Corey and Kelly Maggiolo may have more appreciation than most married couples for each other's "how was your day?" stories.
The Maggiolos both work at Achieve Services Inc., a Blaine nonprofit that offers work experience, training and support for more than 150 folks with developmental and physical disabilities.
"When we tell each other a story, we really get it," said Kelly, because their stories share the same characters.
Kelly and Corey met and courted at Achieve. Both say they love their work; their emotional and practical dedication is apparent.
As Kelly walks around Achieve's offices, in the Anoka County Human Service Center, she's the recipient of hugs, handshakes and inquiries about their son, who had been sick. Corey knows which clients like a fist-bump; he hits the timing of their perennial jokes and inquires after favorite T-shirts.
Achieve has been a private nonprofit since 2004. It receives county, state and federal funding for each client's training and support.
Kelly's been at Achieve 11 years; Corey's been there six years. The agency employs 52 people, including the training specialists and assistants who work with the agency's 153 clients. Of those clients, 74 work out in the community, in the mail rooms upstairs in Human Services, at Medtronic and the Anoka County Government Center, at McDonald's, at a Holiday Station.
They're paid based upon how quickly they work compared with an average worker. The piecework, they do on site. On a recent day, they were assembling switches for New Hope-based E-Switch; they're paid per piece.
