SUMMER INTERNSHIP 2004
		Laura Sato - MBA Sauder School of Business CEI Host Organization - Developmental Disabilities Association, Vancouver CEI Funding partner - CIBC

My name is Laura Sato from the Sauder School of Business at UBC and I am working with Starworks which is a division of the Developmental Disability Association (DDA) in Vancouver, BC. DDA is an association that provides care and help for people with developmental disabilities. They provide day programs, accommodations, living assistance and employment services. I am working with Starworks which is a supported workshop for the clients, and it provides working opportunities that pay minimum wages. My role during the summer is to work as a consultant to evaluate the capacity, productivity, and efficiency of its supported workshop and make recommendations to bring them to a break-even point. I have spent the last 3 weeks working with their clients and staff in the warehouse learning their operation while doing time trials.

It has been such an eye opening experience for me. The clients do simple jobs such as manually collating mail for Tourism BC, putting together testing kits for Finnings, and making tie wires for BC Hydro. Most jobs are manual labor - jobs that are not possible to do with machines because of the small quantities or for technical reasons. The clients truly enjoy their jobs and they are sad when there is no work. They take great pride in their jobs and work for perfection. It is one of the best working ethics I have seen. The organization is challenged as jobs are taken away by a decrease in mail due to the internet taking over, so another of my goals is to increase sales. It is sad to see willing clients not being able to work.

The days are going by so fast and I cannot believe I have been here for three weeks now.

I wish all of you the best during the summer!

Cheers,

Laura Sato