Minnetonka’s Dunn Bros. Coffee Embodies Inclusive Employment Through State-Funded Automation Efforts

Ellie Swanson may not have a taste for coffee, but her new gig at Dunn Bros. Coffee in Minnetonka is brewing up something special. Swanson, a former Transition Plus student, has quickly found her footing at the coffeehouse, delighting in tasks from cash handling to egg preparation. “My favorite part is I can make eggs and also I love to do the cash register,” Swanson told the

City of Minnetonka’s official website

. Her role at Dunn Bros. Coffee stands testament to the broader movement: the inclusive employment of individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

In an inspiring blend of state support and private enterprise goals, owner Michael Kollar is leveraging the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF), provided by the state of Minnesota, to integrate automated espresso machines across his coffee shops. This initiative simplifies the coffee-making process, enabling Kollar to open up employment opportunities to those from the disabled community. His ownership of the Minnetonka Dunn Bros. Coffee shop, which commenced in July 2023, has since stretched to include branches in cities like Hopkins, Excelsior, and Savage. “The community has really stepped up and supported this,” Kollar, now a seasoned local coffee mogul, stated to the

City of Minnetonka’s news section

.

“I want to let people know that even though you have a disability or not you can still work like other people,” she shared with the

City of Minnetonka’s website

. She emphasizes a message that defies limitation, underlining that persistence is key: “It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are. It takes time to learn things but you will get it.” And it’s this sentiment that Kollar and his team hope will resonate not just within the walls of Dunn Bros.

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