Ability
January 2013
Empowering people with disabilities to achieve
Congratulations to our 2012 Personal Achievement Award Recipients! ODC’s 2012 Personal Achievement Awards were presented at our Annual Awards Dinner on December 11th to two individuals: Joyce Godin of Wisconsin Rapids and Paul Talbot of Marshfield. Selection for this award is based upon number of years of employment with ODC or a community employer, growth within that work experience, a positive work ethic, and demonstration of good citizenship in the workplace and community.
Joyce Godin Recipient Joyce Godin has worked at ODC for almost 40 years. For the last nine months, she has also been working as a laundry attendant at Arborview Court, an assisted living facility in Wisconsin Rapids. According to Kristin Jinsky, ODC Service Coordinator, Godin’s hire at Arborview was one of the reasons for her nomination. “I nominated Joyce for this award because of her perseverance and tenacity,” said Jinsky. “Joyce has had the goal of finding community employment for many years, but difficulties and obstacles have slowed her down. She has never, however, permitted these things to keep her from working toward her goal.” Godin began training as a laundry attendant at ODC in the fall of 2011. In May of 2012, she began a two-week temporary employment position with Arborview Court and when it was completed, she was hired. “It was as though Joyce had finally found something that she genuinely loved and enjoyed doing,” said Jinsky.
Paul Talbot Kristin Harvey-Braunsky, ODC Transition Coordinator, nominated Paul Talbot for much the same reason – he has never faced a barrier he couldn’t overcome. “Paul’s story is one of inspiration,” said Harvey-Braunsky. “He not only works at ODC Monday through Friday, but is also a main source of help at the adult family home where he assists with farm work.” According to Harvey-Braunsky, this farm work is something he truly enjoys, but on March 4, 2012, it was the cause of an accident which resulted in the amputation of Talbot’s left hand. After the accident, lying in his hospital bed, Paul asked Kristin, “Will I still have a job at ODC when I get out of here?” Paul returned to work only four short weeks after the accident. “He never let his injury slow him down,” said Harvey-Braunsky. His positive attitude throughout his recovery is something we should all learn from. There was never a moment when Paul let this incident define him; Paul taught us there are no barriers that you can’t overcome when you live life with an open mind.”
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2012 Personal Achievement Award Nominees Nathan Derks Excerpt from his nomination … “Nathan was a pioneer in the initiative for center-based clients to embark into the world of work in the community. Although he had fears, he was brave and trusted his support team when we told him we believed he could do it. Now, he holds two successful jobs and is happier than we’ve ever seen him!” Nominated by Sara Bloczynski - ODC Marshfield
Marlene Diercks Excerpt from her nomination … “Marlene is outgoing and willing to try any task that she’s given. She brings to her workplace a positive attitude and the motivation to do well. For Marlene, being a part of the community and giving back are what’s most important; according to her supervisor at Kwik Trip, everyone’s morale is higher when Marlene is there.” Nominated by Ashley Hamaker - ODC Wisconsin Rapids
Jon Herman Excerpt from his nomination … “Jon has learned that our days do not always go as planned, but he has also learned to smile and be positive and do the best he can despite any obstacles that are thrown at him. He truly personifies ODC’s value statement of Opportunity + Support + Personal Effort = Achievement!” Nominated by Lynn Haefer & Deb Gentz - ODC Marshfield
Jeff Kleinschmidt Excerpt from his nomination … “Jeff has always had a strong work ethic and has always pushed himself to be the best he can be. No matter what, Jeff comes to work with a smile on his face and a warm greeting for his co-workers and supervisors. He gives his best effort every day on the job.” Nominated by Mary Blanchard - ODC Marshfield
Duane Linzmeier Excerpt from his nomination … “Despite any challenges, Duane has remained one of the most positive individuals I’ve ever worked with. His employer states that he is reliable, conscientious and fits well into the workforce; his colleagues express their gratitude for having a co-worker as pleasant, helpful and hard working as Duane.” Nominated by Jan Villeneuve - ODC Wisconsin Rapids
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2012 Personal Achievement Award Nominees Claude Parker Excerpt from his nomination … “Claude’s strong character, incredible work ethic and great sense of humor were the traits that defined him and carried him through. Claude was a true character, a fighter, an inspiration to those who knew him and one of those guys that if you met him once, he would leave his mark on your soul.” Nominated posthumously by Mary Blanchard - ODC Marshfield
Odessa Reinwand Excerpt from her nomination … “Odessa’s colleagues at Bank-A-Count say that Odessa is a joy to have working there, especially because of the smile that is always on her face. She is willing to do any job and does them all with great quality. The once shy Odessa now walks into her new job with her head held high and the confidence that she is part of the team.” Nominated by Tanna Livernash - ODC Wisconsin Rapids
Kyle Rustad Excerpt from his nomination … “Kyle is a very kind and giving person; he is always willing to help and doesn’t have a bad word to say about anyone. It causes anxiety for Kyle to be around people he doesn’t know, but he has improved so much. Even though it was hard for him, he was determined and kept on trying. I am so proud of him and all he has accomplished! Nominated by Nicole Trickle - ODC Wisconsin Rapids
Marian Schantz Excerpt from her nomination … “Marian has told me how much she has grown from the experiences in her life and the choices of others. At one time, she thought that she would never be able to work in the community on her own, but now, she believes in herself. At work, she is confident and understands what she needs to do and problem-solves on her own.” Nominated by Jen Pelot - ODC Wisconsin Rapids
Paul Zieglmeier Excerpt from his nomination … “Paul has a never-ending willingness to take on new challenges and embrace them with professionalism and a positive attitude. He demonstrates his abilities through his actions, not his words. He is achieving every day, not for recognition, but because that is who Paul is.” Nominated by Stacey Schultz - ODC Marshfield
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2012 Employer of the Year - Marshfield Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital When approached by the Marshfield School District with a request to become a Project Search training site, 2012 Employer of the Year Award recipient Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital was willing to take a chance with this innovative new program. “Because of the commitment of all of the hospital staff, ten young people with special needs are benefitting from inclusion in this highlyregarded, professional work setting,” said Mary Blanchard, ODC Employment Resources Manager in Marshfield, who nominated the hospital for this award. Project Search is a high school transitional program for students age 1821 who have intellectual disabilities. Four students from the Marshfield School District were selected to participate in the program at Ministry 2011-2012 Project Search graduates (from left): Brandon, Saint Joseph’s Hospital during the 2011-2012 school year; six new Marissa, Mark and Melissa. students are participating during the 2012-2013 school year. The school district funds an instructor to provide classroom training, Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital provides on-site classroom and internship opportunities, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides funding for ODC’s job coaching services to help these students achieve. “From hospital administration, to human resources, to department heads, managers and co-workers,” said Blanchard, “there was support and encouragement that made this program a success. Project Search students benefitted from intense and realistic work experiences that helped them develop important skills and behaviors, making them more employable.” All four 2011-2012 Project Search students have gone on to secure competitive employment in the Marshfield community. One of the students was hired by Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in their Peri Anesthesia Care Unit. The Project Search model was developed in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital by Nurse J. Erin Riehle. The program is worldwide and has grown from one program to 150 programs across 42 states and four countries. There are five other Project Search programs in Wisconsin.
2012-2013 Project Search Students (from left) Cristin, Sean, Logan and Katie began their interships at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital at the start of the school year.
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2012 Employer of the Year - Wisconsin Rapids WOW Logistics 2012 Employer of the Year Award recipient WOW Logistics in Wisconsin Rapids began their relationship with ODC over five years ago. “WOW Logistics provided work opportunities for over 45 ODC workers in 2012,” said Ann Lepak, ODC Employment Resources Manager in Wisconsin Rapids, who nominated the business for this award. “Because of them, many individuals were given the opportunity to take that ‘first step’ toward community employment.”
Jason, who was part of an ODC work crew at WOW Logistics, was subsequently hired by WOW as a part-time employee.
According to Lepak, WOW Logistics has given ODC the liberty to rotate individual workers as part of work crew teams within the company’s warehouses in Wisconsin Rapids, and to offer temporary employment opportunities to individuals who need skill assessment and training. They have also made a direct hire from ODC’s pool of workers. “This business thinks of ODC first,” said Lepak. “We always have the first opportunity to assist with a project, no matter how big or small.” WOW, formerly known as Warehousing of Wisconsin, has nearly seven million feet of multi-temperature storage space used for public, contract or lease warehousing in Wisconsin, Idaho and Illinois. The company’s first warehouse was built in Wisconsin Rapids in 1977.
Jason and his colleagues at WOW Logistics (above). At left, just a few of the faces of the 45 individuals that participated in work crews at WOW Logistics in 2012.
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2012 Partnership Award Recipient Mark Kunkel - Wooden Creations According to Chuck Summers, ODC Sales and Operations Manager, Mark Kunkel of Wooden Creations in Stratford was an obvious choice for ODC’s Partnership Award. “Mark has helped us in so many ways in 2012,” said Summers. “He has designed and built everything from jigs and fixtures to computer-controlled production equipment, and everything he did was built from scratch. What’s most important is that the equipment he created not only makes us more efficient, but it adapts the work to ODC clients. He really understands our mission.” “Partnership implies that both parties contribute to the relationship,” said Pam Ross, “and both parties win as a result. The relationship creates results that are better than either party could achieve alone. Mark has certainly contributed to our goal: to create and improve work opportunities for people in our Marshfield facility.” Wooden Creations is a family-owned business in Stratford, Wisconsin that creates wood products for homes, offices and businesses.
2012 John P. Melsen Volunteer Service Award Recipient Tim Zander Award recipient Tim Zander has been a volunteer within the ODC BlendedVoc Day Services Program for over two years. After retiring as a German teacher with the Wisconsin Rapids School District, Tim found himself with more time to volunteer – having a brother with special needs led him to choose ODC as the beneficiary of his generosity. “Within our Day Services program, we focus on the word ‘empowerment’.” said Dorie Weigel, Day Services Coordinator, who nominated Zander for this honor. “Knowledge of the world around us is powerful, and Tim helps to give that to our clients.” During his volunteer hours, Zander draws from what he loves – the study of culture. He instructs ODC clients in world culture, particularly German studies, teaching basic vocabulary and celebrating traditions from Germany and around the world. He often brings his guitar, leading groups in songs from the United States and abroad. “Tim has been invaluable in allowing our clients to have experiences from around the world without leaving the building,” said Weigel. “When he arrives at ODC, our clients even address him with the German greeting, ‘guten tag’, which means, ‘good day’!” John P. Melsen, who served on the ODC Board of Directors from 1991-1995, made a tremendous impact on the agency. This award is a tribute to John’s volunteer contributions to ODC.
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From the President Did you notice that the title of our newsletter is now “Focus on Ability”? It’s not just a new title … this phrase is ODC’s new tag line and was developed as part of an important task undertaken by ODC in 2012. ODC has always strived to ensure that our organization’s mission and programs are responsive to the community and those we serve. An important step in that process is to periodically review our vision, mission and values statements to make sure they are current, relevant and clear in stating what we are about as an organization. To that end, we brought various focus groups together throughout the year; these groups were comprised of individuals representing a variety of perspectives including people who participate in ODC programs, ODC staff, board of directors and trust committee members, parents, caregivers, funding sources, donors and others from the community. The process was both enlightening and reaffirming. The spirit of ODC’s mission did not change, yet we made some modifications to the statements that include key words which are very important to our stakeholders. The results of all of the input gathered can be seen below. These statements inspire us to excel. Each day, we see hundreds of examples of how the people at ODC live out our mission on a day-to-day, person-to-person level. “Focus on Ability” is not just our new tag line, it is our guiding principle. Pam Ross, ODC President
We envision communities strengthened and enriched by the abilities and contributions of all members.
ODC’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to achieve their work and life goals.
People - Each person is valuable and has unique abilities and ideas to contribute to the workplace and the community Work - Work enhances the quality of our lives Partnerships - Strong community and customer partnerships create opportunities for success Achievement - Opportunity + Support + Personal Effort = Achievement Innovation - Success is limitless with creativity and an open mind
Non Profit Org US Postage Paid Wisc Rapids WI
1191 Huntington Avenue Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
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