Every weekday morning, Jessica Vanderbloomer arrives at nVent in Anoka to start her day on a supported employment team, working alongside others served by Rise with the support of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Julius Bailey and Program Supervisor Cindy Carey.

Jessica has worked at the contracted Rise work site for over six years, and during that time she’s been noticed for her positivity, respect, and dedication to her role. She is excited to be at her job and takes pride in doing her best every single day.

Jessica’s role involves assembling kits and specialty parts, and her tasks vary depending on the workload for the day. “Some days I do multiple jobs, three to five, other days I do just one,” she explained. “It really depends on what kind of work they have.”

Her pride comes from her growing independence. “One thing I’m really proud of is when I can finish multiple jobs in one day, and sometimes without assistance. It’s so nice to see me grow and get more work done when I’m really focused,” she said. She’s also motivated by problem-solving. “What motivates me is when I find a big mistake nobody else found, or when I figure out a solution, even if it’s not perfect. Sometimes I’m the one that comes up with something even the supervisors couldn’t.”

Jessica says her DSP Julius Bailey has been a big part of her success. “He helps me with any problems I have, whether it’s missing parts, needing more instruction sheets, or when I get stressed. He helps me calm down. He’s always there and always ready to listen.”

For Jessica, working at nVent means more than just completing tasks, it’s about inclusion. “Inclusion to me means being part of a business and a company. Having nVent workers work with us helps keep us included with their business, it brings us together in a special way.”

In February 2024, she took her passion a step further by volunteering as a guest speaker during an nVent employee resource group session. She shared about her role and what she enjoys about her job, which helped others understand the importance and benefits of workplace inclusion.

Over the years, Program Supervisor Cindy Carey has watched Jessica’s confidence flourish. “Jessica has become more independent and confident in her decision-making versus always seeking reassurance from staff,” Cindy shared. “Her greatest strengths are her reliability, her ability to learn tasks quickly, and her willingness to take on new challenges. She’s very polite, very independent, and always eager to grow.”

Julius agrees. “Jessica is a go-getter. Most of the time I’m just there for support – she takes the lead. Once she gets her work orders, she’s good to go. She’s very independent and a very good worker.”

Looking back, Jessica is amazed by how far she’s come in her time at nVent. “When I first started, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. Now, I can do multiple jobs at once, even ones I haven’t done in months, and nail them every single time. I don’t let things bother me like they used to, I’ve grown personally and professionally. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. I love the shift, the people I work with, the supervisors, and I love my job… This is my dream job.”

Her message to others is simple: “If you have a dream job, go for it.”