Cory Fuller has been working at Panera Bread in Avon for 18 years now, a job he was able to get with the help of Sycamore Services, whose mission in Hendricks County is to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
They offer services for children through adults, ranging from ABA therapy to residential assistance to transportation.
Another way they serve their members is to partner with local businesses and connect them to meaningful jobs in the community through the employment services program.
For Fuller, he began working at Panera Bread in high school and has never stopped.
“I wash dishes, wipe down tables, take out the trash and wipe down the windows,” Fuller says. “My favorite part is wiping down the tables because you get to interact with people. I love to help people.”
His least favorite part of the job is taking out the trash, and who could blame him, but Fuller does it with a smile on his face and a positive attitude.
It’s a welcome sight for Bryce Hayden, general manager at Panera Bread.
“I started at this location in October of 2024 and Cory, of course, was here on the first day. He’s been here a long time and was really one of the first people I got to know,” Hayden says. “He’s been great to have on staff because we didn’t have anyone that was doing what he does at my old store. Having someone that is so naturally good at coming out and talking with people is nice. A lot of the younger employees don’t like talking to people, but Cory is great at that and it’s awesome.”
Not only is it important for people like Cory to have a chance to learn responsibility and teamwork, but they also have an opportunity to showcase their skills in unique ways.
It’s a win-win for members of Sycamore Services as well as their company partners.
Hayden says plenty of businesses are focused on the bottom line. How many people do we need on staff for the least amount of money spent?
However, what Cory brings to the table goes above and beyond the bottom line.
“I think everybody deserves their place in society. Cory is just really good about doing these tasks and is a real delight to customers. It’s a bridge between stopping in and getting food and communication and creating a nice, warm environment, and Cory is amazing at doing that. When you have amazing people, it draws customers to your business and they’ll gladly spend their money with you,” Hayden says.
It’s important to Fuller to be a helpful member of the team and he’s glad to have the support of Hayden and others on staff.
“Teamwork makes the dream work and the dream doesn’t work unless the team works together,” Fuller says. “My co-workers are nice and Lee [Wilhite], my job coach, comes in once a week. We get along really well. If I have questions, he can help me.”
A job coach with Sycamore Services visits the employee and helps managers and employees navigate the business environment. Perhaps additional training is needed or simply helping the employees learn how to communicate their needs to staff and management. A support system is in place to make the partnership and the opportunity seamless.
“They do really good work at Sycamore. It’s a great communication bridge to have Lee help Cory with anything he needs and vice versa,” Hayden says.
When he’s not working and chatting it up with customers, Fuller enjoys going out into the community — another service offered by Sycamore Services — to go to the movies, the gym and walk at the mall. He plays video games and hangs out with his brother Zack.
He also has his favorite dish at Panera.
“I like to order the Ginger Chicken Grain Bowl, especially after my workouts,” Fuller says.
When asked what he would do if he didn’t work at Panera, Fuller says he doesn’t know. Panera has been home for 18 years and he plans to never leave.
“It’s really important for businesses to have staff that are nice and friendly and Cory does a great job,” Hayden says. “This is the perfect job for him and we’re happy to have him on the team.”
Comments 1
What an awesome young man!!