Photo by Samantha Davis Standing left to right, Lindy Kurzhal, Stephanie Haney, Colleen Klinkhammer, Nick Finnegan, Steve Klinkhammer, Corey Antony, Jeanine Root and Pam Koch all gather during an appreciation lunch to SEI clients hosted by the AmericanInn Thursday afternoon. The SEI provides employment to individuals with disabilities at local businesses.

MARSHALL — The lobby of Marshall’s AmericanInn hotel was filled with cheerful clients engaging in conversation from the Service Enterprises of Minnesota (SEI) who were getting ready to have an appreciation lunch hosted by hotel owners Steve and Colleen Klinkhammer.

“It’s just good that they can get out, get their own paycheck, and they feel accomplished,” SEI job coach Pam Koch said. “That’s what makes me happy.”

SEI is a private nonprofit corporation with locations in Redwood Falls and Marshall that provides employment and day support services to individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and other barriers to employment.

The organization has been in place for 55 years and works with individuals 18 to beyond retirement. SEI partnered with AmericanInn in May 2002, and employees work on housekeeping duties.

“It’s more of being like a family,” Steve said. “The joy of them coming in the morning, they come through the front door and they have smiles on their faces. Our customers appreciate that too, they really do.”

The hotel clients include Corey Antony who’s been working with SEI 14 years, Nick Finnegan since 2003, Stephanie Haney joined the team last spring, and Jeanine Root has been with SEI for 35 years now.

“I like to get out a lot, and it’s one way to get out and socialize,” Haney said. “I like to get out of my apartment a lot. The best part is working.”

Haney said her favorite part is bedmaking.

Root and Haney both said they have all become close and enjoy creating close relationships with each other.

As everyone gathered to grab pizza and chat over lunch about holiday plans, football and Christmas traditions, the Klinkhammers also surprised them with gifts like mugs, hot chocolate and gift cards.

“They just help a lot, they do a really excellent job. We don’t ever worry about them,” Steve said. “The coaches do a great job (as well).”

Koch has been working as a coach for nearly 20 years, and Lindy Kurzhal joined the team a few years ago.

“I love my crew, they are a lot of fun,” Kurzhal said. “We can have fun, but we still get our work done. That’s the main thing, is getting the work done and having it done properly and complete.”

Steve said he and Colleen have worked in the restaurant business before moving to Marshall and getting into hospitality, and have always worked with special needs and offering employment. He said the partnership with SEI “fit right in.”

“It’s just great to see them have an opportunity to get to socialize and work,” Steve said.

The clients in Redwood Falls work to package up coffee and popcorn, and sometimes distribute it to grocery stores. The Marshall clients work with various janitorial services.

SEI supports on average around 70 people each year between Redwood and Lyon counties.

As the appreciation lunch was wrapping up and all of the employees gave hugs to Steve and Colleen with “thank you’s,” remarks of “thank you for everything” and “see you tomorrow” filled the space.

“We have challenges, sure, but the rewards always outdo the challenges,” Koch said. “It’s never boring, that’s what I love about this job.”