How a lobby attendant at Lakewood's Five Guys found exactly the job he wanted

Matthew cleans the windows at the Five Guys in Lakewood Towne Center. It is one of his job duties when he works his shift.

There are windows at the Five Guys in Lakewood Towne Center that get cleaned better than any other window in the center.

Matthew will show you — with a smile. 

As a lobby attendant, Matthew is responsible for keeping the restaurant clean, welcoming and ready for every customer who walks through the door. It's work he takes seriously. It's work he's proud of. And those windows? It's his favorite part of the job — because cleaning it means he gets to look outside while making sure the place looks its best for the people coming in.

That kind of quiet pride is something Matthew has been building for a long time.

A relationship over the years 

Matthew has been a Centerforce client since June 2018. In the years that followed, Centerforce Employment Manager Christina White worked closely with Matthew to identify the right job match that fit his strengths, his schedule and his vision for his own life.

Centerforce Job Coach Miranda Kimbrough, left, client Matthew, and Employment Manager Christina White, who placed Matthew in the job in March 2023.

On March 1, 2023, that match was found. Matthew was placed as a lobby attendant at Five Guys, where he handles light janitorial duties and keeps the dining area well maintained for staff and customers alike.

Job Coach Miranda Kimbrough has been by his side: not doing the work for him, but making sure Matthew has everything he needs to do it himself.

"Miranda is nice and keeps the job fun while she supports me and reminds me what's next," Matthew says.

That's exactly the kind of coaching relationship Centerforce works to build: one that fades into the background as confidence grows, and steps in when it's needed most.

What independence actually looks like

Ask Matthew what this job has given him, and he doesn't hesitate.

Matthew with his Five Guys manager, Esme.

"By working here, I have gained a sense of independence because there are tasks that I'm able to do on my own without a job coach."

This carries a lot of weight. For many of Centerforce's clients, independence isn't a distant goal; it's something that gets built shift by shift, task by task, day by day. Matthew's growth at Five Guys is a perfect example of that process in action.

The impact hasn't stayed at the restaurant, either. Matthew says working at Five Guys has made him more detail-oriented and tidier at home. Skills he learned on the job have become habits in his personal life, a quiet but powerful ripple effect that extends far beyond the restaurant.

He's also made friends. Lots of them. The Five Guys crew has welcomed Matthew fully, and those relationships are part of what makes him eager to show up every shift.

A manager who gets it

None of this happens without the right employer.

Esme, Five Guys manager and a five-year veteran of the restaurant, has been a steadfast partner in Matthew's success. She has watched him grow into his role and seen firsthand what a consistent, dedicated lobby attendant can do for a busy restaurant.

"The cleaning gets done," Esme says, "and it helps our store improve a lot."

But Esme will also tell you that Matthew's presence has done something harder to measure and just as valuable. Having Matthew on the team has helped her crew become more comfortable and more familiar with individuals with disabilities. That kind of cultural shift doesn't come from a training seminar. It comes from showing up together, shift after shift, and getting to know someone as a coworker and a friend.

That's the kind of workplace Five Guys has become. And that's the kind of employer partnership Centerforce is proud to build.

"I like my days and I like my hours"

When we asked what he'd want Centerforce to help him with next, he thought about it for a moment.

"Honestly, there is nothing else I would need Centerforce to help me with since I have a job. I like my days and I like my hours."

We've heard a lot of success stories over our 55-plus years of service. We've celebrated first paychecks, promotions and long-tenured milestones. But there is something powerful about a person who can look at his life — his routine, his work, his community — and say: this is enough. This is what I wanted. I'm good.

That is not a small thing. That is everything.

What this means for Centerforce's mission

Centerforce's mission is to empower adults with disabilities to engage in their community through advocacy, employment and education. Matthew's story is that mission, made real.

It is a client who showed up ready to work. A manager who found the right fit. A job coach who made the work feel human. A manager who gave someone a real chance. And a crew that became, over time, a community.

Every piece mattered. Every person played a role.

If you are an employer in south King, Pierce, or Thurston County who wants to build a team like the one at Five Guys — one that is stronger, more connected, and more inclusive — we would love to talk.

And if you or someone you know could be the next Matthew, we would love to hear from you too.

Contact us at info@centerforce.net