GCE - Global Connections to Employment Logo

News and stories

See our latest newsletter here.

All interview requests must be made through our Marketing and Communications department. For assistance, please call 850-503-8164.

a young school leaver working in an office - training on the computer

Named #7 in list of Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Florida

Pensacola, Fla. (June 28, 2022) – Lakeview Center – the parent company of Global Connections to Employment – has been named #7 in this year’s list of “Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Florida” by The Commonwealth Institute and Kaufman Rossin. The list includes both non-profit and for-profit organizations and factors in revenue, workplace diversity, innovation and […]

Ediberto “Eddy” Cruz Cruz, Monterey, California

2021 Veteran of the Year: “I feel bad about having my whole body when other veterans lost limbs and are in worse shape. That’s hard for them. I try to be grateful and see the positive in life.” Transitioning to civilian life with a disability was challenging, but with a lot of hard work, Eddy […]

Alan Garrone, Pensacola, Florida

2021 Team Member of the Year: Alan started working at GCE 11 years ago. His mom used to work at Navy Federal, Credit Union and when he was at her office, he noticed a bus that dropped off young people his age to work. He asked who they were and learned it was a group […]

Crystal Shank, Pensacola, Florida

Benefits call center representative at LifeView Group corporate office: While she was a talented artist, Crystal didn’t know what career path to pursue or what job she could do given her disability. One thing she did know was that she wanted independence. In high school, Crystal consulted with a vocational counselor who referred her to […]

Tommy Huynh, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida 

2016 Team Member of the Year: When Tan “Tommy” Huynh was 6 years old, he witnessed a horrific crime that resulted in the death of his mother, brother and sister. Years later, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him with a disability. Following a long recovery, he started working at Naval Air […]

Bonnie Blaydes, Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska

2019 Team Member of the Year: Bonnie struggled with an abusive spouse, but experienced love for the first time when she gave birth to a baby boy. Unfortunately, the addiction she faced was too strong, and she was arrested and sent to a behavioral health facility. While there, she learned about God and began to […]

Matt Amendt, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, Washington

2018 Team Member of the Year: In his 30s, Matt realized that his disability was keeping him from holding down a steady job. Matt was diagnosed with ADHD, a condition that inhibits his focus and concentration for long periods of time. “My diagnosis is one of those things that you wouldn’t think was life-altering, but […]

Allison Ashmore, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island

2017 Team Member of the Year: “Our daughter was born developmentally delayed and on the autism spectrum,” said Nancy Ashmore. “Those are her disabilities, but her abilities are that she can take direction very well, and she gives every task 100 percent.” During high school, Allison Ashmore volunteered at the Salve University Library in Newport, […]

Dorothy Clark, Lorton, Virginia 

Credentialing and quality assurance team: In March 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Space Force Academy announced that the inaugural class would graduate early. Therefore, the graduates needed their new CACs sooner than anticipated. Dorothy Clark and the GCE Credentialing and Quality Assurance team played integral roles in design and software changes. They processed the […]