Eden Prairie's Key Surgical proves developmentally disabled are key to success

Misty Colby and Joe Inserra help drive the culture and success at Key Surgical, an Eden Prairie business that manufactures and distributes surgical products.

"I like to heat-seal the bags," said Colby, as she and Inserra packed vascular booties and loops, clamp covers and sterile labels that were ordered that same day. "I work full-time and get a big paycheck."

Added Inserra: "I'm saving my money for a trip to Colorado."

Colby and Inserra are two of the five developmentally disabled workers that Key Surgical employs through Lifeworks Services, the venerable nonprofit that trains and supports those with disabilities. The pair work alongside 25 Key Surgical employees every day.

Key Surgical CEO Brian O'Connell, 48, grew up in Connecticut with a developmentally disabled brother, Kenny, 56.

"It was a great experience growing up with him," O'Connell said. "He lives in a group home in Greenwich, Conn., and does meaningful work in which he takes pride and helps support himself through an organization like Lifeworks. In 2008, we hooked up with Lifeworks and now we have five Lifeworks employees today, occasionally more, and we also send light industrial work to them. The Lifeworks folks are extremely diligent. They are a part of a company that we think is a fun, vibrant, interesting place to work."

Last week, Key Surgical was named Employer of the Year by Lifeworks.

A half-century or so ago, these folks sat in state facilities. Today, thousands of developmentally disabled adults live independently or in group homes and go daily to training-and-contract work facilities run by agencies such as Lifeworks and Opportunity Partners.

"Jobs are important to all of us, and people with disabilities are no exception," Lifeworks CEO Judy Lysne said.

Moreover, the state's budget deficit of the last several years has meant cuts to the nonprofits who serve the developmentally disabled. Increasingly, they are turning to employers to supplement their budget through contract work and hiring. They're also looking to philanthropists and the families of their clients for aid.

Lifeworks-trained workers, who are overseen by a job coach at each workplace, make an average of $8.25 an hour. Pay is based on job and productivity. Jobs are generally focused on detailed, repetitive work such as counting, sorting, assembling, labeling and packaging.

These are important jobs. They don't displace higher-paid production, office, marketing, sales and finance employees. And they often are the first to lose jobs in a downturn.

Today, we have too few jobs for Minnesotans who want and need work. Eventually, the demographers and forecasters tell us, we'll need every worker as the economy improves and baby boomers, our largest generation, retire over the next 20 years. Of Lifeworks' 600 clients who can work, nearly 550 work at least part-time.

Key Surgical, acquired in 2005 by O'Connell and partner Scot Milchman, is growing 20 percent-plus annually thanks to an inventory of 2,400 products, a central location, service-driven employees and a same-day shipping policy.

"We serve 4,000 U.S. clinics, hospitals, surgery centers and distributors," O'Connell said. "We focus on the sterile processing department and the operating room -- the people who prepare, clean and use the surgical instruments. We're a little wide and very deep."

Neal St. Anthony • 612-673-7144 • nstanthony@startribune.com