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Business & Tech

A place where 'smiles work': Opportunity Builders Inc. has a new home

Travel with Patch on a visit to their new location on Veterans Highway and learn what they do.

 Opportunities abound in an enclave tucked neatly off of Route 3 and 97 on the edge of Severna Park in Millersville. It's called Opportunity Builders Inc. (OBI) and you may never have heard of it. This Patch contributor had not, but was soon blown away by the people, the place, the work done and most of all, the smiles there.

OBI began in 1962 in an old firehouse on Truckhouse Road. A group of parents, educators and advocates "came together in response to a need for occupational services for adults with developmental disabilities." They started small. But the demand for services grew exponentially and they moved from a Hanover warehouse to their new home with classrooms, workstations, recreation areas and offices in 2009.

OBI's new home blessed the group with the space they so badly needed to focus directly on each individual's capability rather than his or her disability. The adults served here are involved in our community at many levels – retail, fast food businesses and high-tech firms.

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This 41,000-plus sq.ft. of constant activity encompasses OBI where employers and employees meet in the middle to get jobs done. 45 big white vans parked out front bring the over-300 adults to work from all across the county each weekday.

Some are picked up at home where they live with their families, others from group home settings – but all come in with grins on their faces, eager and excited to get busy, allowing to take "home" a paycheck at the end of the week and feel terrific about themselves.

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Whether placed on property or off, the highly trained, caring staff responsible for the work crews see to it that their needs are met, at the same time meeting the needs of the outside vendors or clients.

Leslie Prewitt, external relations director, was proud to take Patch on a tour of the bustling facilities where their workers were assembling products from various contracted companies on a recent Purple Friday. "Go Ravens," and high fives were common around the Catherine Purple Cherry-designed building on this upbeat day.

Shrink –wrapping, folding boxes, the piecework was getting done in an upbeat,   easy atmosphere, even by Heather, whose wheelchair operates based on her head's motions. An amazing woman, she uses the strength of her left arm to apply pressure to an egg crate that needs to be positioned just so in a specific box. Truly an inspiration, her smile lights up the room. OBI really is a place where "smiles work.'"

This new Millersville home for OBI has allowed the group the room they needed to blossom and grow. The adults served here are involved in the community at many levels – retail, fast food businesses and high-tech firms. Whether they are placed on property or off, the caring OBI staffers responsible see to it that their charges' needs are met, at the same time meeting the needs of outside vendors or clients.

Always looking for companies that need help in the workplace – on or off-site, OBI is an excellent source of people power. Crews have been spotted in various communities in Severna Park doing fall clean-up and other groups are busy in-house sorting and packaging jobs for  local Coffee News and Lock Laces, a business that started small but with the helping hands of OBI, literally, has gone global.

OBI's Wall of Fame in the company's foyer is sprinkled with stars emblazoned with each contributor's name. The wall honors every family involved and OBI's many proud corporate donors.  "We are so proud of all of them," said Prewitt, and rightfully so. Though not one to miss an "opportunity," she pointed out that funds and new job opportunities are constantly being sought to keep these adults-in-need busy and happy and appreciated in a productive setting.

It really is a win-win situation at OBI. The adults with developmental disabilities  they serve who in turn work for satisfied business owners locally and nationally, all come out winners.

"Everyone here gets to know each other; whether high or low-functioning, they work together as a family. We have a computer lab, caring staff, and a busy day full of love and opportunity here. I am blessed to have such a terrific job," said Prewitt.

 The 13th Annual OBI Mardi Gras is coming this February and there's an annual golf tourney as well. Go to obiworks.org for more information on how to get involved or how to hire some great workers for your business. You too will be smiling soon.

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