The Employer of the Year Award goes to an employer that promotes empowerment of persons through gainful employment. This year’s winner is Abbey Green, a new business in Winston-Salem. They are a recycling, resource recovery, and processing facility of construction, demolition and industrial debris. The company sells recycled crushed concrete, aggregates, chipped brick, gypsum for use in agriculture, boiler fuel derived from shredded wood, recycled cardboard used for fiber to paper mills, recycled scrap metal and plastic. Abbey green is dedicated to its workforce, offering a living wage and full medical benefits. In a local economy that has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs in textiles, furniture and tobacco, the company’s stated mission is “to create wealth and impact lives”. Many of their employees are looking for a second chance in life and the company works closely with the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, halfway houses and Goodwill to prescreen candidates. Abbey Green is committed to hiring people who have a positive attitude, want to work hard and are dedicated to bettering themselves and their fellow employees.