For more than 25 years, Jill Benton, founder of Benton Architects in Sausalito, has provided residential architecture design services for new homes, additions, and remodels. Jill met with us to celebrate her business's new status as an EmployABILITY Champion and learn what that means to her.
How did you start your business?
While I was working at another firm, I started thinking about starting my own company. I began by taking on clients and working on my off hours and on the weekends. From there, I kept getting more and more referral business, so I established my own business in 1997. The company had a different name then; in 2022, for the 25th anniversary, I changed the name to Benton Architects.
How do you plan to use EmployABILITY Business Grant funds to grow your business? We’ll be using the grant funds to hire individuals with disabilities, engage a disability inclusion consultant to train us on inclusive hiring practices, and buy accessible equipment and software.
What does the future look like for your business?I’m very excited about the future, especially now that we have received this grant! Most importantly, we’ll keep offering design services that help our clients make their homes beautiful places to live. Getting this grant means that I can hire someone, which will mean we’re able to take on more work.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of this grant, an EmployABILITY Champion?
It’s been a challenge to find new employees, and the EmployABILITY Business Grant opens up so many opportunities with a new talent pool. This grant will help me find new employees to grow my company.
For more information on Benton Architects, visit https://www.bentonarchitects.com/.
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