TOPEKA – Rosewood Services was recognized in Topeka on Oct. 20 as the North-Central Regional Award winner in the category of “Non-Traditional Talent Pools.” The awards ceremony and dinner was held at Townsite Tower in downtown Topeka
Tammy Hammond, founder and executive director of Rosewood Services, accepted the award from Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland at the Kansas Department of Commerce’s “To the Stars: Kansas Business Awards” ceremony. Toland addressed the crowd of approximately 350 people who attended the ceremony, stating that the award recipients “are driving local and statewide success with their innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Additionally, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wrote in a letter that accompanied Rosewood’s award plaque, “Your efforts have helped to create job opportunities, deliver products and services, innovate and diversify the local marketplace, build community identity, and more. ... Your business has demonstrated the tenacity, determination and creativity needed to prosper regardless of circumstance. These values are at the heart of what it means to be a Kansan. Despite many challenges of late, our state has remained resilient. Thanks to businesses like yours, we continue to reach to the stars.”
“I can honestly say that winning an award like this never entered my mind when I opened our doors in 1998,” said Hammond. “My only hope was to build a business that offered different and diverse opportunities to individuals with disabilities, so that we could help them achieve more in life.
“Winning the award is very humbling because we are being recognized for work we do every day, but at the same time, this award represents a proud moment for our Rosewood team. I am thankful that together, we have made the most of our opportunity to serve and help so many others achieve what they maybe thought was impossible before. I am also thankful and happy for results that our folks with disabilities have been able to achieve in their lives during our 24 years in business.”