Bo Kwon on how his restaurant business benefits from employing people with disabilities
By Bo Kwon, Owner, KOi Fusion
Originally published in the Portland Business Journal on January 3, 2018
Eight years ago, I launched my dream — a Korean-Mexican infused food truck. Since then, our small business has rapidly grown. KOi Fusion is now one of the most popular and recognized eateries in Portland with four operational food trucks and six non-mobile locations.
As a small business owner, I’m always on the hunt for talent to help my business thrive. Businesses benefit from drawing from a wide pool of talent, especially one with diverse candidates. With the state’s unemployment rate at an all-time low of 4.3 percent, there’s a shrinking pool of workers for businesses to hire from. For our bottom line, it’s more critical than ever to diversify and expand the talent pool from which we choose our workers.
One way that I’ve grown my business is by tapping into an underutilized workforce: people with disabilities.
One way that I’ve grown my business is by tapping into an underutilized workforce: people with disabilities. Three of my employees experience disabilities. Like all of my employees, they’re capable, reliable and an asset to my business. Giving people who usually don’t get a shot the chance to prove themselves is something I enjoy.
Continue reading this story at Disability Rights Oregon, here.