Opportunity Partners, a nonprofit agency that helps people with disabilities and other special needs live and work successfully in the community, has announced its Employer of the Year and Customer of the Year for 2005.

Bon Appetit Management Company, which is based in California and has a regional office in Minneapolis, was named Opportunity Partners’ Employer of the Year. Bon Appetit is an onsite food service company providing café and catering services to corporations, colleges and specialty venues. Opportunity Partners’ partnership with Bon Appetit began several years ago when the company contracted with Opportunity Partners for a supported employment team to perform cafeteria duties. Today, the relationship has grown to four teams at four sites, resulting in job opportunities for 46 Opportunity Partners clients.

Coghlan’s, based in Winnipeg, was named Opportunity Partners’ Customer of the Year. Coghlan’s is the number one “outdoor accessory line” in the United States and Canada. “Opportunity Partners has been packaging its canteens, compasses and other camping equipment for 40 years, making them our oldest customer by far,” said Al Gargano, Opportunity Partners vice president of industrial operations.

Every day, Opportunity Partners empowers more than 1,300 people with developmental disabilities, brain injury, autism and other challenges to achieve their dreams for greater independence in the community. More information on Opportunity Partners is available on the web at www.opportunitypartners.org