Hope Services has reported strong job placement results for people with disabilities in 2026, with organization leaders indicating that placements have already exceeded last year's totals.

David Caldas, executive director of operations for the Land O' Lakes nonprofit, told Spectrum Bay News 9 that the organization had surpassed its 2025 total by July.

"Last year we placed over 600 people with disabilities in employment," Caldas said. "This year, as of July, we've already surpassed that number."

Founder Cindy Bray shared somewhat different figures with the Tampa Bay Beacons in August, reporting 423 job placements in 2025 and more than 460 in 2026. Although the totals vary, both accounts point to an increase in employment placements this year. It was not immediately clear whether the figures reflect different reporting methods or categories of placements.

The announcement lands during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, observed each October.

One of the program's recent graduates is Brendan Gillium, who has autism and struggled to break into the technology field before connecting with Hope Services. Gillium landed a position at PCLand Network Services, where he diagnoses and repairs computers. He earned a CompTIA certification through the program and plans to renew it in 2029.

Cesar Rabi, CEO of PCLand Network Services, praised Gillium's drive. Rabi told Bay News 9 that Gillium puts real effort into finding solutions and that the results speak for themselves. Gillium said he wants to move into cybersecurity after finishing his learning program at PCLand.

The numbers keep growing.

The placements grow out of partnerships with local businesses. Caldas said the arrangement benefits both sides: candidates get paid on-the-job training and resume experience, while employers get a worker whose wages are covered during the training period.

Hope Services was founded in 2003 by Bray and her husband after their daughter, who has a disability, struggled to find work. The organization now has 22 employees and offers nationally recognized certifications in culinary arts, hospitality, construction and other fields. It serves individuals across Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas and several other counties from its Land O' Lakes headquarters.

The nonprofit is also expanding. Hope Services plans to open a second center in Hudson by spring 2027. The new location, a former bank building behind the Wendy's at U.S. 19 and S.R. 52, will offer medical certifications along with training in culinary arts, construction, hospitality and retail. Caldas told the Beacons the center will aim for small class sizes of about 10 students, with costs kept minimal and sometimes covered by grant money.

The Bayonet Point site sits across the street from a county bus hub, making it accessible for students without personal transportation. Caldas said the organization hopes to open a third center within about five years.

Information is available at hopegetsjobs.org.