Transcription
encouraging diversity in the workplaceFall 2012Message from the CommissionerJim RothrockWon’t wait‘til next yearThose who have found careers with our Champions arefinding a winning team and our Champions are findingsolid employees. To learn more about how you can joinour winning team visit www.vadars.org.As we finish up fall and look towards a New Year, DARSand the San Francisco Giants won’t have to wait ‘tilnext year for a winning season.In October, DARS celebrated its Seventh Annual Champions of Disability Employment and the San FranciscoGiants won another world series!The Oct. 17 Champions luncheon was once again held atthe Jepson Alumni Center on the beautiful campus of theUniversity of Richmond.DARS honored eight new Champions for 2012 and wereentertained and inspired by Todd “Parney” Parnell, vicepresident and chief operating officer of the RichmondFlying Squirrels—the Giants’ Double-A affiliate.Parney is one of the most sought after speakers in ourarea, but his true message was found in his accountof how his organization discovered a new workforceadvantage. In April, DARS coordinated a job fair for theSquirrels and as a result, nine current consumers of DARSfound jobs. Not only were these great summer jobs forour clients, but it also enhanced their work skills andoffered them an opportunity to be part of a winningteam–the Richmond Flying Squirrels.Each of our winners gave testimonials on the value ofpartnering with DARS to those seeking similar win/winsituations. Being part of a winning team is something thatmany of our DARS consumers have not experienced.Visit us at at www.vadars.orgfacebook.com/vadarsLeft to right: Nutzy, Todd Parnell, Ben Rothrock andTom White of the Richmond Flying Squirrels; and DARSCommissioner Jim Rothrock.CHAMPIONSChristoper Coleman (top), recipient of theSelf-employment Enterprise Award andWilliam Francis Vineyard (bottom), recipientof the DARS Colorado Award6More InsideChampions Regional Events2–3Champions Statewide Luncheon4–5
The Fredericksburg DARS office held a Champions ofDisability Employment event on Nov. 8.Business Development Manager, Eleana Boyer facilitateda lively discussion, inviting the employers and community partners to share their ideas and wishes for a moresuccessful partnership with DARS. Each employer alsoshared information about the strategies and practices theyuse to diversify their workplaces.Awards were presented to: Lauren Goldschmidt and Melissa Affrunti fromServiceSource of Alexandria Awards for Phoenix, Dahlgren and PORTCO,Portsmouth were accepted on their behalfThe Leesburg DARS office held a Champions event onOct. 25 at Loudoun County Community Services Board.The following Champions of Disability Employment wererecognized:Laureen Henderson, Disability Program Manager, U.S.Dept. of Labor; Tomar Brash,Manager, AlexandriaCommunity Services; Susan Richardson, CustomerService Manager, Giant Food Store; Julia Bumbaca,Division of Human Capital Program Manager, Disability& Veterans Employment, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicesaccepting the award for Ms. Noemi Perez, Deputy Chiefof Communications, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicesNorthern Virginia RegionThe Fairfax/Alexandria DARS office recognized severalChampions of Disability Employment at an Oct. 18 eventheld in Springfield. Safeway, SterlingChick-fil-A, LeesburgDaphne Andrews, The Home Depot, AshburnDerrick Spruill, Safeway, SterlingBarbara Kunetz, Loudoun Workforce Resource CenterSherven Monadizadeh, Samuel Richards and SabirFettarThe keynote speaker was Derrick Spruill, store managerof Safeway in Sterling, who spoke about his experiencesworking with DARS and encouraged businesses to hiremore individuals with disabilities.Speakers were Laureen Henderson, disability employment program manager with the U.S. Department ofLabor, and Noemi Perez, deputy chief of communicationsfor the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who discussed herexperience as a client with DARS and the support shereceived in achieving her employment goals.Award recipients were: William Overton, store manager, Giant, ViennaMaking a Difference Awards Ling Peterson, Acentia Laureen Henderson, U.S. Department of Labor Sabrina Donnelly, Firehouse Subs, KingstowneProfessional Development Awards Noemi Perez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Juan Martinez, Federal Aviation Administration Tomar Brash, Alexandria Community Shelter2Left to right: ServiceSource representatives LaurenGoldschmidt and Melissa Affrunti flank Patti Hodge,DARS placement counselor at the Fredericksburg DARSChampions eventFall 2012
The following Champions of Disability Employment wererecognized:Employer Awards Autos by Nelson, Bassett Virginia Glass Products/Virginia Mirror Company,MartinsvilleCommunity Partners Justin Altice, Bassett Country Club, Bassett Debi Wells, Department of Motor Vehicles Melissa Young, Countryroads Driving School, SpencerWinchester Star is sendingDARS Clients Charles “Brandon” Ross Richard T. (“Ricky”) Smith, II James H. LeeBlue Ridge RegionHeather Hartless (center), human resources manager ofthe Lowe’s Market Street store, accepted the Champions of disability employment award from DianeMcBride, employment placement counselor with theDARS Winchester office and Jim Rothrock, DARScommissioner(Photo by Ginger Perry/The Winchester Star)The Winchester office of DARS honored the followingemployers at its Champions event on Oct. 16.Award recipients were: Sharp Shopper Grocery Outlet, Winchester Walmart, Front Royal Lowe’s, Winchester (Market Street store) Horizon Goodwill Store, WoodstockThe Farmville office of DARS honored its Championsof Disability Employment at Longwood University onOct. 23.Jane Schirmer, executive director of the Southside VirginiaFamily YMCA, was the keynote speaker.The following organizations and individuals receivedChampions awards: Southside Virginia Family YMCA, FarmvilleCrossroads Community Services Board, FarmvilleFarmville Area Chamber of CommerceInfant & Toddler Connection at Longwood UniversityJessica Manley, Kavonda Jordan-Dean and ZachariahKowalskiMaking a Difference Awards Addy Baker, The Choice Group Lana Rauser, DidlakeFormer agency clients Brittany Baker and Wayne Houghwere also honored. Connie Clem, regional communityrelations director of Greenfield Senior Living, was thekeynote speaker.Southwest RegionThe Martinsville office of DARS, together with theMartinsville Area Disability Employment Network,hosted a Champions luncheon on Oct. 11.Commissioner Jim Rothrock, a native of Martinsville, wasfeatured speaker.Fall 2012From Farmville Champions event, left to right: JaneSchirmer, Southside Virginia Family YMCA; ZachariahKowalski; Rucker Stead, Farmville Chamber of Commerce; Jessica Manley; Diana Messer, Crossroads Community Services Board; Lissa Power-deFur, professor,Longwood University; and Kavonda Jordan-Dean.3
DARS Commissioner Jim Rothrock presented the agency’sDisability Employment Champions Awards to eight honorees. Approximately 132 employers, agency partners andDARS employees attended the event.The statewide 2012 Disability Employment Championsaward recipients were:Busch Gardens, WilliamsburgCentral Virginia RegionJoe Winter, CW Resources, Fort Lee Commissarrywith Wes Seaton, DARSCW Resources at Fort Lee CommissaryCarilion Clinic, RoanokeThe Home Depot, AshburnT.J. Maxx, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg andStaunton storesU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceChristopher Coleman, owner of Performance Pet CareInc., RestonWilliam Francis Vineyard, Colorado Award winner,CharlottesvilleHampton Roads RegionMatt Luther, DARS with Angie Gilliam and JohnHarris, Busch GardensAidelle DeLeon-Sprouse, Theaira Ellison andRebecca Lamb from Woodrow Wilson RehabilitationCenter speak with Commissioner Rothrock4Blue Ridge RegionJenny Barber and Delores Johnson, T.J.Maxx, withCindy Roberts, DARSFall 2012
Southwest RegionElnora Tucker, Carilion Clinic and Rochelle Betsch,DARSWe are the Champions2012 Champions of Disability Employment with DARSCommissioner Jim RothrockFederal Partner AwardEleana Boyer, DARS, with Lawrence Palatnik andDaphne Andrews, The Home Depot, Loudoun CountyDelores Johnson from T.J. Maxx poses with NutzyNorthern Virginia RegionEleana Boyer, DARS with Noemi Perez, Inez Uhl, TimVanNorman Angela Okolie and Julia Bumbaca, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service4 2012FallMany thanks to Dominion Resourcesfor its generous support of theChampions luncheon.Fall 20125
The DARS Champions Award for Self-EmploymentChristopher ColemanReferred to DARS in 2011, Christopher Coleman hadalready begun to provide pet sitting and dog walking services as a means of generating some income. Withencouragement and support from DARS, this was explored more seriously as a business and Coleman incorporated Performance Pet Care, Inc. as a part of ThePerformance Group.Due to witnessing a severe accident, Coleman wasdiagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. That, incombination with a previously diagnosed chronic discdegenerative disease, resulted in an array of medicationsto manage pain and depression. He was also diagnosedwith fibromyalgia during this period and as he put it,“Pain became a normal part of my life.”Coleman’s long-term goal is to re-establish himself as amotivational speaker and trainer, a business he had managed to conduct successfully for over 20 years prior toexperiencing a series of disability related set-backs.DARS was able to provide support to PerformanceThe DARS Champions Colorado AwardWilliam Francis VineyardWilliam Francis Vineyard was a mechanic by trade formany years when he developed physical problems in hisshoulders and elbows and became unable to perform thetasks that were required for him to remain a mechanic.Additionally, his hearing loss was a significant barrier tohis dream job as a home inspector.Larry Roberts, DARS, with Christopher ColemanPet Care because it provided dependable, predictableincome to sustain the business and made it possible forColeman to meet his personal expenses from one monthto the next. However, subsequent to this investment,Coleman experienced his greatest setback to date. Asevere allergic reaction to a prescribed medication regimen led to a stroke and hospital stay. Determined, hepersevered and refused to allow it to derail his business.“Chris has demonstrated the power of determination andinspires others in the process. He never fails to recognizethe impact that DARS has had in his life and personifieswhat it means to overcome life’s challenges. He is determined to succeed,” says Larry Roberts, Self-EmploymentEnterprise coordinator for DARS.Vineyard knew that he was going to need to change jobsbut was uncertain as to what he could do. He was limited in his training options due to his hearing loss and theinability to successfully use hearing aids.In consulting with a placement counselor, DARS lookedat providing an unpaid work experience and on thejob training for Vineyard with the City of CharlottesvilleNeighborhood Development Services office.Vineyard started his work experience in 2007 with littleknowledge of all the building codes he would need tolearn and steps involved in the inspection of buildings.But he learned quickly and was able to show the department that they really could use an additional inspector.He has been working in the Neighborhood DevelopmentServices Department as a salaried employee since July2008.Encouraged to try hearing aids again as technology hadimproved, Vineyard agreed and has benefitted in termsof better communication.Angela Tucker, City of Charlottesville; WilliamFrancis Vineyard; Karla Lesher, DARS; and Tom Elliot,City of CharlottesvilleIn 2010, Vineyard was promoted to a supervisory position as a deputy code official. He is also a member of theCity of Charlottesville ADA advisory board and participates in a code study committee for implementation ofUniversal Design into the Virginia Administrative Code.
Francis Vineyard; Karla Lesher, DARS; and Tom Elliot, City of Charlottesville Vineyard knew that he was going to need to change jobs but was uncertain as to what he could do. He was lim - ited in his training options due to his hearing loss and the inability to successfully use hearing aids. In consulting with a placement counselor, DARS looked
