Mick Malec: enGen's Commitment to Hire People with Disabilities

Welcome to Disability Matters with your host Joyce Bender. All comments, views, and opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host, guest, and callers. Now the host of Disability Matters, here's Joyce Bender.

Hello everyone and welcome to the show, to all of my great listeners in the United States and around the world. Hey, Richard Roberts in Brazil. You know, I mention him on every show because I first met him when I went with the State Department to South Korea. Then when he went to Japan, I went to Japan. And now next year I will be going to Brazil And he is, he is a disability rights leader. Oh, my goodness! Mary loved him so much. And Richard, can't wait to see you, and thank you for being such a great international disability rights leader. And Carla, I can't wait to see you also. And I also have to mention Gang Yong Cho in South Korea. Another really good friend of mine. Actually, I went to South Korea twice. And, you know, again, Gangyong Cho became like a disability rights leader, as did everyone from Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Panama, you know, all of these great countries. But it would not have happened without the State Department. And you all need to know that. They asked me to go after the request was made for an expert on the employment of people with disabilities. So, you know, you need to thank them for what they're doing. And here's my shout-out coming to Yoshiko Dart. Yoshiko, how are you? And Yoshiko, is the widow of the late, great Justin Dart. You know, you've probably seen that famous photograph of President Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act. And by his side, while there are a few people, few, with him on the stage, but one is Justin Dart, who lived with polio and was in a wheelchair. And had his cowboy boots and hat on. And he just— I told Yoshiko, when I was watching Jeopardy! and he was a question, I knew, wow, he is really famous. But he worked tirelessly to get the disability community behind, unifying to get the Americans with Disabilities Act signed. So I bring up every show, I say, shout out to Yoshiko for years. And the reason is we don't have disability rights education in our schools, which is very disturbing. So, you know, if you would go to most people, "Hi, who's Justin Dart?" They have no idea. So I am mentioning it on every single show. And I have to have a huge thank you to Highmark. You know, they're the lead sponsor of the show, but you'll be hearing a lot about them because next year is the 30th anniversary of Bender Consulting Services. Do you realize that over 30 years every CEO has stood behind me? And speaking of that, we have the Bender technology champion, uh, McMalik on our show today, the CEO of Engin, another example of what I'm talking about. But I have to tell you, I think the world of him. He is a great man. He is a good man. Jinell, he fights the fight. I want all of you, whether you're in China, South Korea, Australia, any of the, any of the countries, which there are many now that listen to this show, people with disabilities in the United States and abroad, I want you to know that he doesn't just talk about it. He hires people with disabilities at all levels, at all levels, and creates a career path where they can be promoted. Now, we're having him on because this is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Guess what I call it? I call it National Disability Employment Month because guess what? We've all had enough awareness. We're all aware people with disabilities aren't finding jobs. Stop being aware. Hire someone. And that is what he does. So welcome to the show, Mr. Mick Malick. It is an honor to have you on.

Thank you. The honor is all mine. Thank you for the very generous introduction.

Well, it's a fact. So just so you know, everyone, I've said this probably in the 21 years I've been on here. Maybe, maybe 6 times. He's the real deal. I would put my name behind him. I would put my name behind Mick Malek. So that I want you to know. He's hiring people, and that makes it all worthwhile. Mick, wow, you've done so much for Bender Consulting and more importantly for people with disabilities. But even though you've been on before, people in the United States and around the world ask me, "Can you tell me more about Nick Malik?" So obviously they don't all know you, but they do want to know a little bit about you. So could you talk about like, where you grew up and went to school and what made you initially choose a career in IT. Sure.

I grew up in Detroit. I went to Detroit Public Schools. Shout out to Denby High School, class of 1854, something like that. Let everybody know how that worked out. Uh, IT chose me. I had a friend that lived a couple doors down, they got a job at a bank, and I started my career as a distribution clerk, uh, the midnight shift at a bank in downtown Detroit. We probably don't even have distribution clerks anymore. So that job entailed, uh, preparing the computer output from the previous night to be distributed to the branch offices. And then I was a microfiche operator— they don't have those anymore— a computer operator, uh, and so on and so forth. So I kind of started at a very low rung of the IT totem pole, and my friend got me that job. So very humble beginnings, I think.

And I want everyone listening to the show, especially young people with disabilities or just people with disabilities seeking employment or people already employed, able-bodied or with disabilities. You know, sometimes we have this entitlement attitude. Rarely, I hate to say it, but when I find people with disabilities seeking employment, they don't have the entitlement attitude or we wouldn't be referring that person. But why am I bringing that up? Look at him. He's the CEO of Engin, owned by Highmark. Did you hear how he started? So don't get into this. Oh, this is too low level for me to start. Where am I gonna go? Obviously, he didn't think that way, and look where he is today. It all starts with that attitude. And hard work, and of course being very smart. So I just want you to remember that. I'm going to be telling that to all the Bender Leadership Academy students because sometimes they think, oh, you know, I'm starting here and this— look, as a matter of fact, Deb Rice, who's the CEO of a division at Highmark, started as either customer service or claims processing and zoomed all the way to the top. So this is what I mean. It's all about your attitude and what you're going to put into it. So, Mick, you were recruited by Highmark. So tell me, why did you join this company and want to be part of this leadership team? At Highmark?

Good question. Um, I wanted to get closer to making a difference with technology. I've been in technology for quite a long time, but it was always somewhat removed, a lot of back office type of technology. This job allowed me to be more front office, more engaged in how technology can help get and keep people healthy. Then I was really impressed with the leadership team here, a very, very ethical group, you know, a group that's focused on healthcare delivery. So it's easy to subscribe to where the company was going and their thinking. So I felt it was a really good use of the experiences I had picked up along the way and working for an organization that was really focused on healthcare.

Now then, did you move here from Detroit?

No, uh, from Atlanta. I had taken a job in Atlanta, was there for about 10 years. And so, you know, from Detroit to Pittsburgh, kind of missed the weather a little bit in Atlanta, of course, but not necessarily the traffic. So yeah, had to move the family here, and that's worked out very well.

You know, I want to say I love Pittsburgh, but one thing I love about Pittsburgh is the people. You can go to a store or a restaurant or anywhere and see two people talking, and you're going to think they've known each other for years, and they just met each other. I mean, people come right up to me no matter where I am in this building, and they'll say, wow, did you think it was going to be this warm today? No, oh, let me tell you what I was planning to do with my family. I mean, that's how it is. I remember when this— actually, he was a CIO from a large corporation in Philadelphia and moved here to Pittsburgh to one of the banks. And he said, I knew your people were different in Pittsburgh when I got in the elevator and people were talking. We don't do that. We don't talk in our elevators. I said, well, that's because you're in Pittsburgh, and people in Pittsburgh are very friendly. And that is why, in addition to the wonderful philanthropy, community spirit, great restaurants, sports, uh, so many things I just love Pittsburgh. But I have to tell you, Mick, I miss Motown. So like, I like Detroit. I love Motown. And there you have it. And with that, because I'm not going to start singing Respect, instead I'm going to go to break and then we'll be back. This is Joyce Bender, America's Voice. Where Disability Matters at voiceamerica.com. Don't go away, we'll be right back with Mick Kwon.

Streaming live, the leader in internet talk radio, voiceamerica.com.

At Highmark, we believe what makes us different makes us better. Our differences broaden our perspectives and foster diverse skills which complement each other, creating a stronger and more vibrant workforce. It's this belief that earned us recognition by the USBLN and the American Association of People with Disabilities as a 2014 Disability Equality Index Best Place to Work. So we'll continue to celebrate diversity Individuals, because inclusion benefits us all. To find out more, visit highmark.com.

Since 1985, Bender Consulting Services has served as a national leader in advancing employment of people with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, with private sector companies and federal government agencies. Bender assists customers with achieving their diversity and workforce inclusion initiatives by tapping into a talent pool of individuals seeking professional positions, including those in the STEM fields. In addition, Bender Services include disability employment consulting, training, and technology accessibility through their high-tech line of service. For more information, please visit www.benderconsult.com.

Everyone has unique abilities, and with ABLE NOW, individuals with disabilities are able to save money while maintaining certain benefits such as Medicaid. ABLE NOW is a tax-advantaged savings program specifically designed for people with disabilities. Open an account online today and start saving for the things that are important to you. To learn if you or someone you know is eligible, visit ablenow.com. ABLE NOW is administered by Virginia529.

Are you currently receiving SSDI or SSI and wanting to work? Did you know there is a free Social Security program called Ticket to Work to help you try work Without risking your benefits, My Employment Options is an authorized SSA Employment Network specializing in work-at-home and local job placement in 47 states. Our clients receive a personal counselor to help find the best job fit and a staff-certified benefits counselor for help with Ticket to Work protections. Ready to try working? Apply for free job placement help at myemploymentoptions.com.

Follow Voice America at facebook.com/voiceamerica for juicy updates. Updates from your favorite radio shows and podcasts.

You're listening to Disability Matters. Now please welcome back the host of Disability Matters. Here's Joyce Bender.

Hey, welcome back everyone. We are talking to Mick Malek, the CEO of Engen, a subsidiary of Highmark. And Mick, how many people work for NGINX?

All told, probably over 12,000.

Wow. Bigger than— bigger than— definitely bigger than it was. Wow. That is unbelievable. And Mick, you know, when I went to break everyone, I was asking Mick, hey, did you ever think you'd be CEO? Of course, no, he didn't. But what I did want to ask you, because I thought that Story was so inspirational about how you started and, you know, where you are today. Are there any traits or characteristics or skills that you think you put into this and/or that other people should put into their work to, you know, move up in the company?

You have to invest in yourself. You know, IT has moved so far from when I started to where it is now, and even much, much faster now. So you have to keep your skills current. You have to keep yourself current. I keep telling people, you have to run yourself like your own little business. You know, what do you need to do to be able to move up? What skills do you need? Certifications, etc. So You certainly can't rest on your laurels because it's just moving too fast. So invest in yourself. And, you know, the other thing is always give your boss options along the way. I gave my boss options that I could do certain things, take on certain responsibilities, and they weren't always taken up at the time, but inevitably they were always taken up somewhere down the line. So, you know, not only manage yourself, make sure you're— you yourself are current But give your boss options. That way that person knows you're eager for more.

That is great advice. You know that part about investing in yourself? You know, I do remember the days of the IBM DOS and MVS system. I remember the IMS database. I remember all of this from way back. And it kept moving, moving, moving. But wow, now it's like speed of light moving. And I'm really glad you said that because I was talking to someone that is in— does a lot of work in AI from an executive level. And I was telling him, you know, give me some ideas. What do we need to do to educate young people, maybe even just in school now, high school, junior high, what do they need to know? Because I don't wanna be the person that, you know, the disability community looks up to that wakes up one day and that's it, jobs are gone, they don't know anything about AI, and it is going to change everything. So that's why when you said about investing in yourself, I think that is so important. I'm sure you agree that everything is moving speed of light with AI.

Yes, definitely, and faster.

Yeah, and faster is right. So Mick, you do more than anyone here. You've done the most. At Highmark hiring people with disabilities, and everyone knows it. Why? Why do you support hiring people with disabilities when even at other companies, I don't understand it. 34 years ago, the ADA was signed. What's wrong with this story that 70% of people with disabilities are still not counted in the workforce? And what's wrong with that story is everything. But you are doing something wonderful. So why do you do it?

Well, I think everybody is owed a fair shot at gainful employment. Um, you know, America and other places is still pretty much remote, so there are no physical barriers and boundaries as there were prior. And so once again, people are hired based on their skills and aptitude. There is no restrictions in all that. So first and foremost, and some of us quite frankly need a little extra boost, a little extra help in all that. There's nothing wrong with that whatsoever. It's also good business. We find that people we bring on are very eager, attentive, energetic, innovative. They bring a lot to the table. So it's, it's good business value for us. We've been very successful in the resources that we've brought aboard. Their diligence and, you know, quite frankly, they just want to work and they want to contribute. And there's no better employee than that.

Yes, talk about a business decision. I have one employee. That has worked there at Highmark for 26 years. Then I have other employees that have been there for 20 years. Wait a minute, wait, I'm wrong about the first person. The first person has been there 28 years. This is an IT person. This is someone with marketable skills. So why is that? Is that because people with disabilities are superheroes? Is it inspirational? No. It's about being left out. I don't care if you're a woman, African American, Asian, veteran, a member of the LGBTQ community. I don't care what group you're from. If you are never hired and, and there are barriers, and then someone gives you a chance. Oh, that's like a treasure. That is like a treasure. I know Mick does, and Christina, his awesome assistant, I call her the queen of Highmark, of Engine. But they know, and Highmark executive leadership knows. So many people at Highmark, so wonderful they are. You know what they know? When you hire someone with a disability, you give them the greatest gift. You give them freedom. Because until you can rent an apartment, buy a car, go on a vacation, you know, get married, have a family, send your kids to school, Until you can live the American dream, you are not free in this country because you are prevented from doing what everyone else can do. Poverty is a big barrier. And as we're celebrating National Disability Employment Month and you're listening to this great show, don't talk about it, do something. Hire someone. It's no good celebrating this month, but throughout the year you haven't been hiring people with disabilities. That is where the rubber meets the road. Nick, I wanted to ask you a question. Do you think that the employees, Bender employees with disabilities, when they get brought on board, even before that, but do you believe that they impact the other able-bodied employees in a positive way when they work together on a team? What do you think?

Absolutely. Any new employee will have ramp-up. That's all there is to it. Our security protocols, log-ons, you know, where the cafeteria is, what working hours, all that stuff. So that's neutral. I believe there is a very positive impact. And it also reminds people that we weren't all born the same way. We weren't. So, you know, some of us that don't have what you just described, limitations in supporting our family, gainful employment, I think it's a great reminder of how fortunate we all are in some cases. Maybe the day isn't so bad after all. Maybe things are pretty doggone good where you're at. So I think it's a very important reminder that once again, we were not all born the same and didn't have the same opportunities, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So I'm a big advocate in reminding. It reminds me when I started this, there was a gentleman back before COVID who was, you know, disability, and he was working hard to get to the elevators, working hard to get to the lobby, working hard to get to the bus. He turned around to me and he said, "Hey, pretty good day today." I thought to myself, well, if this gentleman's having a pretty good day, I should be having a great frickin' frackin' day. So it's those reminders that I think is important for all of us to reflect upon every so often, and maybe the day isn't as bad as we think it is.

Oh, that is so true. That is so true. Everyone knows that listens to this show that I'm living with epilepsy and I'm hard of hearing. And I'm going to tell you, I'm blessed because I take anti-seizure medication and it prevents me from having seizures. But there are many types of seizures. I do not have a convulsion, and people do not realize more people that have a seizure do not have a convulsion than do. Some people just blink. And you know what? There are children that have 100 seizures a day. So when I think about all that, you know, I too think, how blessed I am. Yes, I have epilepsy, but I'm proud. I live with a disability. I'm not ashamed, and neither should you be. Just remember, disability is just part of who you are. And guess what? You work with a lot of people with disabilities. Did you know that? Yeah, when I go to a company, if they say, "Oh, you know how you work with Highmark? We want to do that. We want to hire people with disabilities." I tell them, Oh, but you already have. Yes, they're working here right now. They have epilepsy, MS, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, anxiety disorder, diabetes, hard of hearing. I could go on and on. Right now, you are working by people with a disability. It's just They aren't telling anyone. You know why? Highmark is unique. Highmark promotes people with disabilities. And at Highmark, instead of people having to be ashamed, you know, they're applauded, they're included in everything. But I'm telling you, I always tell people, be careful. When you say something to someone, such as if you're an able-bodied person and you say, "Yeah, I don't know why they do this with Bender. People with disabilities, you know, I don't think they're as productive." Be careful. You may be talking to a person with a disability. You just don't know that you are. So, Nick, what has stood out to you as a way people add to the bottom line?

I've kind of described that, you know, I think additionally our retention has been very solid. It's certainly unproductive to have a lot of turnover and training and such. So retention has been very positive for us. And, you know, my indications are these folks are willing to go above and beyond. They just, they don't look at their role as the only thing they should be doing. They're willing to accept additional responsibilities and tasks, and that's very important from an employment standpoint. So, you know, there is no difference in our world between the categories, and that's the way it should be. And so, you know, these people are not looked at differently in terms of workflow, capacity, output, you know. This is not, as you articulated, this is not a charity. It's a business. And I think business has more longevity, more sustainability, you know, more continuity in being able to attract, you know, people from diverse backgrounds and making them part of a cohesive team.

Yes. And they do. It's not charity. When you hire someone with a disability, remember, it's not charity. It's adding to your business value. Mick, we talked a little bit about AI. So I'm gonna tell you what I hear all the time, and that is, there won't be any jobs, there won't be software developers. I'm talking about IT now. We're going to lose our opportunities. And, you know, if someone says, oh, but there will be jobs in AI, Like, what will those be? Will people have that skill? Will they be able to do that? Because everything's moving so quickly. So my question is, do you think it's still a good idea for people to have a career in IT and/or computer science?

Absolutely. I mean, AI is only a part of what information technology has to offer. There is— there are security roles. Those will never go away. You know, security is a bigger focus than ever. There are infrastructure jobs, you know, running the data center. Those jobs are still very prevalent, very needed. There are integration interoperability jobs, which is integrating data. There are data jobs. There are, you know, analytics. There is a wide variety of jobs within IT that will remain a hot commodity. And within AI, you still need AI engineers. You're still going to need people to actually, you know, train these large language models, LLMs they call them. So it'll be a different kind of workforce. But every technology revolution up until now has only added technology jobs.

Well, that is heartening to hear. Because as I said, many people talk to me and they're worried about that. So I felt, well, who better to ask that question to than you? And that's why I'll go back to what you said before, you know, invest in yourself, invest in yourself, know what's going on, keep apprised of what's going on. Do you know Abraham Lincoln said, your education never ends if you read. Now, it was paper back then, but it's the internet right now. And that is so true. You can keep apprised, up to date on what's happening. But see, you have to have that one precious trait or characteristic. Initiative. No one's going to do it for you. You've got to make it happen on your own. I am going to go ahead and do the news break right now because Perry cannot be with us today, and it's very short. You know, Voice America is bipartisan, so here's my message to you. Vote. If you're registered, you've got to get out and vote. Don't be at home talking about, oh, I hope this person wins, or I hope that person wins, and you do not go out and vote. Remember, elections have been won or lost by 20,000 votes. Your vote counts. And I always tell people, well, how would you like to be in Russia or China where that's never going to happen? You have the ability to vote. You have the ability to speak up and make a difference. So I just want to say, please get out and vote. And if you're a person living with a disability and you want to vote, you go to a poll, it's not accessible, just go to Disability Rights PA or go nationally to NDRN and tell them what's happening. I know right here in Pennsylvania, Perry Jude, who's the CEO of Disability Rights PA, will get a team out there no matter where you are in Pennsylvania. And it's like that across the country. And if you have any question about that, is joybender@benderconsult.com. Joy Bender at Bender Consult dot com. So if any questions, if you're worried about that, that you'll go to a voting poll and remember, it is the law that every voting poll has an accessible machine. If they don't, you gotta pick up that phone immediately. That's against the law. Every voting poll has to have at least one accessible machine. Get a plan together. You use a wheelchair, you need transportation, get a plan together now. Talk to your friends, talk to someone that can help get you there or access. This is Paratransit in Pittsburgh, but there's Paratransit everywhere. But if there isn't, Come up with a plan. Hopefully you already did the absentee vote if you're in that situation. But once again, get out and vote. And when I talk to people and they're complaining after an election and they tell me they didn't vote— I didn't vote because I didn't like either person— I'll say, then I don't want to hear you complain. Do not complain. You had the chance, you didn't vote. So I know Miss Christina Picone would be shaking her head saying, yes, get out and vote. So important that you do that. Um, okay, well, over the past years of your career, uh, Mick, what would you consider as one of your greatest accomplishments?

There's not just one. I think in general it's the ability to continue to learn new skills, adapt to different jobs. As I explained, I was a programmer for quite a while. We call them engineers now, fancy term. I ran data centers. I sold for a living. I was a project manager, an architect. A database analyst, all those things, you know, as I got opportunities and just kind of led towards that. So, you know, it's just a continual way of, you know, learning. Quite frankly, like everybody else, I needed a paycheck. And so it wasn't about being a hero or some kind of academic wizard, because I assure you, I am not. Because math is hard. Joyce, we talked about this, math is hard. So it was about sustaining employment and taking care of my family. So, you know, you need to do what you need to do to pick up new skills and make sure that continues to happen.

Well, don't feel bad about the math. Karen Hanlon has been on this show several times, and every show she reminds people that she failed calculus. So every time I talk to her, I'll say, There you are.

You failed. She's our math magician now. I'll tell you what.

I know.

I know. She does some ciphering it. And she does her gazintas, like 2 goes into 4 2 times. She is— she knows all those gazintas. Pretty impressive.

Yes, she does. She is a very, very smart woman. Speaking of that, Karen and David, you know, Do you believe, Mick, that it is because of the leadership from the top that Highmark has been so supportive of hiring people with disabilities?

Absolutely. You know, I believe wholeheartedly that things start from the top, good or bad, and they are a role model for all this. And David Karen and others are committed to this. They're not just, you know, talking the talk, as they say. So absolutely, you know, they're very sincere leaders who are very active in the community. And quite frankly, we do this job to make a difference.

Hey, we just got a message. I have to ask you a question for a family. What would you suggest if they have a child that is significantly bullied at school because of their visible disability?

Well, I've never been bullied, nor have I necessarily ever been a bully, so that's a bit of a tough one. I would say that certainly it's very unfortunate. I would tell them to seek help wherever they can get it. I mean, unfortunately, it's where the world is at these days, and this is a very serious question and could have very serious ramifications. It's disheartening that, that does even have to be said, but I, I would not try to solve this internally. I would not try to solve this without assistance, whether it be the school that person attends to or the community center, where it is. But don't try to solve things like this on your own. It don't work out very good.

Yeah, Mick is right. You've got to go to someone. You've got to go to the principal, uh, and if that doesn't work, or the superintendent. I mean, you can start with the teacher, but if you don't get results from the teacher or guidance counselor, you have to keep moving up. I'll never forget, there was a young woman, a friend of mine, uh, Julie, who lives in Denver, and Julie has Stevens-Johnson syndrome. A lot of people have never heard about that, but what it is, is there are people that have an incredibly allergic reaction, sadly, to medication like ibuprofen. Unfortunately, they never know it until they take it., and all of a sudden it's like fire. Their skin starts to burn, they start to blister. I mean, it's terrible. And Julie was one of those people. So she lost her vision in one eye, uh, and the other eye, you know, she can see, but she has limited vision. But you can tell that something happened, you know, with her one eye. She's a beautiful young woman. She's walking down the hall at school and she had her sunglasses on because of this, and one kid came on one side and blew an air horn, and the other one on the other side got the sunglasses and threw them. And, uh, Julie's mother, she tried everything, called, did everything she could do, nothing was happening. And I said, okay, go tell them I'm going to talk about them on the video show. Well, then they did do something. But you know what, isn't it sad it has to go to that level? It really is. Always think to yourself, how would I feel if that's my child? How would I feel? And if you're listening to the show and you are one of those young people, remember, as far as I'm concerned, you are awesome and Every day when you get up, remind yourself that you are awesome. You don't have time to listen to other people. They don't know what they're talking about. Remember, you are awesome. So, Mick, who is your role model?

I, I really— a lot of history, you know, tremendous amount of history. So I, I tend to lean towards the people that had very, very dark times in a country and rose above all that, and they were strong for an entire country. So comes to mind Abe Lincoln, of course, you know, very difficult time. Not going to get into the politics of that, but from a leadership standpoint, that really was a tough situation to lead. Also Winston Churchill, you know, the country was on the verge of not being a country, and so You know, they were the catalyst. They stayed the course. They led through exceedingly difficult times, different circumstances, of course. But from a pure leadership standpoint and intestinal fortitude, you know, they had what it takes. That's all there is to it.

Well, they did, and they did so much, so many great things. But right now, we're going to go to our final break. I mean, it is so awesome to have Mick Malek on the show today as we celebrate National Disability Employment Month. And by Mick hiring people, young people with disabilities that may be going through this, you can see there is light at the end of the tunnel and you have a friend. And with that, I'm going to go to break. This is Joyce Bender, America's Voice Where Disability Matters, at voiceamerica.com. Don't go away, we'll be right back.

Streaming live, the leader in internet talk radio, voiceamerica.com.

At Highmark, we believe what makes us different makes us better. Our differences broaden our perspectives and foster diverse skills which complement each other, creating a stronger and more vibrant workforce. It's this belief that earned us recognition by the USBLN and the American Association of People with Disabilities as a 2014 Disability Equality Index Best Place to Work. So we'll We'll continue to celebrate diverse individuals because inclusion benefits us all. To find out more, visit highmark.com.

Since 1985, Bender Consulting Services has served as a national leader in advancing employment of people with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, with private sector companies and federal government agencies. Bender assists customers with achieving their diversity and workforce inclusion goals. Inclusion initiatives by tapping into a talent pool of individuals seeking professional positions, including those in the STEM fields. In addition, Bender Services include disability employment consulting, training, and technology accessibility through their high-tech line of service. For more information, please visit www.benderconsult.com.

Everyone has unique abilities, and with Able Now, individuals with disabilities Americans with disabilities are able to save money while maintaining certain benefits such as Medicaid. ABLE NOW is a tax-advantaged savings program specifically designed for people with disabilities. Open an account online today and start saving for the things that are important to you. To learn if you or someone you know is eligible, visit ablenow.com. ABLE NOW is administered by Virginia529.

Are you currently receiving SSDI or SSI and wanting to work? Did you know there is a free Social Security program You know that new program called Ticket to Work to help you try work without risking your benefits? My Employment Options is an authorized SSA Employment Network specializing in work-at-home and local job placement in 47 states. Our clients receive a personal counselor to help find the best job fit and a staff-certified benefits counselor for help with Ticket to Work protections. Ready to try working? Apply for free job placement help at myemploymentoptions.com.

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You're listening to Disability Matters. Now please welcome back the host of Disability Matters. Here's Joyce Bender.

Hi, everyone. Welcome. Welcome back to the show. We are talking to Mick Malek, the CEO at Enjin, which is a subsidiary of Highmark. And I realized, oh, what's wrong with me? I did not ask you to describe Enjin in case there is a business person listening to this show or someone maybe executive level that has a child with a disability listening to the show. Why don't you tell everyone what NGIN does? What is NGIN?

We are a healthcare technology company. We do front middle office processing for Highmark. So that's, you know, claims and membership and portals and clinical systems and customer service systems and the full footprint on what a large health plan needs to operate their business on. We also do that for a couple of other plans in the country, and then we do all the technology for Allegheny Health Network, a very large provider network in western Pennsylvania. So we also have a dental component, reinsurance. So a big technology footprint supporting all those businesses. In the healthcare sector. And then of course we have a line of jams and jellies that we're very proud of as well. That can't— you just, quite frankly, you want to talk about some good plum jelly, we're your people.

Well, I've never thought about you that way, but I'll be remembering that. But here is my question: what if you are listening to this show right now, you're an executive level, you're not one of the Blues, but you're thinking, oh my goodness, I need to outsource or do something with our IT area. Are they able to work with Enjin if they are not a Blue?

Absolutely. We have non-Blue customers now. So if anybody's listening, works in the healthcare, healthcare sector, realizes, oh my gosh, it's moving very, very fast. Also, technology gets more expensive. I've been at this for a while and I've never seen the rapid rise in hardware and software and personnel I've seen over the last couple years. So being in the technology business is not for the faint of heart as you manage costs.

And there are a lot of intricate softwares and processes and packages in healthcare. So I would think if you're listening and you're a hospital or healthcare, whatever it is, I would want to work with someone that already understands what is Epic, you know, what AI do they use. But I can tell you, remember I endorsed Mick, Mick, how do they get in touch with you, or who do they contact if they want to talk to someone at NGEN?

Uh, well, I think you go to the NGEN website, and, you know, my credentials are out there. Be more than happy to engage. So it is, uh, www.gogen. .com, because I can't spell well. So go engine, E-N-G-E-N, goengine.com.

Remember though, it's E-N-G-E-N. That's how you spell it.

That's right, that's the Detroit spelling of engine.

Yeah, well, that's all that plum jelly that you're eating. That's what it is.

Oh yeah, you want the toast and every— on croissants. It's just like a whole thing going on here.

Yeah, with peanut butter. So, Mick, what message do you have for our listeners today?

Two-fold. One, if there are business leaders out there, I strongly encourage to give this a chance. Reach out to Joyce Bender. You won't be disappointed. Um, not always easy to change things up. I understand all that, but it's well worth it. Um, so I think from the business standpoint, definitely reach out to Joyce Bender. And on top of everything else, you know, it certainly feels good at the end of the day to be able to give assistance to people that need that little extra boost. We're all humans. We all like to contribute to something greater than just the next workday. And then on the other side is continue to invest in yourself. Never talk yourself out of a job. Never talk yourself out that you're not capable of something. I mean, I'm not the best role model, but coming from working the midnight shift to here does show that, you know, there is opportunity. And yes, I got breaks, but sometimes good old-fashioned hard work will get you a break. You know, not just going with the crowd, trying to do more, trying to be more, will avail you to options because leaders are always looking for that kind of standout performer.

Yeah, and by the way, if you need to talk to— if your CEO or someone at the C-suite level wants to talk to Mick, jbender@benderconsult.com, and I will connect them because there isn't anything like someone at that level talking to someone at another level that has not been doing this yet. So keep that in mind. And before we end the show, well, first of all, thank you very much, Mick, for being with me.

Oh, my pleasure. I really, really hope that Maybe a member of the business community will take us up on our offer. I'd be more than happy to explain our history here, why we feel it's a continual good value and a good thing to do. And then on the other side, you know, once again, keep, you know, don't talk yourself out of anything. There's enough people that are going to try to talk you out of stuff. I know that. I live that. So I really want to remind, I have to remind myself, I have half a clue, and I do think I know what I'm doing, and have a great day as I go about my business. But Joyce, that's just me. Maybe that's just who I am.

I don't know. Well, who you are is a wonderful person.

Well, thank you. I owe you a dollar.

And I want to say something. What my pastor taught me: learn to accept a gift graciously. You're very humble. But I am saying you are a wonderful person. And with that, before we end the show, hey, next week as we end National Disability Employment Month, guess who we have on? The Assistant Secretary from the Department of Labor, the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams will be on next week. One other thing, you can go to any social media venue and get this show and share it with someone. Make sure you do that. So we end every show with a quote, and today that quote is, "People with disabilities need a hand up, not a handout," said David Holmberg. CEO of iMark. And we end every show with a quote from Mary Brooker, and that is, "When you get up tomorrow morning, remember, choose joy." This is Joyce Bender, America's Voice on Disability Matters at voiceamerica.com. Talk to you all next week. With Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams.

Voice America would like to thank you for tuning in. Please join us next Tuesday at 11 AM Pacific time and 2 PM Eastern time for another installment of Disability Matters right here on the Voice America variety channel. We are the leader in live internet talk radio. VoiceAmerica.com.