OPPORTUNITYA Publication of National Industries for the Blind

Investing in PeoplePlus n Seattle’s Deaf-Blind Programn Visionary Media Companyn 2011 Employees of the Year

Volume 4 | Issue 3 | SUMMER 2011

Letter From the President

Engage, Experience and InspireEmployee learning and development are essential elements of enhancing the workplace environment. Whether it is advancing your star players or helping others to reach the next level of performance, career development opportunities are critical to retaining high-potential employees. Learning and development strives to positively influence the effectiveness of employees and teams by motivating, encouraging and empowering people to act. And employee retention research shows that individuals stay longer where they experience professional and personal growth.

NIB has been investing significant resources in learning and development to enhance the quality of our best assets — our people. Our learning and development team works closely with our associated agencies to support our vision and mission and to foster career advancement for employees. Our team identified organization capacity gaps and assessed training that was needed to fill these gaps. The result of their efforts was well-targeted training content in our Contract Management Support program, Quality Work Environment Initiatives, a variety of business-related training and individual performance support programs, as well as the introduction of a new element of our Business Leaders Program aimed at supervisors. Effective Supervision: The Essentials is the fifth and newest track of this program and was designed to develop participants’ abilities to succeed in

supervisory positions with greater effectiveness and to prepare them for increasing levels of responsibility.

Recognizing that different types of learning exist and that learning happens in a variety of ways, each of our learning and development programs was designed differently. People learn from courses, project work, mentoring, collaboration and life experiences. And our learning and development team has also aligned all of its strategies with NIB’s vision, mission and goals.

We invite you to learn more about NIB’s learning and development initiatives in this issue of Opportunity. NIB offers a wide variety of learning and development options that strengthen technical knowledge of our own employees and those in our associated agencies. And while technical training is at the core of our learning and development initiatives, we are now supplementing these courses with interpersonal skills training to enable our employees to become more valuable to our associated agencies and our customers. By investing in our people, we will engage and inspire our workforce, foster innovation and growth at NIB and our associated agencies, and empower people who are blind to achieve their fullest potential.

Kevin A. LynchPresident and Chief Executive Officer

OPPORTUNITY is published quarterly in winter, spring, summer and fall. It is also

available at www.nib.org.

Mary Jane SurragoEditor

Laura ReimersVice President, Communications

Martha FassettSenior Communications Specialist

Robert PopeGraphic Communications Manager

OPPORTUNITY welcomes news and stories about the careers and capabilities of people

who are blind. Contact editor@nib.org.

To change a mailing address, write opportunity@nib.org.

Senior Leadership Team:

Kevin A. LynchPresident and CEO

Steve BriceVice President and Chief Financial Officer

Angela HartleyExecutive Vice PresidentClaudia “Scottie” KnottChief Operating OfficerLynn Millar Konetschni

Vice President, Human ResourcesThomas Panek

Vice President, Relationship Management

OPPORTUNITY | NIB Summer 2011 Issue2

Summer 2011

2 Engage, Experience and Inspire Letter from the President

4 A Man With a Plan Former NIB Fellow Kevin Daniel is making his

mark as executive director of the Inland Northwest Lighthouse in Spokane, Washington.

5 News & Notes n GSA and NIB Sign Strategic Supplier Alliance Charter n NIB Board Announces Irwin Award Winner n Save the Date: 2011 NIB/NAEPB Annual Training

Conference in New Orleans October 5-8 n New 2011-2012 AbilityOne Catalog in Print and Online

6 Cover Story Investing in People NIB’s targeted learning and development initiatives engage and

inspire employees to build on their talents and become better leaders.

12 Specialized Services for People with Dual Sensory Disabilities As part of its core mission, The Lighthouse for

the Blind, Inc. in Seattle provides comprehensive services to persons who are Deaf-Blind.

14 Visionary Media Creates More than Music Visionary Media in New York City provides customers

with all of their media needs using a pool of trained and talented artists who are blind.

16 2011 National Employees of the Year Two shining stars are selected by NIB’s Board of

Directors as the 2011 Employees of the Year.

17 AbilityOne Base Supply Centers on the Move Base supply centers deliver quality, value and

convenience to a growing list of government customers.

18 Quoted & Noted n SKILCRAFT® Products Meet USDA BioPreferred

Program Standards n Lions Industries for the Blind Celebrates 40th Anniversary n Oklahoma Agency Launches Navy Mail Management Contract n Recent Conferences and Events n NIB Associated Agency Employee News n NIB Mailbox

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Interpreter Brenda Aron (right) translates for Deaf-Blind Community Class student Ken Sting (left) during a session at Seattle Central Community College.

Singer, song writer and band leader, Danny Kean.

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The 18th Engineer Brigade was equipped by the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind’s BSC store team at Fort Hood, Texas.

ON THE COVER:

Doug Goist, Contract Management Support (CMS) assistive technology coordinator, and Amanda Lee, CMS training coordinator of NIB’s Learning and Development Department.

A Man With a Plan

As executive director of the Inland Northwest Lighthouse, forward-thinking Kevin Daniel wants his facility to be the best place to work in Spokane.When Kevin Daniel was enrolled at the Indiana School for the Blind, his Boy Scout troop leader made sure that the school’s troop did everything other Boy Scouts did — including snowmobiling. Daniel credits that troop leader for his adventurous spirit.

After attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Indiana University at Indianapolis where he studied business administration and public relations, Daniel managed Northwest Indiana’s first Randolph-Sheppard vending facility. “I got involved because it intrigued me to be an owner of a business operation,” said Daniel. From there, he became a call center manager for Starwood Hotels and Resorts for more than a decade.

He completed NIB’s Fellowship for Leadership Development in 2010, a two-year track that combines business-focused, on-the-job experience with formal management training. As part of the Fellowship, Daniel earned a certificate of completion from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. The program targets qualified, high-potential employees of NIB and NIB associated agencies who are blind, motivated to succeed in a business setting and have demonstrated leadership potential. “NIB’s Business Leaders Program guided me in the direction I wanted to take in business,” said Daniel. “It gave me the confidence to know I can help drive positive action to help more people who are blind succeed in business.”

Daniel’s completion of the Fellowship, coupled with steady career progression, was instrumental in helping him land

OPPORTUNITY | NIB Summer 2011 Issue

the position of executive director of the Inland Northwest Lighthouse, a satellite operation of The Lighthouse for the Blind, headquartered in Seattle. With responsibilities for budgeting, fund development, public relations, resource strategy, recruitment, community outreach and employee growth potential through leadership and mentoring, Daniel’s focus is on contributing to the Lighthouse’s strategic initiative to add 500 livable wage career opportunities for people who are blind over the next five years. As part of this initiative, he is actively looking for blinded veterans to fill positions as more work and professional positions are developed at the Lighthouse.

Just two years old, Inland Northwest Lighthouse provides opportunities to 41 employees who are blind. “My job is to sustain these great employment opportunities through retention activities, support the development of more professional opportunities, and reach out and keep people who are blind on a waiting list engaged with us,” said Daniel. “We need more people who are blind to carry this torch.”

Describing himself as passionate and driven, Daniel said, “We want to be the best place in town to work, not the only place in town. That’s our goal at the Lighthouse.”

He was recently invited to join the Board of Directors of Leadership Spokane, which has a mission of preparing and encouraging a diverse group of community members to assume trustee leadership roles for the purpose of building effective communities throughout the greater Spokane area. ::.

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Daniel lives with his wife Marsha and son Thadius in Spokane. Marsha is a marketing coordinator for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, where the couple first met.

“NIB’s Business Leaders Program gave me the confidence to know I can help drive positive action...”Kevin Daniel

News & Notes

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GSA and NIB Sign Strategic Supplier Alliance Charter With the signing of a Strategic Supplier Alliance Charter agreement between NIB and the General Services Administration – Federal Acquisition Service (GSA-FAS), NIB and GSA-FAS leaders agreed to work together to identify opportunities to improve customer service, procurement quality, program management, engineering and program integration to further improve support to federal government customers.

The agreement was signed by NIB President and CEO Kevin A. Lynch and GSA-FAS Commissioner Steven J. Kempf on May 11 at the 2011 GSA Training Conference and Expo in San Diego, California.

The pact between NIB and GSA-FAS will promote collaboration that supports the missions of both organizations, including product sponsorship, acquisition, distribution and marketing efforts for the AbilityOne Program. ::.

Pictured left to right: GSA Administrator Martha Johnson, NIB President and CEO Kevin Lynch and GSA-FAS Commissioner Steven Kempf.

NIB Board Announces Irwin Award WinnerArun B. Shimpi, NIB’s long-time vice president, strategic business issues, was named the 2011 Robert B. Irwin Award winner by the NIB Board of Directors. After more than 40 years of service to NIB and its associated agencies, Shimpi has been an integral part of the executive team, contributing both his business expertise and historical knowledge of NIB issues. His responsibilities have included managing NIB’s annual business and strategic planning, conducting macro-level studies and overseeing legal issues.

The R. B. Irwin Award is the highest honor given by NIB to a professional or volunteer who has championed

employment of people who are blind. The award is named in memory of Dr. Robert B. Irwin, who worked with other leaders toward the formation of NIB. ::.

Arun Shimpi, retired NIB vice president, strategic business issues.

Save the Date: 2011 NIB/NAEPB Annual Training Conference in New Orleans October 5-8Planning for the 2011 NIB/NAEPB Annual Training Conference, scheduled for October 5-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the New Orleans Sheraton, is underway. This annual conference, attended by NIB and NIB associated agency leaders and

staff, offers a great opportunity not only for learning and networking, but for recognizing and honoring the NIB associated agency Employees of the Year. To learn more, visit the Events page on the NIB website. ::.

New 2011-2012 AbilityOne Catalog in Print and OnlineThe new 2011-2012 AbilityOne catalog features more than 3,000 items, including a broad range of environmentally-preferable products, produced by NIB associated agency employees who are blind. To order print copies of the catalog, contact customer service at 1-800-433-2304 or customer_service@nib.org.

The catalog is also available online at www.AbilityOneCatalog.com. The website has been updated with a new look and an advanced search function to better serve customers. Site enhancements include designated sections for new products, green products and AbilityOne Program services. ::.

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Investing in PeopleNIB’s learning and development team provides essential skills and knowledge to support the organization’s vision and business goals.

NIB’s Learning and Development Team members:

Front row: Jason Bryn, workforce development program director; Sandy Finley, training and development specialist; Kathy Gallagher, learning and development manager; Amanda Lee, Contract Management Support (CMS) training coordinator.

Back row: Billy Parker, CMS training program director; Karen Pal, Business Leaders Program director; Jack Tootson, director of learning and development; Doug Goist, CMS assistive technology coordinator.

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The best employees are focused on expanding their experiences and expertise to advance their careers. They want to sharpen and improve their skills to reach their full potential. At the same time, employers want to retain their high-potential employees to advance their missions. That is why NIB launched a learning and development initiative to support career development for leaders and employees at NIB and its associated agencies.

Under the leadership of Jack Tootson, NIB’s director of Learning and Development (L&D), training strategies are driven by NIB’s vision, mission and core values. An experienced executive who has provided internationally recognized measurable results for organizations striving to improve or change their structures, Tootson has a proven record of helping organizations to increase leadership capabilities, create efficient training solutions and develop human resource programs that support business goals.

Recognizing that learning is most effective when it addresses the specific needs of an organization, Tootson conducted a needs assessment with leadership from NIB and its associated agencies and then designed his strategy around five guiding principles for training development:

1 Focus on AbilityOne Program business and employment. 2 Sponsorship by the leadership of NIB

and its associated agencies.

3 Accessible infrastructure for people who are blind or visually impaired.

4 Measurable results in improving skills and knowledge and increasing employment.

5 Sustainable actions to support the vision and mission of the organization.

NIB’s learning and development initiatives are carried out by an eight-member team, five of whom are blind. Their major objective is to ensure that training reflects NIB’s workplace performance and organizational goals, including leadership development and enhancement of professional and technical skills. In addition, NIB’s successful Business Leaders Program, Contract Management Support Training Program and Quality

Chris Cantu, CMS trainee at the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Texas.

Developing Future Leaders

Fellowship for Leadership Development 12 fellows completed since 2003

Business Management Training 79 students graduated since 2004

Leaders At All Levels 5,666 employees trained since 2005

Business Basics 258 enrollees since 2007

Effective Supervision: The Essentials 21 participants, 19 coaches in 2011

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Work Environment initiatives were folded under L&D. The results of that collaboration and focus on new directives led to more opportunities for business-related training, individual performance support, and learning technology and enhanced sessions during national conferences.

Business-Related TrainingLast summer, NIB hosted an orientation for new executives from associated agencies. Revamped from the original training program developed in 1974, agency executives learned about NIB resources, the AbilityOne Program and NIB’s functions and services. Then in December of 2010, NIB’s Operations Support and L&D departments offered Business Development Training to improve associated agency personnel’s participation in the AbilityOne Program. A key enhancement to the course was advance reading and case studies. The course was so well received by the 35 participants that NIB will offer it again in December 2011.

Partnering with NIB departments is critical to the success of any training program. By incorporating cross-departmental expertise, training is business focused and supports

cooperation between NIB and its associated agencies. In March, NIB sponsored Compliance Training for associated agency personnel, and in May, NIB hosted a two-day Work/Project Management seminar at regional locations of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind in Texas and Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind in North Carolina. During the first week in August, the same training will be held at Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired-Goodwill Industries in Rochester, New York. On the horizon, training for NIB staff will include managing work and projects, negotiations, email etiquette and effective writing.

Every month, NIB offers interactive webinars on hot topics to associated agencies on subjects such as: How to Develop Overhead Rates, Understanding AbilityOne Pricing Changes, How to Identify Service Opportunities in your Area and How to Effectively Manage Your Federal Contracts. Although webinars were initially presented by NIB staff, agency and federal subject matter experts are asked to share their experiences with personnel from associated agencies. One such example was the webinar on How to Market Your Agency’s Capabilities and Leverage the AbilityOne Program Message led by Dan Boucher, executive chair, Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind and Bob Hanye, president and CEO of A.V.R.E., Binghamton, New York. Both Boucher and Hanye shared their more than 35 years of experience in the AbilityOne Program and running successful agencies. Boucher advised listeners to take every opportunity to thank elected representatives, customers, suppliers and donors for supporting employment at the agency. “A picture is worth a thousand words, but a tour is worth a million words,” Boucher said, when stressing the importance of hosting tours for various publics. Hanye added to this by encouraging webinar participants to engage partners in the organization’s mission by inviting them to banquets and special events and training them on blindness and its unique challenges.

Bridging the GapTo prepare individuals who are blind for careers in business, NIB launched the Business Leaders Program in 2003. The program encourages professional development and transforms high-potential employees into successful business people and future business leaders. To date, the program reaches more than 1,000 people annually, and 65 percent of NIB’s associated agencies have been involved in one or more of the program’s five tracks.

Desirree Nelson, an employee at Paperclips, Etc. a base supply center operated by Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind at the U.S. Census Bureau in Suitland, Maryland. WSIFB, headquartered in North Carolina, is an NIB associated agency participating in the Quality Work Environment initiative spearheaded by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (formerly the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled).

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The first opportunity offered was the Fellowship for Leadership Development, a salaried 20-month program that combines business-focused, on-the-job experience with formal management training. Business Management Training, taught by the faculty of the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, is an 18-month curriculum that was developed to build business acumen and critical management perspectives and abilities. Then, NIB introduced Leaders At All Levels, which provides on-site training focusing on fundamental skills and qualities that enhance workplace effectiveness, as well as Business Basics, which provides free on-line courses in partnership with The Hadley School, to teach entry-level business concepts and skills.

In 2010, NIB identified a need to provide additional training to high-potential employees interested in supervisory jobs. As a result, NIB introduced Effective Supervision: The Essentials as another track in the Business Leaders Program, recognizing the need to enhance supervisory skills of people who are blind in NIB associated agencies. Effective Supervision is provided in three intensive 2½-day sessions over a 10-month period. Session I – Understanding Supervision – took place in March 2011. Session II was offered in June and focused on Managing and Leading the Work, and the final session will cover Managing and Leading People. Facilitated by Management Concepts, a provider of instructor-led training, Effective Supervision also includes a session on performance coaching for participants’ managers, who are expected to support the success of the participant in the classroom as well as when applying new skills/concepts on the job. The managers’ performance coaching session was held concurrently with the first session

Karen Pal (center), NIB Business Leaders Program director chats with Latoya Fields (left), office supply supervisor, Mississippi, Industries for the Blind, Jackson, Mississippi, and Sheryl Krueger (right), assembly and packaging production coordinator, Wiscraft, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Participants in the 2011 Effective Supervision: The Essentials course offered through NIB’s Business Leaders Program.

Connie Booher, utility worker in the file folder department at the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Cincinnati, Ohio, an NIB associated agency that has implemented Quality Work Environment initiatives.

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in March, and managers are expected to carry out their coaching and support of the coach-supervisor “contract” throughout the program. The program evaluation summaries for Session I have indicated overwhelming positive opinions by the managers and participants of the training, program materials, course content, and applicability to the job.

Engaging Government Partners In another learning and development initiative to foster more high-growth career opportunities for people who are blind, NIB partnered with the Department of Defense’s Defense Acquisition University (DAU) to provide the core courses required to establish a foundation in contract management free of charge to people who are blind. To implement the training, NIB’s Contract Management Support (CMS) Training Program was established in 2009 to develop high-growth career opportunities for people who are blind by providing high-level training in the field of contract management. The training is conducted in two tracks: Track 1 focuses on contract closeouts and requires a four-year degree or equivalent work experience. Participation in Track 2 entails a four-year degree and 24 business credits and concentrates on direct job placement in the federal government in contract management.

The CMS Training team recruits, trains and assists with the placement of qualified candidates in associated agencies, the federal government and the private sector. To date, 171 individuals have registered in CMS training, and the interest in this employment opportunity remains high with other potential candidates.

More than 30 participants have landed jobs as a direct result of their participation in CMS training, most of whom became contract closeout specialists with NIB associated agencies. Others found jobs at NIB in the contracts and pricing departments, in the private sector with Northrop Grumman, or as federal government employees working for the Norfolk Naval Hospital and Defense Contract Management Association as contract specialists and the United States Army as a procurement analyst. The team continues to develop relationships with both the federal government and private sector that will result in more placements.

Beyond the ClassroomLearning today has moved beyond courses to alternative modes of sharing information. NIB’s L&D team is working with NIB associated agencies to implement Quality Work Environment (QWE) initiatives. This continual improvement process assists personnel in associated agencies to improve employment practices, thus enhancing career development for employees. The results have been positive with agencies reporting improved orientation, recognition and benefit programs for employees; flexible work hours; improved communications; greater employee engagement and career planning activities. As word spreads, more associated agencies are embracing QWE and initiating positive changes and improving accessibility throughout their facilities.

Exceeding ExpectationsNIB’s L&D team supports NIB’s mission by growing the capabilities of employees at all levels at NIB and its associated agencies. The team fosters employee career advancement by providing learning and development opportunities at individual, team and organizational levels. From NIB’s nationally recognized Business Leaders Program to QWE initiatives and technical and skills training, NIB’s learning and development initiatives inspire employees to excel in the performance of their jobs, achieve their career goals and contribute to NIB’s vision to be a premier organization of empowered employees that exceeds expectations of all stakeholders and champions opportunities for people who are blind to achieve their full potential. ::.

Alex Rosalez, box department assembly lead employee at the Tarrant County Association for the Blind, Fort Worth, Texas, an NIB associated agency participating in the Quality Work Environment initiative.

Specialized Services for People with Dual Sensory Disabilities

More than 100 years old, The Seattle Lighthouse is the leading employer of people who are Deaf-Blind among NIB associated agencies.

Seattle prides itself on its rich diversity. It’s not only a cultural and ethnic melting pot, but also home to a diverse population of people who are blind, largely due to the presence and reputation of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Within the population served by the Lighthouse are people who are also deaf. About 15 percent of the Lighthouse’s 240 employees who are blind or visually impaired are also deaf or hard of hearing.

Of the five senses, vision and hearing are the primary ones through which individuals collect information because they enhance a person’s mobility and communication. For people who can see and hear, the world extends as far as their eyes and ears can reach. For people who are Deaf-Blind, the world may be only as far as their fingertips can reach.

Approximately 80 percent of what an individual learns is acquired visually, and hearing is the basis of communication that most people use. The combination of impairments of both senses places greater challenges on a person’s ability to function effectively in a “hearing-sighted” world. It is largely because of these barriers

that seven out of every 10 blind adults are unemployed or underemployed, with unemployment climbing to 80 percent for people who are Deaf-Blind.

Those who are Deaf-Blind do not necessarily lose both of these senses totally. Some people may have enough hearing to understand speech when using a hearing aid, and they may have some usable vision with corrective lenses. Usher Syndrome is the leading cause of Deaf-Blindness and is generally characterized by a person being hard of hearing or deaf at birth and experiencing a loss of vision later in life from retinitis pigmentosa.

Communication is KeyBecause people who are Deaf-Blind have a wide variety of both vision and hearing loss, the Lighthouse uses many different ways to communicate, such as American Sign Language (ASL), Braille, talking machine programs, computer screen-readers, screen magnification software, and tactile finger spelling, to name a few. While the most common form of communication is tactile ASL, the most critical factor is ensuring that a person has access to the

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Deaf-Blind retreat participant Steven Frank (left) and a volunteer Support Service Provider (right) in a yoga workshop.

Seattle Lighthouse Machinist Christopher Loomis, who is Deaf-Blind, demonstrates an Okuma computer numerically controlled machine to a tour group.

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world beyond his or her reach. Thus, communication methods vary with each person, depending on the degree of their combined vision and hearing loss.

At The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., ASL training is offered to all employees. There is an Interpreting Department with four full-time staff, who move about the agency daily to assist in communicating among staff, employees, clients and family members. An additional 60 to 70 interpreters, or roughly two interpreters per person, are called in when the Lighthouse holds an employee meeting or event to ensure that there are enough interpreters for tactile ASL with employees who are Deaf-Blind.

Life SkillsThe Lighthouse fosters an environment where employees can grow and move up to more challenging positions. It offers Braille literacy classes, orientation and mobility instruction, independent living classes, housing support services, English as a Second Language classes and computer training programs. Deaf-Blind classes connect students with each other and offer the opportunity to learn leadership and a variety of skills. Its Technology Training Center is designed to serve Deaf-Blind adults through the use of computer and assistive technology for work and independent living. Instructors provide individualized training to support personal independence, opportunities for upward mobility and technological literacy.

Each year, more than 80 Deaf-Blind individuals attend a retreat in Seabeck, Washington, which is supported by over 140 volunteers who act as sign language interpreters. The retreat, which has been offered by the Lighthouse for more than 30 years, provides an opportunity to be with peers and friends who truly understand living with a dual sensory disability in a completely accessible environment.

Building CareersThe Lighthouse’s rehabilitation and other support services, coupled with its emphasis on a fully accessible workplace, are crucial to the success of adults who are both deaf and blind to enjoy meaningful career opportunities. Paul Ducharme is one of those individuals who has succeeded due to the Lighthouse’s support services for people who are Deaf-Blind. Originally trained by the Lighthouse as a machinist, Ducharme is currently making a transition to a new position as Deaf-Blind Community Class and Retreat Coordinator. His new responsibilities involve

planning and coordinating the Deaf-Blind community classes held at Seattle Central Community College and the Lighthouse’s annual Deaf-Blind retreat.

Helen Keller once said, “Blindness separates a person from things, but deafness separates him from people.” As an integral part of its mission, the Lighthouse ensures inclusion — moment by moment — for people who are Deaf-Blind in the flow of information and their physical environment, enabling them to grow to their fullest potential. ::.

Paul Ducharme (left) assists Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl (right) with a simulated white cane demonstration during a White Cane Safety Day Event in Seattle at the Mt. Baker Link Light Rail Station.

Technology Training Center Instructor Di Black (left) with student Jenné Chalfant (right).

Visionary Media Creates More Than Music

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Visionary Media offers opportunities to people who are blind in music, media and advertising, while providing comprehensive audio, video, entertainment and other media-related services to customers.

Music cast its spell over Doug Maxwell years ago when he learned to play piano at age three. Instead of heading to law school when he graduated from Yale University in 1985, Maxwell decided to build his career in the entertainment industry. He founded Media Right Productions in New York City to help musicians and artists work synergistically with technology to communicate in a powerful way. That organization has grown into a successful business over the last 25 years, with Maxwell having produced and composed music for Gladys Knight, Joan Osborne, Taylor Dayne, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Motown, Warner, EMI, Sony music, and CBS television. He has composed advertising campaigns for Oreos, Cheerios, Nabisco, and Sheraton Hotels and created music products for Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, The New York Mets, The New York Yankees, Hallmark, Basic Comfort, Playboy Enterprises and the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“The entertainment industry is one of the hardest fields to succeed in,” said Maxwell. “It’s even harder for talented blind musicians, technicians and artists who must conquer the additional challenge of bridging their talent to the sighted world.”

Born with no sight in one eye and 20/200 vision in the other, Maxwell knows these challenges firsthand. “I wanted to empower people who are blind to be able to compete in the music and advertising industries.” That’s what inspired him to create a new nonprofit organization for this purpose.

In 2005, Maxwell approached NIB when he learned of a new grant being offered for entrepreneurial job creation concepts. Visionary Media was incorporated in August of 2006, and NIB’s seed money was used to reach out, engage, train and connect people who are blind to succeed in the entertainment world. Within six months, 45 people were signed up for services, and today, Visionary Media has more than 250 artists on its rolls. About 45 of these clients were referred from the New York State Commission for the Blind, which provided a training grant to Visionary Media to assist aspiring young artists and musicians with visual disabilities.

To make the most effective use of resources, Visionary Media shares space with Media Right and The Collective, a premiere music school accredited by the National

Doug Maxwell, founder and CEO of Visionary Media, New York.

Henry Butler, renowned blues musician, moved to New York after he lost his home in Hurricane Katrina. Also a photographer, Butler’s work has been displayed in galleries across the country and in HBO’s documentary, “The Dark Light.”

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Association of Schools of Music. In this totally accessible facility, musicians, artists, video technicians and other professionals in the entertainment industry learn, collaborate and work side-by-side with each other.

Visionary Media clients have access to a vintage “Neve” analog console, totally rebuilt last year, with production software that enables each technician to program the hundreds of controls to his or her preference. These options enable people with varying degrees of blindness to operate the system. A large print keyboard was added to further enhance accessibility. Clients also have the opportunity to learn more about video production on a digital Euphonix console. “We have amazing new technology that levels the playing field for people who are blind in the field of media,” said Maxwell. “We don’t promise an outcome, but we give them the training and tools that they need to compete.”

Some of that training includes seminars to enhance one’s song writing skills, which is taught by successful artists who donate their time. Other courses are offered on topics such as video production and achieving goals in the entertainment industry.

Aside from training and connections provided to the talent, Visionary Media’s capabilities are impressive. Audio services include music composition for film and television, underscore and sound design, sonic branding, audio recording services, film and TV mixing, voice-over and narration, descriptive video, advertising jingles, audio for web and corporate communications, CD mastering and replication. Video services include on-location videography, photography, 3-D animation, video editing, color

correction, format conversion, directorial services and talent coordination. Visionary Media also provides website design, accessibility evaluation and compliance; search engine maximization and custom IT

solutions. The organization has a pool of talent including live musicians and DJs for events, motivational speakers, custom CDs and onsite broadcast systems, bringing custom music and

messaging by blind artists to lobbies, commercial locations and retail outlets.

Los Ciegos Del Barrio, a salsa band, and Justin Kauflin, a blind jazz pianist, played at the Plaza Hotel in May at a gala event for the Foundation for Fighting Blindness. Visionary Media redesigned Emmy Award-winning composer Johnny Young’s website, including photography, videos and web graphics, and the company is working with blues musician, Henry Butler, to raise money for his new album. Butler assisted Visionary Media in celebrating its fifth anniversary with a concert performance in June. The organization has produced videos for NIB and provided talent for events. A solo pianist performed at a fundraiser for the San Francisco Lighthouse, and Visionary Media produced holiday gift CDs for Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind. Industries for the Blind in Milwaukee has tapped Visionary Media’s talent to create original music using artists who are blind and develop wireless broadcast messages played in base supply centers. “They recognize the power of communicating with people while they are shopping,” said Maxwell, “and we find a way to develop those messages in a non-intrusive yet effective way.” Currently, Visionary Media is developing a series of videos to highlight the manufacturing and service capabilities of New York City Industries for the Blind.

“We invite people who are blind and give them the tools to rise to the challenge of succeeding in the world of entertainment and multi-media,” said Maxwell. “While our success has been training this talent and channeling it to viable career opportunities, our next challenge is to generate more revenue to support our expanding roster of artists.” ::.

Graig Janssen, production engineer, who has worked on the soundtrack for the Broadway production of “Elf.”

Brooke Fox, award-winning singer, song writer and international performance artist.

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2011 National Employees of the Year

The Natural2011 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award winner Nina Bektic-Marrero is a born people-pleaser. Just ask her colleagues at the Bronx Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Nina Bektic-Marrero has a natural ability to relate to people. That’s what makes her so successful as supervisor of switchboard operations at the Bronx Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in New York. Born in Sarajevo in 1984, Bektic-Marrero developed brain tumors that caused severe damage to her optic nerves. Bektic-Marrero’s mother sought treatment in the United States and stayed in this country so that her daughter could attend high school during her medical rehabilitation.

Bektic-Marrero came to A.V.R.E., headquartered in Binghamton, New York, in 2008 and worked as a switchboard operator at the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare Center. Two years later, Bektic-Marrero was promoted to her current position where she has earned her unit recognition

from medical center administrators, staff and veterans. As one of her colleagues put it, “Nina’s dedication and hard work is immeasurable,” said Scott Tromp, assistant chief of the Bronx VA Police. “We are very lucky to have her at our medical center.”

Assertive, articulate and tireless, Bektic-Marrero studied at the American School of Athens and received her secondary degree. She has a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science from Bard College, and she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Baruch College and participating in NIB’s Effective Supervision training program.

Bektic-Marrero is an advocate for improving opportunities and affecting positive changes in legislative policy for people with disabilities. She is a leader in the Serbian disability community and has been active on her college campuses. While at Bard College, she was chosen to be part of the Trustee Leader Scholar Program where she developed the Visible/Invisible Disabilities Awareness Program (VIDAP). Bektic-Marrero subsequently implemented Citizens’ Association — VIDAP in Serbia and served as President of its Executive Board.

Socially Conscious2011 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award winner, Linda Allen, is guided by a strong sense of community and volunteerism.

Linda Allen has logged countless hours volunteering for different causes, whether it is participating in the Austin Right to Life Walk, Juvenile Diabetes Walk and Operation Blue Santa, or preparing and serving meals for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

These activities, coupled with her work at the Travis Association for the Blind (Austin Lighthouse) in Austin, Texas, earned her the honor of being named NIB’s 2011 Peter J. Salmon National Employee of the Year.

Allen was born with retinitis pigmentosa. She attended public school, but moved to Austin to attend the Texas School for the Blind when her condition was diagnosed at age 16. Always involved in extracurricular activities, Allen participated in gymnastics, cheerleading, choir and student council, and was a member of the honor society.

In 1987, Allen started at the Austin Lighthouse as a sewing machine operator. Two years later, she accepted a position at IBM and worked as an assembly line operator, builder, packer and oven loader. When IBM laid off many employees, Linda returned to the Lighthouse. Since that time, Allen has worked in the skin care products, shrink wrap, drill press, leather key holder, Army combat helmet chin strap and trouser belt departments as a sewing machine operator. She is currently a member of the Lighthouse Strikers bowling team. ::.

Nina Bektic-Marrero.

Linda Allen.

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AbilityOne Base Supply Centers on the Move

The AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) Program is delivering quality, value and convenience to government customers.

The success of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) Program has been demonstrated by glowing citations from base command, special events to recognize vendors and customers, and the opening of new stores, bringing the total to more than 140 retail locations at federal and military installations nationwide.

New BSCs Expand Their ReachAlabama Industries for the Blind celebrated the re-opening of its BSC in a new location at Fort Rucker in Dothan, Alabama, in October 2010. In the new 5,000-square-foot facility, all registers and computers are equipped with accessible technology, and the lighting fixtures and flooring are specially designed to accommodate people with limited vision.

RLCB Inc., based in Raleigh, North Carolina, celebrated the grand opening of the ServMart BSC Supply Store at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in February with the base community.

Associated Industries for the Blind in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, welcomed two new stores in March at the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime facility in Columbus, Ohio, and Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

Kudos from CustomersLouisiana Association for the Blind’s Self Service Supply Center at Fort Polk Army Base was recognized for outstanding customer support in February with an award from Warhorse Brigade of Fort Carson, Colorado. A Certificate of Appreciation stated, “the expertise, knowledge, technical know-how and dedication to training and mission achievement of the SSSC greatly contributed to the overall planning, training and safe execution of the Mission Readiness Exercise; therefore, increasing the readiness of the Soldiers and Leaders of the Brigade.”

Employees of the Paperclips BSC at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, operated by Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind Inc. in North Carolina, thanked the MacDill community for its support with a Customer Appreciation and Grand Re-Opening event in February. One-third of the store employees are blind. The BSC was transformed from a very old, dusty facility to a showcase store. Col. David Cohen, vice wing

commander, told the crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony about the excellent customer service he had received at the store and urged everyone to shop at Paperclips.

San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind’s BSC at Fort Hood, Texas, was recognized in February by the 18th Engineer Brigade, which was equipped by the BSC team while at Fort Hood for training. The customer award read, “. . . Your continued support, hospitality and assistance with resourcing our supply requirements have contributed greatly to the training and development of Sword Soldiers . . .”

Special Customer and Vendor EventsCincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired hosted a 10th anniversary celebration of the Office Runway BSC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in March. The BSCs operated by several NIB associated agencies, including Envision in Wichita, Kansas; Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind; Alabama Industries for the Blind; and Blind Industries and Services of Maryland in Baltimore; have hosted dozens of vendor shows and customer appreciation events this spring and summer, and more are scheduled for the remainder of the year. ::.

Pictured left to right in the front row at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fort Rucker in Alabama: John Granger, Board of Directors, Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB); Ethel Williams and Myra Fields, AIB Communications Committee; Billy Sparkman, executive director, AIB; Terry Graham, president, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind; Col. James A. Muskopf, Fort Rucker garrison commander, Bob Ward, BSC program director, NIB; and K.C. Jones, chief of staff, U.S. AbilityOne Commission (formerly the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.)

SKILCRAFT® Products Meet USDA BioPreferred Program Standards

Products from two NIB associated agencies were among those approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use USDA’s new product label on certified biobased products. The announcement was made by Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan at a biobased product meeting March 31 in Glenwillow, Ohio.

Travis Association for the Blind, Austin, Texas, sells hand sanitizer under the SKILCRAFT brand. The PURELL green certified instant hand

sanitizer foam is produced by GOJO Industries Inc. and made with 100% naturally renewable plant-derived ethanol in a readily biodegradable formula. SKILCRAFT liquid hand soap, with 98 percent biobased content, is manufactured by The Lighthouse for the Blind, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Secretary of Agriculture has designated 5,100 biobased products for preferred purchasing by federal agencies. ::.

Jason Endicott, NIB channel sales representative, showcased products for U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.

Oklahoma Agency Launches Navy Mail Management Contract

NewView Oklahoma, one of NIB’s associated agencies in Oklahoma City, is the prime contractor for the U.S. Navy Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCS) Nationwide Consolidated Mail Management Support Services contract.

Under the terms of the contract, NewView Oklahoma will manage the operation of eight Navy Official Mail Centers (three of them subcontracted to NISH associated agency Service Source) in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Mississippi. The contract will create 27 jobs for people who are blind or otherwise severely disabled.

The mail centers are scheduled to transition to the AbilityOne Program by October 1, 2011. ::.

Lions Industries for the Blind Celebrates 40th AnniversaryLions Industries for the Blind Inc. (LIB) in Kinston, North Carolina, celebrated its 40th anniversary April 14 with a ribbon cutting, open house and community event at its facility.

The event showcased the unique and diverse products and services LIB provides to federal, military and commercial customers, ranging from custom sewing to “skid boards,” which are used to air drop supplies in Afghanistan.

Since 1971, LIB has helped more than 500 people who are blind increase their economic and personal independence. “We were founded on the belief that people who are blind are more than capable of being active and productive members of the workforce, and exceeding our customers’ expectations,” said Marc Camnitz, LIB general manager. ::.

Quoted & Noted

OPPORTUNITY | NIB Summer 2011 Issue18

Pictured left to right: LIB Executive Director Ray Amyette and NIB President and CEO Kevin A. Lynch.

Recent Conferences and EventsNIB staff members regularly participate in industry conferences to share their expertise, while promoting NIB’s mission to create employment for people who are blind.

At an event hosted by The Coalition for Government Procurement in McLean, Virginia, on April 5, representatives from business, government and nonprofit organizations shared information about how to hire wounded warriors from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Conference panelist Ned Rupp, NIB veterans affairs specialist – Wounded Warriors, described NIB’s program

to hire wounded warriors. Billy Parker, NIB Contract Management Support (CMS) training program director, shared information about NIB’s CMS program and offered tips on hiring persons with disabilities.

NIB Rehabilitation Engineers Casmir (Cas) Usiatynski and Georgina (Gigi) Dottin participated in the panel of experts at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Workplace Accommodations conference, held April 26 in Bethesda, Maryland. The event focused on new and innovative technologies that have potential use as workplace accommodations. ::.

NIB Associated Agency Employee NewsAn employee of Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) in New York celebrated 50 years of service at the organization. The NABA team surprised Jelssomina “Patty” Greco on May 11 with a celebration of her half-century mark. Starting in 1961, Greco packed silicone for General Electric in the manufacturing department. She later served in other roles including product inspector and supervisor.

Today, Greco produces neck tabs for women’s dress uniforms for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines. She also attaches buckles and inspects safety vests for the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority.

“Patty is an inspiration to everyone at NABA and a clear example of what a person who is blind can

achieve. The NABA team is very proud of her,” said Christopher Burke, NABA executive director.

In other news, Judge Nicholas Pomaro, director of Kane Legal

Clinic at The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, had a one-on-one meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts at the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., on April 19. Pomaro is one of the nation’s first judges who is totally blind.

After receiving a commendation letter from Chief Justice Roberts about the work done by the legal clinic, Pomaro replied with a thank-you note, asking if he could visit Roberts and the court sometime in the future.

In their meeting, Pomaro told Roberts about the programs the Lighthouse offers to people who are blind or visually impaired, and Roberts said the Supreme Court was becoming more attuned to the abilities of people with visual impairments. ::.

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Christopher Burke, NABA executive director (standing), congratulates 50-year employee Patty Greco.

NIB Mailbox . . . From the wife of a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant in North Carolina: “We are a family of eight children and have been living the military life for almost 12 years now. It was just amazing to me to discover the SKILCRAFT® broom I bought was made by people who are blind for the troops. I think it’s a wonderful thing you and your company are doing. Not only are those who serve getting a great product, but they are getting it made by people who overcome their own daily battles just like us military families . . . Thank you for what you do for the troops . . . We will be buying a lot more items like this now that we know we can help other people in a different way.” ::.

. . . From a fifth grade student working on a class project in California: ”I love using your highlighter. It is really bright and it works for a year. Now that’s awesome. I also like your highlighter because the yellow looks like the sun. You can say it always brightens my day!” ::.

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Employment Choices for People Who Are Blind

Every day, National Industries for the Blind’s associated agencieslocated across the country are training and employing people whoare blind or visually impaired in a wide variety of careers including:

• Contract Management Support (CMS) Services• Knowledge-based computer jobs• Professional and managerial positions

For tomorrow’s leaders,NIB’s Business Leaders Programprovides on-the-job experience, training, andprofessional development opportunities.

For more information aboutopportunities in your area:

www.nib.org

NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND