Aspiritech Annual Report 2017

CULTIVATING GROWTH ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2017 January 1 - December 31, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTSA Treetop View 5Letter from Leadership 8 12Seeds of Our Success 16Mission and History 19 22Stretching Our Branches 252017 Highlights 25A Healthy EcosystemOur ClientsStanding Tall2017 Financial StatementDaily NourishmentOur SupportersOur RootsBoard of Directors, Management Team, and Advisory BoardA New Branch2018 Sneak Peak 1

“ I feel like I am advancing my ALAN skills and learning a lot with computers. I am also learning 30 years old to work with others, follow QA Analyst since 2009 directions, and stay focused ”on work.2

3

“ The environment and people are nice and helpful. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I feel a sense of ”accomplishment. CONDRE 25 years old Fundraising Assistant since 2018 (former QA Analyst)4

A TREETOP VIEW Letter from LeadershipDear Friends,The theme of this year’s annual report, Cultivating Growth, reflects our past and points to ourfuture. Aspiritech began as the seed of an idea nearly 10 years ago. Since then, we haveestablished strong roots thanks to engaged leadership, received nourishment andencouragement from our donors, supported the economic ecosystem through top-notchquality assurance testing at competitive prices, and grown in stature both nationally andinternationally. None of this would have been possible without our incredible employees. Wecurrently provide meaningful employment to 75 neurodiverse individuals—more than twiceas many employees as the beginning of 2016!In 2017, the Board of Directors and staff came together to create a strategic plan. This plansets the foundation for the next three years and paves the way for sustained growth. We willcontinue to “branch” out in 2018 with expansion into the new space on the second floor of oursuburban office, as well as a new satellite office in Chicago. When the new office opens this spring, we will be able to introduce additional trainingopportunities and create more possibilities for bringing together like-minded individuals andgroups to build a world that embraces neurodiversity. To that end, we are thrilled to be hostingDr. Temple Grandin on Friday, June 22. Stay tuned for more information.This year also brings a change in board leadership. We are exceedingly grateful to BeverlyShapiro and Gene Weiss, M.D., for their decade at the helm. Their dedication and passioncontributed in countless ways to Aspiritech’s success. We applaud them!As our tenth anniversary year begins, there is much to celebrate and more to be done. Thankyou for joining us on this journey, whether you have been there since the beginning or are justgetting to know us. Together, we can help cultivate a more accepting and innovative world. Sharon Bielski Brenda WeitzbergChair, Board of Directors Executive Director 5

“ I’ve learned to have more JONAH confidence in myself, and my self-esteem has increased. I 36 years old feel like I’m valued, instead of QA Analyst since 2017 ”being a burden.6

7

SEEDS OF OUR SUCCESS Mission and History Aspiritech empowers individuals on the a place where social quirks are embraced. It’s a autism spectrum to fulfill their potential place where independence flourishes, self- through meaningful employment combined esteem grows, and challenges are overcome.  with social opportunity. We envision a world that embraces neurodiversity by valuing tal- These gains also happen through the Stepping ents, supporting challenges, and welcoming Up & Out Program, which is open to adults ages differences.  18 and up, including those who are not employed at Aspiritech. Many adults on the At Aspiritech, we connect the unique talents autism spectrum find social interactions of individuals with autism—talents such as particularly challenging. The Stepping Up & Out laser-like focus, attention to detail, strong Program provides a comfortable space to visual processing skills, superior ability to interact with other adults on the spectrum. spot irregularities, superlative technical skills, Weekly activities, such as game nights, and lack of boredom with highly repetitive community outings, arts and crafts, and group tasks—with clients seeking this level of meals, help reduce social isolation and give expertise. Our employees provide quality participants an opportunity to improve their assurance (QA) services in regression testing, social skills.  data migration, test design, compatibility testing, data analysis, user acceptance testing, Much has changed in the world since our automation, design consistency, hardware founding. There is an increasing awareness and testing, and many more areas.  understanding of autism and neurodiversity in the general public. There are more companies But Aspiritech is more than a connector. It can like ours, and we’ve been happy to serve as a be life-changing. Our employees tell us, time role model along the way. Plus, technology and time again, that Aspiritech is unlike any continues to evolve. But one thing that hasn’t other employer. “I can be myself here” is a changed is our purpose. We are proud to common refrain. “This is the first time I’ve provide meaningful work and social opportuni- made friends at work” is another. Aspiritech is ties for individuals on the autism spectrum.8

TIMELINE 2016 2017 READ ON! Grew sta from 27 to 50 employees on 2015 the spectrum; client New o ce and revenue exceeds service o erings; $1,200,000 client revenue 2014 exceeds $500,000 Client revenue 2013 doubles compared Aspiritech to prior year continues to 2012 thrive New industries join 2011 as clients; business New services development o ered; autism director hired specialist 2010 hired First test 2009 engineers The company’s pilot hired program, a hands-on 2008 software testing training program, Aspiritech incorporated launches 9

ELI “ Before this job, I was really close to giving up my job 20 years old search. I was in a really QA Analyst since 2017 bad place. I owe Aspiritech ”a lot.10

GROWING GREATEREVERY DAY… 11

STRETCHING OUR BRANCHES 2017 Highlights Glowing Growth Setting the Moving On Up Foundation The number of Five hourly staff members with Three additional analysts were autism increased analysts moved to promoted to from 51 in January full-time salaried competitive project lead (senior 2017 to 63 in  employment QA analyst) December 2017.  elsewhere. positions. A Growing Footprint Novel Network Thanks to a generous grant from the Grandy We became a founding member of Foundation, we were able to expand our office to Neurowrx, an international alliance the second floor in January 2017. The additional promoting employment of people 4,500 square feet of space includes private con- with autism spectrum disorder in sultation and meeting rooms, space for 30 more STEM (science, technology, analysts, and a larger gathering place for staff engineering, and math). meetings and Stepping Up & Out.12

STRETCHING OUR BRANCHES 2017 HighlightsMaking the Dough Superior Support Punching In Average monthly We created a The average shift wages for ASD broader support length increased staff grew by 50 team structure by from 5.30 hours in percent.  adding a social January 2017 to worker and job 5.90 hours in coaches. December 2017.  Full Steam Ahead A Map For the Future The percentage of employees Executive Service Corps (ESC) of working full-time hours increasedfrom about 25 percent to 36 percent.  Chicago helped us formulate Full-time employees are eligible for updated mission and vision statements, as well as a new strategic the company health plan.  plan. The three-year plan sets exciting goals for the next phase of % our growth and development. 13

ERIC“ We’re not the most conven- tional company, but what 25 years oldeveryone agrees on is that Senior QA Analyst since 2014we are thorough and a good ”value for the client.14

EXCEPTIONAL CLIENT CAREEVERY TIME… 15

A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM Our Clients Aspiritech takes great pride in providing tremendous service for clients from a range of industries. In 2017, our client work grew by 80 percent over the prior year. We offer quality testing that is on time and on budget. This case study gives a sneak peek into the process. In November 2017, one of the country’s largest branded food operators contacted Aspiritech for guidance on how to make its popular website accessible for individuals with disabilities. Aspiritech was asked to identify all necessary types of testing to ensure compliance with Section 508, as well as lead the testing efforts. Aspiritech employed its team of DHS Certified Trusted Testers to run the project. Outcomes included: • Aspiritech decomposed existing functionality of the website to ensure thorough  coverage.  • The Trusted Testers team provided evaluation reports with detailed explanations of  WCAG 2.0 and/or Section 508 compliance.  • The report also included documentation of specific accessibility and usability  errors, code samples, resources, and recommendations to fix accessibility issues.  • The Trusted Testers team provided a severity rating to indicate the potential impact of each issue and help the client prioritize fixes.  In summary, Aspiritech was able to break down all features and functionality of the website to thor- oughly test for compliance.16

SAM“ I love that they are willing to accommodate us, and 25 years oldjust knowing that those QA Analyst since 2016accommodations are there makes me a more effective ”worker. 17

WHERE WE STAND…18

STANDING TALL 2017 Financial Statement Other2017 REVENUE $2,485,287 Individuals Foundations Businesses Released from RestrictedIndividuals $49,179 SoftwareFoundations $157,172 TestingBusinesses $68,727 RevenueReleased from Restricted $63,030Software Testing Revenue $2,146,158Other $1,0212017 EXPENSES $2,278,454 Management/General Costs FundraisingProgram Costs $2,138635Fundraising $10,986Management/General Cost $128,833 Program Costs2017 Surplus $206,833 19

“ Working here has given me KATIE more self-esteem. I feel good about accomplishing things, 41 years old and I feel good about promot- Social Media Specialist since 2010 ”ing this company.20

WE COULDN’T DO ITWITHOUT YOU… 21

DAILY NOURISHMENT Our Supporters Aspiritech extends its heartfelt thanks to the following donors who graciously supported us in 2017.$150,000 $1,000-$1,999 Donald and Carmela TozzoThe Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Bruce Belrose and Ester Stein Andi and Alan Berkowitz $250-$499 Foundation Carolyn and Ray Burton Amazon Smile Executive Service Corps  Aon Foundation Matching Grant$43,000 Ida Kersz, in honor of Daniel  Natalie BelroseGrandy Foundation Gray and Wendy Benoist Belrose Celia Berdes$30,000-$35,000 Mike Lippitz and Susan Wagner Leon and Marcia BernsteinAnonymous  MB Financial Bank Bindy Bitterman Fred J. Brunner Foundation Margaret McDonald   Marilyn Blasé, in honor of  The Roslyn and Joseph Perlman $25,000 Gail HenjumHealthcare Foundation of  Foundation Brian and Linda Bowers Beverly and Myron Shapiro  Gordon Bradford Highland Park Steinback Trust Russell D. Brown and Susanna  Dr. Gene and Mrs. Sharyn Weiss $10,000-$16,000 James and Minerva Weiss  McColleyAnonymous  Emily and Robert CarrollAlvin H. Baum Family Fund Foundation Maureen Chamberlain Helen Brach Foundation Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Cyzner, inThe Coleman Foundation  Yun Zhang and Ping HeDan and Connie Mayo honor of Oran WeitzbergLinda Joyce Murakishi Whitted $500-$999 Joann Dineen  Mary Jeanne and Mark Barberis  Teri and Dennis Dudasik, in $4,000-$8,000 Michael and Nina Blechman Jack Blane Foundation Edwin Blue  memory of Lillian KodrosBlowitz-Ridgeway Foundation Linda and Robert Braun Richard DyrdaMichele and Don Cronin  Paul and Deborah Doppelt  Amy Ecker and Clint Pross Finnegan Family Foundation Dr. Michael and Lisa Foreman The Ehrlich FamilyModestus Bauer Foundation Yuji and Rika Fukunaga Richard and Victoria ElliottSweeney Family Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates  Extrel CMSUnderwriter's Lab, LLC Karl B. and Deborah Fields,Drs. Hong Zhang and  Foundation Matching Grant MaryAnne and Fred Geiger in honor of Dunham Leiner Xian He-Sun Dr. Jack Henkin and Louise  Dan Garner  Jeremy Gibson and Irene Chase$2,000-$3,000 Pearson Bud GlickSimon and Rita Berger/Securitech Highland Park Professional Center   Bonny and Richard Goldin,Dr. Robert and Sharon Bielski Kristin and Bruce KoepfgenBradley and Jacqueline Cohen  James and Annette Ledder  in memory of Jake's Matthew Epstein Bill Leiner and Mary Munro grandfather, Jerry KurtzLeviton Family Foundation Todd and Lori Newberger, in Jorie GracenDavid and Karen Rappaport Dr. Louis and Suzanne Greenwald,  Season of Change Foundation honor of Sharon and Bob  in honor of Beverly ShapiroTrillium Foundation Bielski Deborah and Mark Hanahan Marc and Beth Noland James and Kelly Hart  Drs. Debbie and Larry Segil Jill and Bob Klein Kimberly Lee Stolze Ed and Abby Lasky Drs. John and Fatieh Sobolski Rinna and Eric Maletsky22

DAILY NOURISHMENT Our SupportersAspiritech extends its heartfelt thanks to the following donors who graciously supported us in 2017.Marc Mar-Yohana and Rachelle  MaryBeth and Tom Brown  Carol Linch Jervis Pete and Joanne Buchhop  Kevin McCarthy Charles and Carol Calcaterra, Carol McCulloughWilliam and Annette McClellan  Mediapros Inc.Ronald and Patricia Miller  in honor of the Bielskis  David NehmadiAndrew and Nancy Mills  Dr. and Mrs. Duke Cameron Maria Niedos Julie Moran Lynda and Scott Canel  Douglas NortonDavid Mortimer and Stephanie  Richard and Laura Whiting Clark  Alina and Vince Piagentini Marilee and Matthew Cole John and Linda Piegore Schalk- Mortimer Jennifer Cortese Jonathan PierceTimothy Mulvey Merrill Craig and Bernette Dr. Karen PierceVeronica Norton  Jan Pilarski and Jay Tidmarsh Odette Olson  Bodanis Hoyt David and Ann PodeszwaSteve and Sandi Perricone  Betty Dayron Ben ProzinskiDonna Piegore, in honor of  Dr. Ira and Amy Dolnick Dr. Lawrence and Suzanne  Paul and Diane Eident  Colin and Patrick Piegore Daniel and Marilyn Educate RobbinsJohn Piegore Scott Ernsteen Dr. Alan I. Rosenblatt Ted and Joan Podeszwa  Kurt A. and Marguerite  Jose SalinasDr. Gary Posner and Dr. Judith  Beverly and Myron Shapiro, in  Feichtmeir  Stamberg Anne and Staunton Flanders memory of Stephen Sehler    Will Reisig Erik and Margaret Ford Steven and Rochelle SlaterLarry and Michelle Rivkin  Janet and Merrill Freed Michael and Dale SolowLaurie Rosin  Daniel and Stacey Fishbein  Jamie Specht Gail Sehler Bonny and Harvey Gaffen Byron and Jean StatesMitchell and Barbara Serota Sheila and Vern Gideon, in honor  Lynntia SuttonLisa Shatz Barbara SweeneyDon and Peggy Shearn of Mark and Laura Friedman Kathryn L. StrandGlenn and Susan Snyder Gail and Donald Goldstein Linda WagnerYana and Gene Sosonkin  Liz and Richard Gordon  Linda Weiner, in honor of Robert K. Strobel  Charlotte HarrisRobert Wexler Gary and Carol Hart Robin KacynDean Zelinsky Julie Hecktman Jessica and Michael Young Katy and Hugh Zwick Therese and Dave Hughes, in  Dr. Moshe Zamir Don Zabelin and $100-$249 honor of Daniel Belrose Bryan and Sarah Apple Brenda Jansen Barbara Sered-ZabelinBrent Austin Vicki JenkinsBruce and Marcia Balonick Steve Karlin  Under $100Richard Basofin and Joan Zahnle Lynn Kauffman Mel and Donna Alexander  Barbara and Marc Berman  Vered and Israel Klinghofer  Gurv AnandBen Bielski  Arlene Koenigs Robert Blinick Michael and Rebecca Bier Arieh Konigl and Alice Roston Abigail BuhleRuth Bittner and Paul Helman Polly Kosyla, S. Wolf & Associates   Joan ChaseMark and Linda Blumenthal Riva and Scott Kurtz  Leslie CornRonald Brix  Moshe and Toby Leibowitz Sharon DavisSue and Nick Bridge Jerrold and Karen Bong Levy  Renee Dominguez, in honor of Renee Lewis  Ester Stein 23

DAILY NOURISHMENT Our Supporters Aspiritech extends its heartfelt thanks to the following donors who graciously supported us in 2017.Julie Solomon Classic Kids Omega RestaurantStephen Stabiner Cooper's Hawk Winery &  Original Bagel & BialyBrian Sundh Paper SourceSteve and Cindy Vincent  Restaurant Pinot's PaletteJeanni Watson Core Power Yoga RA SushiWill Weigler Cost Per Copy Consultants, Inc. Randoon’s Wearables and  Country KitchenIn-Kind Donors Gene Siskel Film Center WhatnotsAmi Ami Gordon Salon Aveda ROCKNRAGSAndi Berkowitz Grace Nails & Spa SalesforceArcLight Cinemas, Glenview Green Bay Cycles Sandra ReeseThe Barbers Highland Pop Shedd AquariumBarnaby's of Northbrook HP Tops Six Flags Great AmericaBella Via Jayne Glenn and Susan SnyderBruce Belrose and Ester Stein Jewel-Osco StarbucksBergie's Sports Card Dugout Jeweled Elephant State & MainSharon and Bob Bielski Julie Kaplan Photography SunflowerBlue Man Group Katie Levin-Photography Table ComplimentsBob Chinn's Crab House Le Chic Boutique Blow Dry & Style HouseCampus Colors Lou Malnati's Timeline Theater CompanyChelsea's Beads Massage Envy Top Chef and Baker Brian EmmettChicago Botanic Garden Mi-Te Printing Trattoria D.O.C.Chicago Cubs Micah Materre - WGN Victory Gardens TheaterChicago Shakespeare Theater Michael's Restaurant Village Tavern & GrillCitywoods New Balance Wear In Good HealthThe Claim Company Norton’s WGN24

OUR ROOTSBoard of Directors, Management Team, and Advisory Board2018 Board of Directors 2018 Advisory Board Senior QA AnalystsSharon Bielski, Chair Ed Asner Michael AshburneEster Stein, Vice Chair Brian King, LCSW Lauren BirnhakDavid Rappaport, Treasurer Bennett Leventhal, M.D. David (Vid) DeamerBarbara Berman, Secretary Dan Mayo Maxwell HuffmanAlan Berkowitz Danielle Moushon Dariusz KoryznaRon Brix Marc Noland Christina MacovskiBrad Cohen Louise Pearson Neil NietoJay Farrell Keita Suzuki Eric StatesBud Glick Hong Zhang, PhD Ian StrahanRachelle Jervis Brian TozzoMarc Mar-Yohana StaffBen Prozinski Brenda Weitzberg, Executive DirectorBeverly Shapiro  Moshe Weitzberg, PhD, Director of OperationsMoshe Weitzberg, PhD Ann B. Brownell, PhD, Senior QA Manager Faiza Alam, QA Lead2017 Board of Directors Harvy Ackermans, QA LeadBeverly Shapiro, Chair Richard Alexander, Technical QA LeadGene Weiss, M.D., Vice Chair Camilo Carreno, QA LeadDavid Rappaport, Treasurer Tim Dotson, Project ManagerAlan Berkowitz Bonny Goldin, LCSW, Social WorkerBarbara Berman Robin Kacyn, Development CoordinatorSharon Bielski Jake Klein, Bose LeadRon Brix Tory Peña, MEd, HR/Compliance ManagerBrad CohenBud GlickRachelle JervisMarc Mar-YohanaBen ProzinskiEster SteinMoshe Weitzberg, PhD A NEW BRANCH 2018 Sneak PeakComing soon: a satellite office in Chicago! A $150,000 grant from the Harry and JeannetteWeinberg Foundation will allow us to expand to Chicago in April 2018. Stay tuned for moreinformation about our new space. 25

Designer: Laurie WursterEditor: Kelsey SchagemannPhotographer: Katie LevinInterviewer: Alex Dudasik 1893 Sheridan Road, Suite 103 Highland Park, IL 60035 312-945-TEST (8378) [email protected] aspiritech.org