We are proud to announce that Columbia Ability Alliance has been recognized on a national stage for its outstanding contributions to advancing disability employment. During the 2025 SourceAmerica® Xforce Conference in Indianapolis, we were awarded the prestigious Government Contracts Award as part of SourceAmerica’s annual Achievement Awards.
This honor reflects our unwavering commitment to creating economic opportunities and fostering inclusive workplaces for individuals with disabilities. As a proud AbilityOne® authorized provider and member of the SourceAmerica network, we strive to not only provide employment but also to empower people with disabilities through meaningful, sustainable careers.
Why This Award Matters
The SourceAmerica Achievement Awards spotlight organizations, employees, and partners who lead with innovation, determination, and compassion in the disability employment space. At a time when the unemployment rate for people with disabilities remains nearly twice that of the general population, these awards remind us of the critical importance of inclusion and accessibility in the workforce.
Columbia Ability Alliance received the Government Contracts Award, which honors a nonprofit agency for excellence in AbilityOne contract performance. Our organization was recognized for our longstanding AbilityOne contract with the General Services Administration, where we have provided best-in-class custodial and landscaping services for over 30 years—while creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities at a key community facility.
Excellence at the Richland Federal Building
A shining example of our commitment is our work at the eight-story, 300,000-square-foot Richland Federal Building, home to eight key federal agencies including the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Department of Labor, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Our custodial team at this facility exemplifies how the use of cutting-edge technology, standardized methods, and training strategies that embrace different learning styles can maximize productivity and promote employee success. The GSA contract team includes 14 individuals with disabilities, each playing a vital role in keeping this high-traffic federal building clean, safe, and operational.
“At Columbia Ability Alliance, we’re honored to have our efforts recognized by the Achievement Awards, which continue to showcase how advancements in disability employment strengthen our nation’s workforce, communities and economy,” said Michael Novakovich, President and CEO of Columbia Ability Alliance.
Novakovich emphasized the impact of a well-maintained workspace:
“It’s a nice clean environment. There is something that your focus isn’t on, which is maybe something that was otherwise, and you can focus on the task at hand which is super important. And then again, all of the interactions that happen between our team members and the federal contractors in this building are just life enriching.”
To maintain quality and transparency, Columbia Ability Alliance utilizes CleanTelligent technology to perform cleaning inspections and generate monthly reports.
“It lets us check off individual items, like ‘Is the desk clean? Are the garbage cans taken out? Are the walls clean?’ Then, at the end of the month, I give a report to my customer saying this is the deficiency we found, and we corrected them in so many days,” said Justin Saltz, Division Program Manager.
Building supervisors often refer to our custodial team as “the magic that keeps everything clean,” highlighting how our work ensures successful health inspections and everyday comfort for all building occupants.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this incredible achievement, we remain focused on our mission: building pathways to employment that are inclusive, equitable, and economically empowering for people with disabilities. This recognition is not just a milestone—it’s a motivator to continue driving impact through collaboration, advocacy, and action.
To learn more about the SourceAmerica Achievement Awards and see the full list of 2025 honorees, visit SourceAmerica.org.
For more about our work and mission, take some time to browse our website.
