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Lumi-Lite Candle Company honored by Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities

Columbus,OH - Lumi-Lite Candle Company of Norwich will be recognized for its outstanding record of employing a diverse workforce on behalf of individuals with disabilities by the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities. The recognition is part of the “Employer of the Year” Awards at the Governor’s Council’s annual meeting held Thursday (Aug. 19) at the State House Atrium in Columbus.

Lumi-Lite Candle Company will be honored for the leadership they have demonstrated by making their workforce both diverse and valued. Hilda Pappas, VP of Human Resources, showed Wayne Cocchi, member of the GCPD, and Lucille Walls, Executive Director of GCPD, around the manufacturing facility. Hilda Pappas and George Pappas Sr. have served for many years on the Employers’ Advisory Board for RSC. Hilda has a great deal of energy and is an inspiring advocate for individuals with disabilities. Their supervisors are encouraged to adapt workspace to accommodate the employee’s disability and enhance their abilities.

Employees with disabilities hold various positions within the production areas of the company. The company has been in existence for over forty years. Since its conception, hiring a workforce that includes women, individuals with disabilities and minorities has been an integral part of their providing employment within their local community.

Ongoing challenges caused by unfair competition from Chinese candle imports have caused cutbacks in their production. They made it a priority to protect the jobs of their employees with disabilities. At present, approximately 10% of their production workforce is individuals with disabilities. When the company was larger it provided free transportation for its employees.

Candle fire safety has always been a priority with the candles produced by the company. George Pappas Sr. invented a device which prevents the flame from burning completely down to the bottom of the candle which could result in flashover and the potential for a fire. The company holds several patents for safe burning candles that are featured in their Hearth and Home Traditions, Ltd. candle line.

Hearth and Home Traditions, Ltd. invented the original cake candle, which comes in multiple colors and fragrances. They also produce bunt cakes, votives, tapers, pillars, jar candles, tea-lites, and floating candles.

This company was first recognized as a leader when the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities received a nomination submittal from an Employment Services Specialist for the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Barbara Cartwright.

Along with Lumi-Lite Candle Company, recognition is being given to Buckeye Donuts of Columbus and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Project SEARCH. These businesses were selected for the awards by the Employment Committee of the GCPD, chaired by Kim Dittman. Robert D. Knight, GCPD Chair, and Ms. Dittman will present the awards.

Preceding the awards and recognitions a 12 minute production of the council’s programs will be reviewed.

The Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities is composed of twenty-one members from throughout the state and is charged to advice the Governor and General Assembly on statewide disability issues. They educate and advocate for partnerships at the local, state and national level, and promote equality, access, independence, and the development of employment opportunities. The Council also promotes the value of diversity, dignity and the quality of life for people with disabilities and serves as a catalyst to create systemic change promoting awareness of disability-related issues that will ultimately benefit all citizens of Ohio.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities go to www.gcpd.ohio.gov.