News & Events

A spotlight on Kayde Hopkins and the lives she uplifts every single day.

Some jobs find you. The right ones do.

When a coworker first recommended the position at what was then TVS, Inc., Kayde Hopkins didn't simply see a job listing, she saw something that stopped her in her tracks and moved her to tears. Not overwhelm. Not uncertainty. Pure, overwhelming joy, the kind that only comes when something you didn't know you were searching for suddenly appears right in front of you.

The mission felt personal from the very first word. It still does. Because Kayde is the mother of Alden, a beautiful son with disabilities, and she understood immediately, in the way only a parent can — what it means when an organization doesn't just talk about inclusion but builds its entire foundation around it.

The ALULA Mission:
Empowering individuals with disabilities and the businesses they serve through programs and manufacturing that create lasting impact.

Starting at the Front Door

Kayde began at the front desk in reception, where she greeted every person who walked through ALULA's doors. It was the perfect beginning for someone whose greatest gift is making people feel seen and welcomed.

From there, she moved into Human Resources as an HR Assistant, and eventually into the People and Culture team, where she now focuses on benefits engagement, working each day to ensure ALULA's employees are cared for in every way possible. Each step forward has been fueled by the same thing: love for the people here, and a drive to support them better.

Her leader, Jeff Lutrell, has been a steady hand throughout, investing in her growth through SHRM conferences, hands-on training, and role support that has never stopped. That investment has taken root. Kayde recently earned her certification in Employing Abilities at Work through SHRM — a credential that deepens her understanding of the population ALULA serves and the accommodations that make inclusion real, not just stated.

A Day That Begins with a Snowflake

Ask Kayde what a typical day looks like, and she'll tell you about a dear friend who is also a coworker at ALULA.

This coworker has worked at ALULA for over 25 years. Every morning, Kayde’s friend plugs in her snowflake light. And then, like clockwork, they visit her at 10:12am, at 12:17pm (give or take, depending on what they’re having for lunch), and again at 2:12pm.

In those visits, in that gentle and faithful rhythm, lives the entire reason Kayde shows up every day.

"I can always rely on the same kind wave and sweet hello. Genuine interactions, fueled purely by love." — Kayde Hopkins

Every day is the same, yet different. The smiles are familiar. The needs of the people she supports shift from morning to afternoon. That balance, consistency and change, routine and growth, is the heartbeat of this place.

A New Face at ALULA

Of all the moments Kayde has collected in her years at ALULA, one stands above the rest. This story lives in Kayde's heart.

Week by week, something extraordinary happened.

• Week 1
  A new participant at ALULA arrived overwhelmed. Everything was new. Kayde watched as they and their mom walked reluctantly all the way to the LifeSkills floor.
• Week 2
  The participant and their mom made it to the corner of the ALULA lobby where their mom stayed and watched them walk the rest of the way to the LifeSkills floor.
• Week 3
  The participant’s mom walked them through the front doors – as the participant walked further into the building on their own.
• Week 4
  The participant’s mom stood by the car. They looked back, then kept walking. This day, they made it all the way to the classroom. On their own.

Kayde kept her eyes on them from a distance, standing at the copier near the window watching without announcing her presence. She needed to know they were okay. She walked to the glass. And there they were, looking right back at her.

She gave the participant’s mom two thumbs up from across the parking lot, tears in her eyes. Not just because the client felt safe and accepted at ALULA, but because of their mom's patience, that quiet and steadfast love reflected something Kayde carries with her every single day as Alden's mom.

"Watching a participant grow in confidence along their new journey at ALULA taught me to appreciate baby steps, in any challenge in life." — Kayde Hopkins

Heart First

Kayde doesn't mince words about what it takes to thrive at ALULA. Working here has grown her patience, deepened her empathy, and exposed her to a diversity of people and stories that she says has changed her, professionally and personally, in ways she wouldn't trade for anything.

Her closest connections here tell that story on their own: another individual that was once a Program participant here, whose personality reminds her of Alden, her best friend, and another client, faithful as ever at 10:12am, 12:17pm, and 2:12pm.

These days, Kayde says she feels something she didn't always: a seat at the table. A voice that provokes positive change. A role that lets her show up not just for the people she serves, but for the mission she believes in with her whole heart.

"You must have heart here. This is not your typical manufacturing facility. One should extend grace while being mindful of setting aside personal challenges, because at ALULA, we uplift in all ways." — Kayde Hopkins

Looking Forward

Kayde is excited about what's coming, new programs like abilIT, new faces, new possibilities. Her deepest hope is that ALULA's reach grows until the waitlist disappears entirely. Until every person in this community who needs support can access it, without waiting.

"Change is hard. But I hope to be the support network everyone needs." — Kayde Hopkins

That's Kayde Hopkins. Front-line of support. Certified advocate. Devoted mother. And one of the truest examples of what ALULA's mission looks like when it takes root inside a person and grows into something extraordinary.

We are grateful she walked through that door.