Passion is at the heart of everything Rachel Caylor sets her mind to, including her work as a production assistant at GCE Designs.

Rachel has a variety of production responsibilities, including using the heat press, counting and sorting products, and her favorite tasks—trimming fabric, shipping and inventory. She enjoys helping her team stay organized and fulfill orders.

Rachel approaches her work with a focus on continuous learning and growth.

“My skills include being able to learn different things, striving to get better, working hard and focusing on learning the different areas and stations,” she said.

Despite being with GCE Designs for only a few months, she says the support she has received from her supervisors and coworkers has already made a significant impact.

“What I like about my leaders is that they’re very supportive; they’re very helpful. If there’s something that you don’t understand, they work with you and help you,” she said. “My team is an awesome team to work with.”

That supportive environment has helped Rachel feel valued as both an employee and an individual.

“They’ve helped me know I’m valued, I’m worth what I do, I’m important and that they care about me. They care about my career and success. If at times I get overwhelmed, they tell me to go take a break, and some jobs wouldn’t let you do that,” she explained.

Rachel lives with cerebral palsy, anxiety and depression. While those challenges can sometimes affect her emotionally, she continues to push herself to grow and pursue opportunities that allow her to make a difference.

Outside of work, Rachel is an accomplished Special Olympics athlete and leader. Earlier this year, she earned a gold medal in cheerleading at the State Summer Games and will begin competing in volleyball this fall. Over the years, she has also participated in track and field, gymnastics, basketball and golf.

Beyond competing, Rachel is an Athlete Leader through Special Olympics’ Athlete Leadership Program, which helps athletes build leadership skills and encourages them to become leaders. She is also a Health Messenger, educating and encouraging others to become advocates for health and wellness.

Rachel’s commitment to serving others extends even further, as she runs her own nonprofit organization. She founded Cool Abilities Self-Advocacy to help individuals with disabilities become self-advocates and leaders.

“It’s all about advocacy; people like myself and others are trained to be self-advocates, lead groups and be able to help others become self-advocates,” she said.

Whether she’s hard at work on the production floor, competing as a Special Olympics athlete or helping others find their voice, Rachel is committed to learning, growing and making a positive impact on those around her.

To support the work of GCE Designs team members like Rachel, place an order with GCE Designs or get involved.