From “What If” to “I Did It”: One Woman’s Journey to Career Independence

What happens when belief, belonging, and possibility come together.

Hillside, IL – For Ella Lundgren, a future with a full-time job felt like a closed door. After months of job searching and applications with no success, things started to feel just out of reach. Like many young adults with disabilities, she faced repeated setbacks, not for a lack of talent or enthusiasm, but for a lack of professional opportunity. 

That all changed the day she opened her acceptance letter to Aspire’s Employment Training Program.  

“I cried tears of joy when I found out,” Ella said. For the first time, she felt like she had a real shot at a job that could provide not just an income and access to health insurance, but the future that she had been searching for.  

What followed wasn’t just a training program. It was a transformation. 

A Program that Empowers

Ella is one of the standout graduates of Aspire’s new Employment Training Program, a federally funded workforce program designed to address the chronic underemployment of young adults with disabilities. Through this grant, this program helps young adults gain hands-on training in high demand industries and connects them with industry leading companies for internships and employment.  

It begins with ten weeks of intensive skills training inside a simulated warehouse environment, followed by a guaranteed eight-week paid internship with an employment partner. For Ella, that employer was Parts Town.  

During her internship at Parts Town, one of the nation’s top distribution companies for foodservice equipment parts, she excelled at learning a variety of roles within the warehouse. From order picking to kit building to bagging, Ella showed a willingness to learn and an eagerness to grow her responsibilities. Parts Town immediately took notice of this drive and within just a few weeks of starting her internship, they offered her a full-time position in her favorite role: Kit Specialist. 

Rising to the Challenge – and Beyond

From her first days at Parts Town, Ella made an impression on everyone around her.

“I’ve been in almost every position,” said Ella. “And I always hit my numbers.”  

One of her standout moments came in the first few weeks of working full-time when she was operating one of the most complex stations, the auto bag machine. In the unit train (UT) area, she was crushing her daily unit goal and consistently reaching 1,700 units.  

“The benchmark is usually around 1,400 or 40 lines,” explained Ella. “I was getting the big, big lines done.”  

But Ella’s growth didn’t stop on the warehouse floor, as one of her most powerful transformations came in how she connected with her coworkers and found her voice. 

Ella at her work station kitting, filling, and packing an order.

“When I first met Ella, she was shy,” said Courtney Johnston, who oversees recruitment for the fulfilment center as part of Parts Town’s Talent Acquisition team. “But by the time we were converting her to full-time, she had really come out of her shell. She was talking more, sharing what she enjoyed about her work and even helping train others. Her role is complex, but she picked it up right away. She’s really taken ownership, and I’m excited to see her continue to grow.” 

A Partnership That Truly Works

Ella’s journey reflects more than one person’s success. It marks a shift that is happening inside companies like Parts Town across the nation; a shift towards inclusive hiring that works for everyone. 

Aspire didn’t just train Ella, it also prepared Parts Town on how to truly build a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment.  

“Aspire really opened a lot of eyes here — not just mine, but our supervisors and managers, too,” Courtney explained. “At first, some people were nervous. Now? It’s just a normal day. You see Ella in the gym or lunchroom with the rest of the team. Aspire’s training helped us build an environment where everyone feels like they belong.” 

From a hiring perspective, the value has been clear. “Honestly, the transition from intern to full-time was flawless,” said Courtney. “Aspire prepared our staff so well, it felt like onboarding any other new team member. There was no handholding, no added burden. And the talent we’ve brought in? We couldn’t imagine the team without them.” 

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About Wesco: 

Parts Town is the leading, technology innovation-driven distributor of genuine OEM (original equipment manufacturer) foodservice, residential appliance and HVAC equipment repair parts. When there’s a hiccup with any piece of equipment, Parts Town is ready to jump in and help with the most in-stock parts on the planet, innovative technology, and an unmatched customer experience. Customized solutions benefit equipment service technicians of all kinds, as well as chain and independent restaurants, schools, health care facilities and hospitality providers. 

By partnering with the top manufacturers of foodservice, residential appliance and HVAC replacement parts, Parts Town improves the supply chain, increases sales of genuine OEM parts and keeps every customer’s business running like clockwork. Parts Town also partners with equipment and supplies dealers of all sizes to offer a one-stop-shop through its Parts Town marketplace. 

For more information, visit https://www.partstown.com/.

The contents of this article were developed under grant H421F240008 from the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this document. The contents of this article may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The content of this article does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department. This publication is not intended to represent the views or policy of or be an endorsement of any views expressed or materials provided by any Federal agency. (EDGAR 75.620)