Fargo business meets workforce needs with inclusive team
Located on Fargo’s busy Main Avenue, Northwest Auto Body is a family-owned collision repair business that is having an impact on the community.
Inside, it’s more than just a repair shop, which is why they were named 2024 North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Employer of the Year.
Manager Scott Johnson and his team have made it a warm and welcoming place for people of all abilities.
Being familiar with VR, Johnson was excited at the opportunity to work with VR to help people with disabilities gain valuable work experience.
“People need chances, and I feel that just giving someone a shot is important,” Johnson said. “In this industry, there are so many different jobs that a person can do.”
Painting a career path
The North Dakota Health and Human Services VR program is about employment for everyone.
VR business service specialists and counselors act much like match makers in a business sense. They work one-on-one with businesses to assess their workforce needs and then connect a person with a disability who is looking for a job or to advance in their career.
“You can always find a job for someone,” Johnson said. “It might be a little harder to figure out what that job might be, but that’s a good challenge for a business owner.”
Johnson is also excited about possibly mentoring high school students with disabilities to help them identify potential careers.
“There are so many opportunities out there that parents are nervous for kids to go into the trades, because they think it’s going to be a dirty job,” he said. “All trades are an art, and people can make great careers in the trades.”
With an abundance of available jobs in the state, Johnson encourages businesses to connect with VR to help them meet their workforce needs. It has been a win-win for Northwest Auto Body.
“Businesses should be there for everyone,” he said. “Some people have a few more hills to climb, but helping them be whatever they want to be, that makes a good business.”
To learn more about VR, visit hhs.nd.gov/vr.