Man with Down syndrome thrives in the workplace

Tyler Pence seems to always have a smile on his face.

"I am happy," he said.

That's what his boss, Marc Woods, loves about him. "He's just a joy to work with," Woods said.

Pence — who has Down syndrome — hasn't let that stop him from working. He has a job at Bank of America.

"I am always on time, and I always have a good attitude," he boasted.

But growing up with a disability can be difficult. Pence said he was sometimes bullied.

"In school, they do mean stuff to me," he remembered. "I told my teacher and principal, and one person got expelled."

But in corporate America, Tyler Pence is respected.

"Tyler is a much different person today than when he got here," Woods said.

Pence teamed up with Best Buddies, an organization that helps people with Down syndrome thrive. They provide mentors who encourage people with the disability to succeed and to have fun.

Brooks Igo is Pence's buddy. "He's always bragging to me about how much he gets paid, and his paycheck, and wants to buy me dinner," Igo said. "It's pretty funny, and I have definitely seen his confidence grow."

Pence is a part of a team of 60 employees who all have disabilities. They help Bank of America send out large mailings.

The team makes almost no mistakes, with a success rate of 99 percent.

Pence is now an ambassador for Best Buddies, helping spread an anti-bullying message and sharing others his recipe for success.

"Always talk to friends at work and have a good attitude," he said.