In addition to HD Supply, employers including Piedmont Hospital, the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club, Milner Technologies, and Bobby Dodd Institute welcomed several interns this year. All participants received official job offers and were placed in positions that matched their skills and interests. Jordan smiles as he remembers his time at Elevate Academy. For him, it was an opportunity to learn skills that will serve him throughout his life and adulthood. He wants to continue improving himself while building stability and sustainability. "I don't know where I will be, but I want to keep learning," Jordan said.

Endries International appoints Wally Tappe as Vice President of Sales. As we continue to evolve our sales organization and expand our market reach, Wally is the right leader to help us get there." - Dan Crociata BRILLION, WI, UNITED STATES, August 3, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - Endries International, Inc. today announced the appointment of Wally Tappe as Vice President of Sales, strengthening the company's commercial leadership as it continues to scale its go-to-market capabilities. Tappe brings more than two decades of sales leadership experience in distribution and B2B channels, with a track record of scaling sales teams, delivering measurable results and guiding businesses through change. He joins Endries from The Home Depot's wholesale division, where he led the Texas market and expanded the outside sales force while establishing core wholesale capabilities, including sales activity standards, quoting processes and market execution. Before joining The Home Depot, Tappe served as Director of Sales at HD Supply, leading a multistate team. He played a central role in post-acquisition integration following The Home Depot's purchase of HD Supply, including territory redesign, compensation restructuring and organizational alignment. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade at Fastenal, advancing to District Manager while building deep distribution experience. Tappe holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in business management, both from Texas A&M University-Commerce. "Wally has spent his career growing distribution businesses and building the kind of teams that win. He knows how to drive accountability, develop talent and execute in complex commercial environments. As we continue to evolve our sales organization and expand our market reach, Wally is the right leader to help us get there," said Dan Crociata, President and CEO of Endries International. Tappe will lead Endries' sales organization with a focus on accelerating performance, strengthening customer relationships, sharpening execution and developing talent. His appointment is part of Endries' broader transformation as the company deepens its position as a trusted supply chain partner for manufacturers across North America. "What attracted me to Endries is its strong culture, exceptional people and unwavering commitment to its customers. Throughout my career, I've been passionate about building high-performing teams, developing leaders and creating commercial strategies that drive sustainable growth. I'm excited to partner with this talented organization as we continue building on Endries' strong foundation," said Wally Tappe, Vice President of Sales at Endries International. About Endries International, Inc. Endries International is a leading distributor of fasteners and Class C components, providing supply chain solutions to manufacturers across North America. Headquartered in Brillion, Wis., Endries serves customers across a broad range of industrial end markets with a focus on reducing complexity, improving efficiency and delivering measurable value at the point of production. Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.