Mark’s path to working as a DI associate began one day while he was a customer at the store. 

“I was helping someone find something, and one of the job coaches came up and was like, ‘Do you work here?’” Mark recalls. “I was like, ‘No,’ and they were like, ‘Well, you should look into it.’”

That conversation ultimately led to a job opportunity, which was perfect timing for Mark. He was in the process of recovering from a significant setback—including a traumatic brain injury—and he needed a place where he could relearn job skills.

“It’s not necessarily anybody’s goal in life to work here, but it’s a blessing,” Mark says. “DI has been great for me.”

In addition to gaining workplace skills through the job training program, Mark is relying on DI to obtain his forklift certification and commercial driver’s license. Mark also appreciates opportunities to interact with those he works with, including job coaches, development counselors, and other associates.

“The thing DI does for me most is it gives me a place to be and people to talk to,” Mark says.

As for Mark’s contributions, it is easy to see just how dedicated he is to his job. His fellow employees say that he works at a different speed, which Mark can back up with fitness data from his phone.

“I go 14 miles a day on my feet when I’m here, and that’s in five hours,” he says.

Another way Mark contributes is by maintaining a positive workplace attitude and using his kindness to help others know that they belong.

“My philosophy is, ‘You don’t get paid any more for being in a bad mood,’ so I’m always nice to people,” Mark says. “I love being able to smile at people and ask them how their day is going and help them feel like they’re part of the group, like they’re part of something—that someone cares that they’re here.”

Mark also recognizes how essential donations are to everything DI does and is appreciative of those who make the effort to contribute to a good cause.

“The people who donate pass a thousand garbage cans to come here, and they’re not getting anything out of it” Mark says. “And with gas prices they way they are, it means the world me to think that they’re doing the right thing.”