WMAR-2 News | "Being here is actually pretty fun. Learning new things is fun." @WMAR2news | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 19 hours ago.
You don’t earn the title of “custodian of the year” at an airport that’s won awards for having the cleanest restrooms, by calling out of work often. And in 11 years, Sophie Lee hasn’t missed a single day of work.
"No work would be boring. Being here is actually pretty fun. Learning things is fun," Lee told WMAR-2 News.
Sophie is one of nearly 300 people employed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport through a partnership with Chimes, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides jobs to people with disabilities.
“They’re such dedicated professionals at what they do," Ricky Smith, executive director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration, which operates BWI, said. "I just don’t know how we would compare to other airports if we didn’t have the dedicated professionals that we have at Chimes."
“Many individuals with disabilities can’t find jobs. It’s a hidden workforce that not a lot of people know about," Chimes president and CEO Steve DaRe said.
For Sophie, she says working at the airport has helped her break out of her comfort zone.
“Kinda scared sometimes, but I just believe in myself," she said.
Naturally shy, interacting with new people every day was hard for her at first. But now it's one of her favorite parts of the job.
"Little by little, one step at a time," she explained. Her philosophy is: "Learn lessons, and try to think positive."
You don’t earn the title of “custodian of the year” at an airport that’s won awards for having the cleanest restrooms, by calling out of work often. And in 11 years, Sophie Lee hasn’t missed a single day of work.
"No work would be boring. Being here is actually pretty fun. Learning things is fun," Lee told WMAR-2 News.
Sophie is one of nearly 300 people employed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport through a partnership with Chimes, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides jobs to people with disabilities.
“They’re such dedicated professionals at what they do," Ricky Smith, executive director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration, which operates BWI, said. "I just don’t know how we would compare to other airports if we didn’t have the dedicated professionals that we have at Chimes."
“Many individuals with disabilities can’t find jobs. It’s a hidden workforce that not a lot of people know about," Chimes president and CEO Steve DaRe said.
For Sophie, she says working at the airport has helped her break out of her comfort zone.
“Kinda scared sometimes, but I just believe in myself," she said.
Naturally shy, interacting with new people every day was hard for her at first. But now it's one of her favorite parts of the job.
"Little by little, one step at a time," she explained. Her philosophy is: "Learn lessons, and try to think positive."
