Though his previous job wasn’t a good fit, Evan Koloski didn’t give up hopes of being happily employed. He just needed to find a place where the pace and the people felt right.

“It worked out for the best,” Koloski said, “because I ended up here.”

The 27-year-old has now been a staff member at the Hilliard-Mill Run Panera for the past six years. He’s dedicated, dependable, and popular with both customers and colleagues.

“You’re the backbone of my back of the house,” general manager Mary Stormont told Koloski on a recent weekday morning.

Franklin County DD service coordinator Jasmin Chatman said the relationship between Koloski and Stormont is clearly a key to his success. It has helped him to establish the kind of employment “longevity” that can be elusive for many in the disability community.

“Mary is such a kind person, and she’s just the most supportive manager,” Chatman said.

Stormont said the gains are mutual, as she learns from Koloski, too. “You definitely know when Evan’s not here,” she said. “People expect to see him.”

Koloski loves theater and spends some of his time rehearsing and performing with Open Door Stage & Screen, an inclusive, artist-led ensemble that features performers with and without disabilities. “We all go to his shows,” Stormont said. “Evan does a great job combining his two worlds.”

At Panera, Koloski tends to the coffee and tea, wipes down tables and takes out the trash. He doesn’t prepare food or run the register, and that’s fine by him. He knows he can ask for help if needed.

“Sometimes I might pause. People might ask me if I’m okay,” Koloski said. “I am; I just might need a reset.”

Chatman often smiles when she sees Koloski and Stormont working together. “My son is on the spectrum, and I pray that one day he finds a Mary,” she said.