Employment Source Leads the Way in Employing Veterans
Fayetteville, North Carolina based affiliate, Employment Source, currently employs 33 military veterans, 15 of whom have significant disabilities.
Cynthia Ratliffe is a soldier. She is also an individual with a disability. Cynthia served with great distinction in the Army for 14 years, where she was widely recognized as an eloquent, caring and competent noncommissioned officer. Before leaving active duty, Cynthia also spent a year of her life serving in Iraq leading other soldiers. After returning, Cynthia struggled to find a workplace that would both accept her continuing Army Reserve obligations and support her as she manages the wounds she carries from her combat tour in Iraq.After submitting dozens of applications and reaching multiple dead ends, Cynthia become disheartened at her prospects of finding meaningful employment again.
While travelling on the city bus on her way to receive services at the VA hospital in Fayetteville, NC, Cynthia met Jennifer, an employee of Employment Source who works on an administrative services contract at the hospital.Jennifer told Cynthia about Employment Source, and how the organization helps individuals with disabilities find suitable employment and assists them in adjusting to the work environment.Jennifer put Cynthia in contact with an Employment Specialist at Employment Source, and Cynthia visited the office to discuss her options. Within weeks, Cynthia had interviewed successfully and earned a job on the AbilityOne contract at the Fort Bragg Soldier Reception Center.
At the Reception Center, Cynthia and her co-workers are responsible for processing the soldiers that come through Fort Bragg, which averages out to approximately 10,000 troops who are processed annually.The Reception Center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When each soldier arrives on base, Cynthia and the team provide expert guidance, briefings, bed sheets, and barracks rooms, along with 100 percent accountability and a strenuous zero-defect policy that ensures each soldier finds their way safely to their unit.She helps them find the things they need to be successful at Fort Bragg and, on occasion, directs them to the local pizza place (a staple in every young soldier’s diet).Cynthia says that she feels that helping soldiers is what she is meant to do.Not only is it a natural extension of her life as a National Guard Soldier, it is a perfect fit for her caring personality and skill set.
Employment Source Employees Excel in Special Olympics Events
Two Employment Source employees Anthony Hammonds and Debbie Sorenson showcased their athletic talents at the Special Olympics this past year. Anthony, who works as a material handler in Employment Source’s Wood and Metal Shop and Debbie, an assembly/packager worker in the organization’s Adult Developmental and Vocational Program (ADVP), both competed in the Bocce Ball Olympics in Fayetteville, NC in October 2009.
Both were medal winners in the event with Anthony bringing home the gold and Debbie the silver. The two, who are both avid bowlers, also participated in the Bowling Special Olympics in December 2009 in Raleigh, NC where once again, Anthony took home the gold medal and Debbie took home the silver.
This past July, Anthony went on to compete in the 2010 Special Olympics National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska. Anthony came home with a silver medal in double bocce and a bronze in four-person bocce.
Anthony was featured in an article in the Fayetteville Observer before he competed, in which he was quoted as saying, “I don’t really care about winning, I just care about having fun.” Thanks to his positive attitude and sense of sportsmanship, Anthony was successful at accomplishing both.
Fort Bragg Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Wins National Achievement Award
(June, 2010)
The Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) at Fort Bragg was recently honored with a National Achievement Award for its outstanding support of the AbilityOne Program. The award was presented to Fort Bragg MICC at the NISH National Conference in Anaheim, California, May 24-26.
For more than 10 years, the Fort Bragg MICC has worked closely with Employment Source to identify lines of business and contracting opportunities for set aside under the AbilityOne Program.The most recent contract addition was the Fort Bragg Dining Facility Attendant Services Contract, which employs approximately 165 FTEs. This contract award represented significant growth of the AbilityOne Program at Fort Bragg, and will have lasting positive impacts on the surrounding community of Fayetteville.
“Employment Source was honored to nominate the Fort Bragg Mission and Installation Contracting Command for this prestigious award,” said Jim Aynes, Employment Source Executive Director. “The entire staff of the MICC have been strong advocates and supporters of our mission of creating valued employment opportunities for community members with disabilities through the AbilityOne Program.”
Four service contracts at Fort Bragg currently provide jobs for more than 200 individuals with disabilities:
