Hiring remains tight across the Quad Cities, but strong talent is here — sometimes overlooked by recruiting routines that miss capable people. At Crossroads in Muscatine, we work with employers to build a pipeline through supported employment: a structured way to hire adults with disabilities that balances operational needs with inclusive culture. It’s not charity. It’s smart workforce design, grounded in clear job demands and measurable follow-through.
Under CEO Marc Hines’ leadership, we’ve refined a straightforward, three-step model. First, we conduct a job analysis on your floor; documenting pace, variability, safety considerations, and the tasks that truly drive output.
Second, we facilitate a working interview or time-limited tryout so managers can evaluate fit in real conditions. Third, our team provides on-the-job coaching and “fades” support as skills and confidence grow, while remaining available when workflows change. Services are typically funded through disability services, so there’s usually no added employer cost.
The model is practical. We help carve roles around essential tasks, design simple accommodations, and co-create onboarding plans with supervisors. Our job coaches can introduce visual work aids, step-by-step checklists, and communication routines that reduce rework and improve safety.
We also connect employers to incentives like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and clarify documentation for HR and risk management. Typical placements span light manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare support, retail, logistics, and facilities — roles where consistency and quality matter every shift.
Our Supported Employment Manager Abbey Webb says it best: “When we align the job to the person and the person to the workflow, performance isn’t the exception — it becomes the norm.” In practice, partners report steadier attendance, fewer task drifts, and better morale because responsibilities are matched to strengths. We track milestones, meet with supervisors to solve small problems early, and offer quick refreshers if production requirements change. The result is a dependable employee and a partnership that adapts as your operation evolves.
If you lead a Muscatine or Quad Cities business and want a low-friction way to strengthen staffing, invite us for a brief site walk. We will capture the true demands of a target role and outline a no-obligation plan for a working interview tied to an upcoming opening.
If it isn’t a fit, you leave with sharper role definitions. If it is, you gain capability and stability. Reach out to me directly to schedule a visit — we can begin exploratory steps as early as next week.
Ken Brooks is the development director for Crossroads, Inc., with locations in Muscatine and Tipton, Iowa. He can be reached at [email protected].
