KeyBank and the Precisionists Inc. Grow and Expand Innovative Program Supporting Employment of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities

Program is among the first for the financial services industry, and a first for the Cleveland market
May 14, 2021 10:00 AM ET

CLEVELAND, May 14, 2021 /3BL Media/KeyBank and The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a Wilmington, DE-based company that creates jobs for individuals across a broad range of disabilities, are growing and expanding their partnership in a program designed to provide employment for adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism. Since June 2019, KeyBank has been utilizing The Precisionists’ innovative disability employment model across a number of areas in its business.

Individuals taking part in the program, among the first for the financial services industry and a first for the Cleveland market, are identified, assessed, trained and employed by TPI. Since this partnership began, participants have carried out project-based work in KeyBank’s Key Technology and Operations Services departments, including anti money laundering, fraud, and loan services. The TPI Associates work to support KeyBank’s clients, while receiving ongoing direction, training and support from their TPI project leader. During the pandemic, Key and TPI were not only able to maintain the program in a virtual environment, but expand it into Residential Mortgage operations. A project team is also exploring opportunities to both convert some TPI Associates to full-time KeyBank teammates and expand the program across other areas of the bank.

“Even with the challenges 2020 presented, we were able expand our partnership with TPI. This speaks to KeyBank’s commitment to building an inclusive workplace which provides opportunities for all,” said Michael O’Boyle, KeyBank Senior Vice President and Category Manager of Banking Services in KeyBank’s Procurement Group. “All of us at KeyBank are energized by the results we’ve seen with this program and are so proud to provide this opportunity and see our colleagues grow and succeed in their roles with us. To see the difference this program makes each and every day has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

KeyBank was recently recognized by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) as a Leading Disability Employer. This is the fourth year KeyBank has received this recognition and reflects the work across many lines of business and partnerships that provide supportive experiences for people with disabilities who engage with and work for KeyBank.

“When properly assessed, trained and employed, people with autism and other developmental disabilities are high-performing in critical and challenging jobs, such as administrative business functions, software testing and data analytics,” says Ernie Dianastasis, CEO of The Precisionists. “Considering that 75-80 percent of neurodiverse people in the country are either unemployed or underemployed, we are making a true difference in engaging a significant, untapped and high-performing labor force right here in the Cleveland area. I am thrilled to on this journey towards inclusive employment with and innovative organization like KeyBank, a true industry and community leader!  Together we are creating jobs for neurodiverse Ohioans.”

This program supports The Precisionists’ goal of employing 10,000 people with disabilities in the United States by 2025.

THE PRECISIONISTS INC. CONTACT:
Patricia Pfarrer
Director of Marketing Programs
302-588-2353 (work)
Patti.Pfarrer@theprecisionists.com

KEYBANK CONTACT:
Matthew Pitts
Communications Manager – Northeast Ohio, Western & Central New York
716-270-4243 (work)
716-903-8468 (mobile)
matthew_pitts@keybank.com

ABOUT THE PRECISIONISTS
The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a B-Corporation, is a national company focused on providing industry best practices for delivering administrative and technology services by building teams which include individuals with disabilities. This approach enables The Precisionists to meet each customer’s specific needs, and to deliver projects with the

highest degree of productivity. The Precisionists is dedicated to creating jobs for individuals with disabilities in all the markets it serves. In 2018 TPI received the national award from The Autism Society of America, for doing the most to advance employment for individuals on the autism spectrum nationwide. The Precisionists, Inc. is headquartered in Wilmington, DE. Learn more at www.theprecisionists.com.

ABOUT KEYBANK
KeyBank's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $176.1 billion at March 31, 2021. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,000 branches and more than 41,000 KeyBank ATMs and Allpoint surcharge free ATMs for many customers when using a KeyBank debit card nationwide. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.