Northwest Center CEO Gene Boes named 2020 Microsoft AlumiHERO

SEATTLE, WA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 13, 2020 / Northwest Center President & CEO Gene Boes Wins 2020 AlumniHERO Award from the Microsoft Alumni Network

Join AlumniHERO Award Recipients October 28 for a Virtual “Ask Us Anything” Event

(SEATTLE, WA):

Gene Boes, President & CEO of Seattle nonprofit Northwest Center, has been chosen by the Microsoft Alumni Network as a 2020 recipient of an AlumniHERO Award, which includes a $15,000 grant for the organization to further innovation in increasing the employment of people with disabilities at major companies nationwide.

The AlumniHERO awards are designed to recognize key Microsoft alumni from around the world who are creating a positive impact in their community through work in nonprofit organizations. Boes, the father of an adult daughter on the severe end of the autism spectrum, leads Northwest Center’s mission services for children and adults with disabilities and also the success of Northwest Center’s owned businesses as they employ an inclusive workforce and help fund mission programs. Boes continues to expand Northwest Center’s innovation in the disability and inclusion space for education, workplaces, and society, taking the organization and movement to the next level with a bold shift to exponential growth.

Boes’ tenacity is due to his strongly held commitment: “Until all of us are included, none of us can reach our full potential.” This belief is backed by data that proves that with inclusion, there are key benefits to society and financial and efficiency improvements to corporations.

“Gene lives inclusion,” says NWC Chief Development Officer Robyn Brown. “He is focused on convening the right partners to make a marked difference in society, education, and business; together, they are creating systemic change.” One of Boes’ current initiatives unites the Northwest Center staff and board with corporate and community leaders on a strategic plan to address root causes of the employment gap for people with disabilities while helping corporations deliver on their business objectives. Under Gene’s direction, Northwest Center also recently launched an Employment Services transformation strategically designed to support clients to reach their potential and in turn fill the growing workforce needs in some of the largest corporations.

Boes will be featured at the virtual event “Ask Us Anything! with the 2020 Microsoft AlumniHEROes” at 9 a.m. (PDT) on National Philanthropy Day, October 28.

ABOUT NORTHWEST CENTER

Northwest Center (NWC) is hailed as one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive organizations serving the community with disability inclusion programs and services that advance equal opportunities for people of all abilities. NWC was founded in 1965 by Seattle parents who refused to give up when their kids with disabilities were rejected from schools, and who went on to write and pass legislation guaranteeing an education to kids with disabilities—changing the education landscape for people with disabilities in every zip code across the United States. Today, Northwest Center provides Early Intervention and inclusive Early Learning for children from birth to school age, Employment Services to adults with disabilities in counties across Washington state, and is rapidly expanding inclusive early learning by training other organizations how to include kids with disabilities. NWC also owns businesses that provide best-in-class services while employing an inclusive workforce. When people of all abilities learn and work together, everyone benefits. For more information, visit www.nwcenter.org