FALL 2012

NATIONAL NEWS FOR AbilityOne PRODUCING & AFFILIATED CRPS

T alk to Suzanne Bakiewicz, director, National Business Development, Herkimer Industries (HI) in Herkimer, N.Y., and you will quickly

realize she agrees with the old adage: “if there’s a will, there’s a way.” That is… a Wil Kuhnlenz. Kuhnlenz, NISH director of Business Development, Partnership and Alliances, and the NISH team were important advocates in helping to bring together partners to complete a project to place LED American flag renditions in Times Square—all within a very tight timeline from August to December 2011.

The challenge: to provide the landmark Times Square Armed Forces Recruiting Station in New York City with a new face—a modern, more accurate portrayal of the American flag—and to increase energy efficiency of the facility. The project required electrical engineering design, creation and installation of two 14-by-33-foot LED American flags affixed to each side of the 520-square-foot walk-in station, which is the single most successful station in the country, playing an important role in the recruiting effort for the Armed Forces.

“Wil Kuhnlenz and the entire NISH team are an outstanding group to work with,” said Bakiewicz. “Their many years of background knowledge and experience in exceeding the expectations of Federal agencies provided unparalleled support for this project.”

The partners involved in the American flag project included the Herkimer ARC, AbilityOne® producing nonprofit agency Herkimer Industries, Fiberdyne Labs Inc., Intercontinental Develop-ment Corporation, NISH, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Armed Forces.

Herkimer ARC President and CEO Kevin Crosley commented, “This is a story about building a legacy. These flags are on display at one of America’s No. 1 tourist attractions.1 Nearly 38 million sightseers revel in Times Square’s bright lights each year. We were able to partner with Fiberdyne Labs, an 8(a) for-profit business that produces custom LED signs and lighting.

Herkimer continues on page 7

Building a Legacy: The Herkimer ARC Times Square Flag ProjectBy Joan Wishod Reardon, director, Public Relations, Herkimer ARC

NORTH CENTRAL REGION AND NATIONAL NEWS

Products Connection . . . 2

AbilityOne Design Challenge University Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

North Central Region News . . . . . . . . . . 4

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hosts AbilityOne Day 2012 . . . 8

Challenge Enterprises Hosts Group of Inventors . . . . . . . . . . . 9

QWE Scoop . . . . . . . . . .11

Chesapeake Center Increases Productivity . .13

Job Squad and Christopher O’Dell . . . .16

Revised 404 Collection Form Expected . . . . . . .19

1www.Forbes.com

Each 14-by-33-foot LED flag rendition, located in Times Square, New York, N.Y., consists of 110,460 LEDs; 260 LEDs on each printed circuit board; 416 circuit boards; eight printed circuit boards; and 52 troughs.

2  •  Fall 2012  •  PRODUCTS CONNECTION  •  CRP Connection

Products Connection Products Connection

Products Statistics Oct . 1, 2011 to Aug . 15, 2012

Federal Opportunities

Sole Source Notices 29

Sources Sought Notices 15

RFI 5

M&Ds

Sole Source Notices 4

Sources Sought Notices 7

Commercial

RFIs 2

Number of FTEs Added 167.56

Total PL Line Extensions/ Commercial/M&D 182.97

Number of Price Changes Processed 150*

Number of Allocations Processed 145

*As of July 10

Tell the Products SheriffAs a reminder, please use the “Tell the Products Sheriff” e-mail address: TPS@

nish.org, to obtain responses to specific Products questions and to comment on Products issues and concerns. E-mails are responded to within three business days and selected responses (minus agency and personal information) will be printed in future Products Connection issues.

D avid A. Reed, CPA, a former govern-ment contracts auditor for 29 years, joined the NISH staff in 2011 as director

of government contracting compliance. Reed, who has extensive experience in costing and Federal regulations, provided training on direct and indirect costs at the NISH National Training and Achievement Conference in May. In this article, Reed highlights growing trends related to cost and pricing in the government market-place and the importance of understanding the relationship of cost and price.

The relationship between cost and price cannot be overstated. By definition, price = costs + profit (or net proceeds). Even in those instances where price analysis/market research is adequate to support a fair and reasonable price determination, CRPs need to ensure they are accurately identifying the actual costs to produce the product or provide the service. As government customers subject CRP proposals to more scrutiny, CRPs will be required to provide rational explanations of their cost estimates consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). The most pertinent of these regulations can be found in FAR 15.404 and FAR 31.7/OMB Circular A-122.

FAR 15.404, Proposal Analysis, specifies the procedures to be used by government contracting personnel for analyzing proposals submitted by CRPs. With an increasing trend of using cost analysis, which entails reviewing individual cost components and profit, CRPs will be expected to not only provide more detailed cost data, but also to explain how this data complies with applicable FAR cost principles. In addition to estimating direct costs, developing and applying indirect cost rates used in the proposal will also be of particular concern. Contracting officers consider indirect costs a prime target for potential price reductions, which means CRPs should understand exactly which costs are truly indirect, and how these costs

should be effectively managed and controlled if they have any hope of appropriately recovering them on AbilityOne® contracts.

The applicable cost principles that define indirect costs and the methods for allocating them to contracts are contained in FAR 31.7/OMB Circular A-122, Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations. Pricing Memoranda 2 and 3, published by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™, specifically address these cost principles. For product manufacturers, the concepts of overhead and G&A (general and administrative costs), both of which meet the definition of indirect cost, should be clearly understood. Recent experience indicates that contracting officers are asking more and more questions about proposed indirect costs and they are challenging the bases over which these costs are being allocated. CRPs have total discretion in deciding how to define and allocate indirect costs, but the selected methodologies must comply with the principles prescribed by FAR 31.7/A-122. CRPs must also recognize the importance of maintaining an accounting system that appropriately and consistently segregates direct and indirect costs, and allocates costs equitably to all benefitting contracts and functions within the organization.

The AbilityOne Program is facing tremen-dous challenges in today’s environment of government fiscal constraints. CRPs are being asked for additional support for their proposed prices. A more in-depth under-standing of the FAR cost and pricing principles is necessary to ensure CRPs are making appropriate business decisions and recognizing that negotiated AbilityOne contract prices may not allow for the recovery of all costs.

For more information on direct and indirect costs and accounting system requirements, contact David Reed at dreed@nish .org or (678) 838-5407 .

Cost vs. Price — What’s the Connection?

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University Winners

National Connection

CRP Connection  •  NATIONAL  •  Fall 2012  •  3

2012-2013 AbilityOne Design ChallengeHigh School Deadline:

January 14, 2013University Deadline:

April 17, 2013For more information, visit: www.instituteforempower ment.org/design-challenge

4  •  Fall 2012  •  NORTH CENTRAL REGION •  CRP Connection

North Central Region Connection

News From the NISH North Central Region

Executive Director’s Note A Successful Conference Series

S ummer is drawing to a close, which means the NISH National,

Grassroots Advocacy and North Central National Council of Work Centers (NCWC) conferences have already taken place.

Our region played host to NISH’s National Training and Achievement Conference, which was held in Indianapolis just days before the Indianapolis 500. The Indy 500 was the theme of our booth and regional luncheon. Many patrons of the North Central booth had their photos taken behind an Indy Car cut-out. The North Central region luncheon included the presentation of our traditional General Services Administration Partners in Excellence Award with a video montage; VGS Inc. and the Bricker Federal Building in Columbus,

Ohio received the award. In addition, for the first time at our regional luncheon, we presented awards to the regional Villines and Usdane Award winners. Congratulations to the William M. Usdane Award winner, Tristan Matta of Weaver Industries, and to the Evelyne Villines Award winner, Michael Herring of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin. The conference was one of the best conferences I have attended in my tenure at NISH. Although I am a little partial because it was held in our region, we did see an increase in attendance over prior years and had the largest turnout of community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) from our region since 2006. New, interesting and thought-provoking sessions were added to the curriculum, and we had a magnificent assortment of strong-willed and well-deserved award winners. The North Central

Executive Director’s Note continues on page 5

CRP Connection  •  NORTH CENTRAL REGION  •  Fall 2012  •  5

North Central Region Connection

Region again had a number of National Award recipients: Performance Excellence in Govern-ment Contracts—Peckham Inc., Lansing, Mich.; Performance Excellence in Quality Work Environment—Peckham Inc., Lansing, Mich.; Commercial Business Partnership (In Support of the AbilityOne® Program)—Meijer Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.; NCWC Management Excellence Award, North Central Region—Marilyn Crabbins, Licking-Knox Goodwill Industries Inc.

We hosted everyone again from Aug. 15–17 in Milwaukee, Wis. at the InterContinental Hotel for the annual NCWC North Central Region Conference. This was the first time since I have been at NISH—and the first time

in approximately 10 years—that we held the conference outside of Chicago. Considering the change in venue, we had a wonderful turnout; final tally was 145 attendees and 47 CRPs represented. Milwaukee, an Algonquin word for “Gathering Place,” was true to its name. We had a full agenda of diverse topics, which needed dual track sessions in order cover everything in just two days, and the City of Milwaukee created the perfect setting for our guests to network with each other, NISH team members and the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™. Without a doubt, this was one of the best NCWC Conferences I have been a part of and the preliminary polls from the attendees are indicating the same.

Best Regards,Chris

2011 GSA/NISH Partners in Service Excellence Award

John W. Bricker Federal BuildingColumbus, Ohio

General Services Administration, Building Management SpecialistBonnie Robertson

Vocational Guidance Services Inc., Project ManagerRonnie Frazier

HistorySince 1999, this award has recognized the joint efforts and partnership of the General Services Administration (GSA) and CRPs for their efforts to provide tenants with excellent and quality service on custodial service contracts. The program was designed with one purpose in mind— to recognize the efforts of individuals, property managers, site supervisors, GSA and CRPs who are benefiting from and supporting the AbilityOne® Program.

In the past 12 years, nine CRPs and GSA property management offices have received this award. Those recipients are selected in recognition for their dedication and

service. The rest of us are introduced to their stories of success—some reflecting personal courage, commitment, determina-tion and pride; and others demonstrating the benefits of creativity, the spirit of partnership, and hard work by individuals and organizations.

Selection ProcessThe five-member selection committee, which consists of both GSA and NISH representatives, began the process in October 2011. This year, the selection committee received four nominations representing the Midwest region, from Indiana and Ohio.

Nominations for the GSA/NISH Partners in Service Excellence Award must be submitted as a representation of the existing partnership between GSA and its CRP provider. Each nomination must demonstrate the successes of this partnering approach from the interests of GSA, CRP and tenant perspective. Nominees are reviewed on level of partnership and their ability to problem

solve, respond to issues, implement best standards to provide quality service and manage contract administration issues.

After carefully reviewing each nomination, scores were collected and tabulated. This year was especially difficult as just tenths of a point separated the nominees from each other. Out of the four nominations, three were chosen for site visits. During a cold blustery week in February, the selection committee made visits to the three CRPs

Service Excellence Award continues on page 6

Executive Director’s Note continued from page 4

John W. Bricker Federal Building: Columbus, Ohio

6  •  Fall 2012  •  NORTH CENTRAL REGION •  CRP Connection

North Central Region Connection

Congressman Benishek Named AbilityOne Congressional Champion

I n a formal award ceremony at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 29, Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Mich., was honored as an AbilityOne®

Champion. Grand Traverse Industries nominated Dr. Benishek after he visited the GTI Employment and Training facility in Mancelona in October 2011. An employment and training business with a Federal contract in the AbilityOne Program, GTI praised Benishek as a Congressman who goes the extra mile.

In a letter to support GTI, Benishek wrote, “Earlier this year when I visited Grand Traverse Industries in Mancelona, located in the 1st Congressional District, I was able to meet with employees in their working environment. I found the entire team to be upbeat, motivated and proud of the work they were perform-ing. This program allows many of these individuals to be productive, independent members of society, which might otherwise be difficult or at times, seemingly impossible.”

The “thank you” plaque honoring Benishek read:

In recognition of your commitment to improving the lives of Americans who are blind or have other significant disabilities through your continued and loyal support of the AbilityOne Program that provides training and employment for people with disabilities. On behalf of the more than 50,000 employees of the AbilityOne Program working on projects throughout the United States, this recognition represents a sincere “thank you” for your support, commitment and effort to ensure continued employment for all Americans who are blind or have other significant disabilities—now and for future generations.

Previously, GTI had nominated Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., who was formally awarded an AbilityOne Congressional Champion designation in August 2009.

in Ohio and Indiana, talking to CRPs and GSA reps, and touring buildings. The site visits were a wonderful opportunity to witness the strong partnerships between the CRPs and GSA, and share in their accomplishments.

And the Winner is….The John W. Bricker Federal Building in Columbus, Ohio was the last site visited, and it followed the cliché that says, “save the best for last.”

This year was a difficult decision for those on the selection committee, but the Bricker Federal Building had several key highlights. Since Dec. 31, 2011, the Bricker building averaged less than one cleaning related service call per day. Even

more impressive is that approximately 75 percent of the cleaning related service calls were task oriented (i.e. special cleaning, need for extra recycling bins, etc.) as opposed to quality orientated (trash not emptied, vacuuming not performed, etc.). The GSA/Vocational Guidance Services Inc. (VGS) partnership at the Bricker building is successful for three fundamental reasons:

• Constant and open communication

• Shared sense of pride

• Unparalleled teamwork

Ronnie Frazier, project manager, VGS, has been going the extra mile in performing his daily duties as both project manager and site supervisor. Bonnie Robertson, contracting officer representative (COR), building management specialist, GSA,

took extra steps and made it a point to devote additional time and resources toward maintaining a continuously high level of custodial services in the Bricker building. As a result of the hard work that both Frazier and Robertson have devoted to this project, the Bricker building’s average daily custodial service calls dropped. They stepped up their game to actually improve the level of service during a period of reduced manpower. The partnership and team mentality under less than ideal circumstances exemplifies the constant and open communication, sense of pride and ownership, and unparalleled teamwork of the GSA and VGS partner-ship. We are thankful to continue this tradition of awarding CRPs and GSA for their dedication and commitment to excellent service and partnership.

Service Excellence Award continued from page 5

CRP Connection  •  NATIONAL  •  Fall 2012  •  7

National Connection

The project employed six people with disabilities, including three veterans. The flags were fabricated with materials made in the United States—many from the state of New York. This venture is a good illustration of a collaboration that creates partnerships and employment and honors our nation’s Armed Forces. When you put all these facets together, you have a very special project.”

Markus Irvine, one of the three veterans with disabilities who worked on the project, said, “As a veteran, I feel great pride in this project, and I hope it brings pride to the people who see it. Someday, while walking through Times Square with my two daughters and son, I’ll show them the American flags and say, ‘Daddy helped to build these.’ I know they’ll be proud.”

While Fiberdyne Labs spearheaded the design and engineering for the project,

Herkimer Industries also provided project management, de-installation at the New York City site, fabrication, installation and testing, and final site cleanup.

People with disabilities were also instru-mental in the success of the project, performing cutting and assembly of wiring harnesses for each flag, which consists of 110,460 LEDs per flag; 260 LEDs on each printed circuit board; 416 circuit boards on each flag; eight printed circuit boards; and 52 troughs per flag.

Flag creation was performed at Herkimer Industries and the Fiberdyne manufactur-ing plant in Frankfort, N.Y. Veterans also assisted with the onsite fabrication, assembly and material handling in New York City. Some of these tasks included disassembly and removal of existing fluorescent bulbs, ballasts and components; assembly and installation of wiring and conduits to the LED units from the provided electrical panels; installation of

the LED systems on ledges/trays that match the stainless steel interior; and testing and site cleaning services.

“Herkimer Industries and Fiberdyne Labs make a great team,” Crosley said. “We finished and installed the project ahead of schedule. The building and installation of the Times Square flags has become the single most exciting project we’ve worked on in the Herkimer ARC’s history. I think the legacy of the flags will carry on for many years to come, and this project will lead us to additional meaningful work opportunities for the people we support.”

Markus Irvine, one of the three veterans with disabilities who worked on the LED project, was inspired by his work on the LED panels and circuitry during the creation and construction of the flags. He has since enrolled in an electrical engineering program at a local college to continue developing his skills in this field.

Herkimer continued from page 1

8  •  Fall 2012  •  NATIONAL  •  CRP Connection

National Connection

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hosts AbilityOne Day 2012

C ollaboration was the word of the day on April 16 at the first-ever Wright-Patterson Air Force Base AbilityOne®

Day. The Enterprise Sourcing Group (ESG), NISH and NIB hosted a one-day training conference to provide government acquisition personnel insight into the AbilityOne Program and display the diverse capabilities of the community rehabilitation program (CRP) community. Carl Shofner, director, ESG, Air Force Materiel Command and Dr. Steve Butler, executive director, Air Force Materiel Command, kicked off the day’s events with words of support for this inaugural event and asked the audience to embrace the opportunity to learn more about AbilityOne and how to collaborate with CRPs on future contract opportunities. The ESG is responsible for strategically sourcing goods and services throughout 71 installations. Marie McManus, Air Force key account manager, NISH, was instrumental in building this relationship and opening new doors for the AbilityOne Program at Wright-Patterson.

Nearly 200 people attended the training and exhibit show. Along with the training session, 18 CRPs hosted booths in the exhibit area displaying their capabilities in various product and service lines of business. The session attendees took full advantage of the opportunity to tour the booths and interact with the CRPs. It was a great way to expose individuals to the diversity of the AbilityOne CRP network and highlight the abilities of people with disabilities. Kimberly Zeich, deputy executive director of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™, provided a general overview of the AbilityOne Program and how government personnel can benefit from working with CRPs in the program.

A highlight of this event was Nathan Short sharing his story with the participants. Short is a wounded warrior and a member of NISH’s Speakers Bureau. Short was injured while on active duty in Iraq. His heroic story touched the individuals in the room as they listened to him and followed his journey. Short shared how difficult it was for him after returning home on a medical discharge. Fortunately, through the AbilityOne Program, he found himself and learned to utilize the skills acquired in the military. Short discussed his experi-

ences working for PCSI on its Tinker Air Force Base and his promotion to quality assurance manager. Many individuals commented on Short’s speech as it truly displayed the success and purpose of the AbilityOne Program to provide products and services for Federal customers while building integrity for veterans and others with significant disabilities through employment opportunities.

The training sessions focused on the benefits of partnering with the AbilityOne Program and clearing up any misconcep-tions people may have about the Program. Bob Chamberlin, president and CEO of NISH, and Scottie Knott, chief operating officer, NIB, joined Zeich on a senior leader panel to field questions from the contracting personnel. This session was received extremely well as it sparked great conversation and created a safe environ-ment to discuss important topics and share best practices.

The day wrapped up with guided tours of local CRPs for interested attendees. This was a great opportunity for people to see firsthand individuals with disabilities at work. Goodwill Easter Seals of the Miami Valley, TAC Industries, Greene, Inc. and Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired all hosted tours at their facilities. This inaugural event has paved the way for future collaboration and partnering activities.

At the first Wright-Patterson AFB AbilityOne Day, 18 CRPs hosted booths in the exhibit area, displaying their capabilities in various product and service lines of business.

CRP Connection  •  NATIONAL  •  Fall 2012  •  9

National Connection

Challenge Enterprises Hosts Group of Inventors

C hallenge Enterprises of North Florida Inc. recently hosted a meeting of the North Florida Inventors and Innovators Group. Formed in 2010 and chaired

by Bob Hawkinson, vice president of TLC Inc., the group’s membership has grown to more than 70 entrepreneurs, inventors and engineers who meet monthly to exchange ideas and develop new product solutions ranging from marketing to production.

“Challenge Enterprises of North Florida implemented an extraordinarily creative idea by inviting a group of inventors to their facility,” said Dana Ferguson, senior team manager for NISH Products in the NISH South Region and key speaker at the event. Attendees of this out-of-the-box meeting learned about the CRP’s capabilities and core competencies, as well as about each other’s needs. The group also was interested in learning about the AbilityOne® Program and how it works.

As expected, the inventors group presented itself as an enormous opportunity for new commercial manufacturing jobs. The number of products this group had patented and were ready to put on the market was remarkable. “You could feel the energy in the warehouse with this dynamic group of visionaries,” said Nancy Keating, CEO of Challenge Enterprises of North Florida. Many members had been pursuing the production of their products for many years, and some products were already in the marketplace and needing additional assistance in manufacturing. Hawkinson, the group’s founder, stated, “The fact that Challenge Enterprises is willing to work with people and go through the bumps in the road to get to where they are going is a strong suit.”

“A lot of people have ideas but don’t know what to do with them,” Hawkinson added, “and that’s what this group is about.” Based in Jacksonville, Fla., North Florida Inventors and Innovators Group meets once a month, taking tours of other plants and bringing in guest speakers to give more insight to their members. Entrepreneurs come together to find connections, share resources and exchange ideas. “This group was able to see firsthand the capabilities of Challenge Enterprises and make initial determina-tions on how they could partner to manufacture, assemble or package their products. Reaction to the event has been very positive, and it appears that many people with significant disabilities may soon have additional opportunities for employment as these ideas turn into projects,” said Ferguson.

Since the initial meeting and tour, formal meetings have taken place with Solutions Unlimited, Aero-Fast Bicycle Company, Bull Gator Archeology Equipment and Weed Recede to potentially springboard into production projects. “This was a great opportunity for the private business community to partner with a NISH organization,” said Doug Conkey, chairman of the board of County Commissioners for Clay County. “The ultimate goal is to make dreams come true as NISH helps provide opportunities through organizations like Challenge Enterprises to get innovative products into the Federal marketplace. The biggest highlight of the day is that this process provides enhanced opportunities for a workforce with disabilities to get meaningful employment. This is truly a win-win situation.”

If your agency would like more information about how  to reach your local Inventors Group, contact United Inventors Association of USA or visit the organization’s website at www.uiausa.org.

Katie Vineyard, COO of Challenge Enterprises, gives a tour for the North Florida Inventors and Innovators group of Challenge Enterprises’ manufacturing project for BAE Systems.

CRP Connection  •  NATIONAL  •  Fall 2012  •  11

National Connection

NISH modified the criteria for the annual CRP Certificate of Achievement to include participation in the Employee

Research System (ERS) and the Quality Work Environment (QWE) initiative. This change is already in effect and will impact the certificates issued this fall. A summary of the Certificate, the ERS and QWE initiatives, and supports available to begin participation will be addressed in this article.

The Certificate of Achievement is a way for NISH to recognize CRP excellence in perfor-mance. Bob Chamberlin, NISH president and CEO, personally signs each Certificate of Achievement and he feels strongly that the Certificate of Achievement reflects a sign of excellence and remains relevant to the current environment and reflective of the most significant developments in the AbilityOne® arena. The additional requirements for participation in ERS and QWE are indicative of the importance of those two initiatives and of the forward thinking of CRPs that are going above and beyond to truly demonstrate excellence in their operations.

ERS is a database where CRPs submit employee level payroll data. It has already provided valuable information that was not available prior to its formation. Before ERS, NISH relied on anecdotal data, but now there is statistically significant data about AbilityOne employees to support those anecdotes. Having accurate

information is critical to educate the public and Members of Congress on the benefits and scope of the program.

QWE is an initiative created by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™ (The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled operates as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission) and one that NISH whole-heartedly supports. By implementing QWE, a CRP takes an extra step to systematically approach the issues surrounding employees in the AbilityOne Program. QWE is simply a goal setting process and CRPs decide what goals they want to implement.

Before October 2011, the Certificate of Achievement was based on agency ratio, satisfactory performance, on-time deliveries, timely submission of the Quarterly Employment Report and annual form 404 report, and timely payment of commissions. CRPs now have to also meet the criteria for ERS and QWE participation. To meet the ERS criterion, CRPs must be signed up to participate and submit data for at least two quarters during the fiscal year. This requirement applies to CRPs with greater than 50 AbilityOne employees performing direct labor. To meet the QWE criterion, CRPs must be signed up to implement the initiative, have completed their self-assessment and submitted a Strategic Action Plan. This require-ment applies to CRPs with greater than 25 AbilityOne employees performing direct labor.

QWE Scoop A Quarterly Message

NISH Modifies Criteria for Annual CRP Certificate of Achievement

Jan Williams, QWE Director

QWE Scoop continues on page 12

12  •  Fall 2012  •  NATIONAL  •  CRP Connection

National Connection

Information about ERS and QWE has been shared in a variety of formats including in-person trainings, the ERS data workgroup, webinars, the NISH annual conference, and the regional NCWC conferences, to name a few. In light of the changes to the Certificate of Achievement, a joint ERS and QWE “traveling roadshow” will be done at locations across the country so the information about how to participate will be brought “to a neighborhood near you.” These sessions will be more than presentations;

CRPs will be able to talk to other CRPs that participate in ERS and QWE.

The traveling roadshow is in development . Once identified, dates and locations will be posted to the Institute for Economic Empowerment’s website . For more information on ERS and QWE, visit www .instituteforempowerment .org .

Asian Rehabilitation Services, Inc. Los Angeles, Calif.

ASPIRO, Inc. Green Bay, Wis.

Bridges BTC, Inc. Rockledge, Fla.

Challenge Enterprises of North Florida, Inc. Green Cove Springs, Fla.

Coastal Enterprises of Jacksonville, Inc. Jacksonville, N.C.

DART Ridgecrest, Calif.

Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries Washington, D.C.

Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc. New York, N.Y.

Foothill Vocational Opportunities Pasadena, Calif.

Garten Services, Inc. Salem, Ore.

Goodwill Community Services, Inc. Phoenix, Ariz.

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Louisville, Ky.

Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Inc. Miami, Fla.

Goodwill Industries of South Texas Corpus Christi, Texas

Goodwill Industries of Southern California Panorama City, Calif.

Goodwill Specialty Services, Inc. Omaha, Neb.

Great Plains Enterprises, Inc. Las Vegas, Nev.

Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, Inc. West Palm Beach, Fla.

Helena Industries Helena, Mont.

J.P. Industries, Inc. Tucson, Ariz.

Ka Lima O Maui Wailuku, Hawaii

Lake Region Corp. Devils Lake, N.D.

LifeROOTS Albuquerque, N.M.

Lillie Rice Center, Inc. Walla Walla, Wash.

Lincoln Training Center South El Monte, Calif.

MacDonald Training Center, Inc. Tampa, Fla.

Navigations, Inc. Battle Creek, Mich.

Northwest Center Seattle, Wash.

On Our Own Services, Inc. Houston, Texas

Peninsula Services Bremerton, Wash.

Pueblo Diversified Industries, Inc. Pueblo, Colo.

Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, Inc. Fredericksburg, Va.

Rauch New Albany, Ind.

San Diego Outsourcing Systems, Inc. San Diego, Calif.

Seneca-Cayuga Arc Waterloo, N.Y.

Shasta County Opportunity Center Redding, Calif.

Skils’kin Spokane, Wash.

Skookum Bremerton, Wash.

STEPS Farmville, Va.

SVRC Industries, Inc. Saginaw, Mich.

Tehama County Opportunity Center, Inc. Red Bluff, Calif.

The Arc of Hilo Hilo, Hawaii

Thomas-Grady Service Center Thomasville, Ga.

UCP of Central Arkansas Little Rock, Ark.

VGS, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio

Sizzlin’ CRPsThe following CRPs recently completed their QWE self-assessment:

QWE Scoop continued from page 11

CRP Connection  •  NATIONAL  •  Fall 2012  •  13

National Connection

A young woman sits down with an effusive smile. She looks slightly reluctant to begin her story, yet when she does, her smile remains bright and

her confidence seems to build. “I started working at Chesapeake Center in 1996,” she begins. “I lived in the Chesapeake Center apartments and worked at Cadmus.” It wasn’t long before she met her husband, fell in love and had a baby. Her story sounds typical, even unextra–ordinary, but for the fact that she has a disability.

She struggles with both bi-polar disorder and a learning disability, which resulted in poor work performance and attendance. After the gentle encouragement and reassurance of the staff at Chesapeake Center, she has made tremendous strides in both her confidence and desire to achieve. She now attends work regularly, is on the way to owning her own home, has gotten her driver’s license and is working toward getting her GED. Hers is an inspirational story, which perhaps would have turned out differently if it weren’t for the work of this nonprofit dedicated to changing the lives of people with disabilities.

Chesapeake Center is a complex of buildings that sit quiet and unassuming on Dover Street. Cars drive quickly past, occupants unaware of the large-scale operations taking place inside and the magnitude of its impact on the community. Since 1966, its main focus has been to assist individuals with disabilities reach independence through providing opportunities in employment, housing and community activities, among others.

“Similar to other nonprofits, [Chesapeake Center] began when a group of concerned parents, whose children with disabilities had graduated high school, got together,” says President and CEO Donna Harrison. “At that time, people with disabilities couldn’t stay in school until they were 21, so the parents approached local store owners to see if they would be willing to offer employment.” Rowen’s Stationary was one of the first businesses to allow a small group of young adults to work, breaking down boxes and taking out the trash.

This arrangement came to the attention of Mrs. Alton Brown, a local philanthropist. “She was intrigued by the families,” continues Harrison. “She purchased the property on Dover Road, and they started approaching local businesses to see if things could be brought to the Center.” The group offered chair caning, started a toy business and did whatever odd jobs came their way.

As the years passed, the state of Maryland began to fund organizations like Chesapeake Center. The support provides funds to hire staff and run vans throughout the county to pick up people and bring them to work. “We pick up people as far away as Tilghman and the borders of neighboring counties,” says Harrison. “We receive funds from Caroline and Dorchester, so we pick up people there as well.”

Currently, the Center serves approximately 200 adults with various disabilities. They work at any number of tasks including: stuffing toys in bubbles for vending machines; breaking down and recycling computer hard drives; stuffing envelopes for bulk mailers; constructing crab mallets, disposable emergency stretchers called dispo-a-boards and canes with a specialized footprint. A food service area provides two meals and a snack for Center employees and sells baked goods throughout the community. Chesapeake Center manages three recycling sites throughout Talbot County and sells the aluminum cans collected from not only its property, but also from the adjacent site. “Nothing is wasted here,” says Vocational Director Lisa Korell. “We have an outlet for everything.” One of the largest ongoing jobs is a U.S. Navy contract, cutting and sewing special cleaning cloths.

The sound of the room in which the cleaning cloths are made is a noisy symphony of sewing machines and specialized cutting equipment. Here a large workforce cuts, sews, trims and inspects cloths destined for Navy subs and ships all over the world. “In the 10 years I’ve worked as vocational director, we’ve only had one quality control issue,” says Korell. It is a source of pride as well as a testament to the facility itself. Given the opportunity, people with disabilities flourish and are as productive, if not more than, their counterparts without disabilities.

Chesapeake Center Increases ProductivityBy Leslie Orndoff, www.eastonsavvy.comArticle reprinted with permission from www.eastonsavvy.com.

Chesapeake Center continues on page 14

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There are some who come to Chesapeake Center not to work, but to learn valuable life skills and make friends through the Day Habilitation Program. “Some people don’t want to work a full day, and that’s fine,” continues Korell. “They’ll work a half day then come and relax or do a craft.” Others may spend the entire day there, staying occupied, engaged, earning a sense of accomplishment. Often times those who start in the Day Habilitation Program move on to work in the facility.

Chesapeake Center not only employs people on site, but also works to place people in the community. “When we approach potential employers,” says Korell, “we like to focus on what they can do, not what they can’t.” Currently, five people from the Center are placed in jobs throughout the community.

“The Chesapeake Center feels like a family environ-ment,” says the young woman with bi-polar disorder. Her life’s course was changed because of the non-profit staff’s efforts. Had it not been for that family style support and gentle pressure to push herself to achieve, her story—along with the stories of many others—would have had less than a happy ending.

THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO

ACHIEVEMENTAt Lockheed Martin, we take on some of the most complex

challenges imaginable. So we depend on a diverse supplier

base to provide the widest range of abilities and perspectives.

The AbilityOne∏ Program gives us access to a wealth of talent,

and helps us deliver innovative solutions to our customers.

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Chesapeake Center continued from page 13

THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO

ACHIEVEMENTAt Lockheed Martin, we take on some of the most complex

challenges imaginable. So we depend on a diverse supplier

base to provide the widest range of abilities and perspectives.

The AbilityOne∏ Program gives us access to a wealth of talent,

and helps us deliver innovative solutions to our customers.

www.lockheedmartin.com

© 2

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Lock

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16  •  Fall 2012  •  NATIONAL  •  CRP Connection

National Connection

W hen Christopher O’Dell finished high school in rural West Virginia, he looked forward to gaining independence and having a job of his

own. But, he was also apprehensive about an unknown future. O’Dell worried that with a disability, a special education certificate and little work experience, his employment prospects would be limited. Still, depending on a Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) check left few choices, and a need for purposeful employment ultimately led him to pursue work in spite of these concerns. “I got tired quickly of sitting at home, and even though I was nervous at first, I decided to [find help],” he says.

CourageA transition specialist at school referred O’Dell to Job Squad, an AbilityOne-producing nonprofit and provider of employment opportunities and support services for job-seekers with disabilities. When considering employment, it is important for anyone

who receives Social Security disability benefits to consult an expert and learn how work can affect these benefits. With help from his family and a benefits counselor at Job Squad, O’Dell explored his oppor-tunities. He learned that rules called Work Incentives make it easier for adults with disabilities to enhance their job skills through education, training and work experience, while receiving healthcare and cash benefits from Social Security. A combination of Work Incentives may allow O’Dell to continue receiving all or part of his SSI check while working. Some of these Work Incentives, known as “Special SSI Payments for Persons Who Work,” the “Earned Income Exclusion,” “Property Essential to Self-Support,” and “Impair-ment Related Work Expenses” can help him receive

Job Squad and Christopher O’Dell: Succeeding with the Ticket to Work Program

Job Squad continues on page 18

Learn about Work Incentives in the Social Security Red Book, the official guide to Work Incentives .

18  •  Fall 2012  •  NATIONAL  •  CRP Connection

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some cash payments from Social Security while he tests his ability to work. In addition, Medicaid coverage can continue even if his income is too high to receive SSI cash benefits. Finally, O’Dell learned that if he stops working because of his disability within five years, Social Security may be able to start his benefits again without a new application. Because each person’s circumstances are different, it is important to understand which rules apply to your employees and what these rules will mean for benefits when working. Work Incentives supported O’Dell as he built confidence, and helped give him the courage he needed to pursue long-term employment.

TeamworkO’Dell’s counselor also told him he would be a good candidate for Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program. The Ticket Program is voluntary and exists specifically to help people with disabilities progress toward financial self-sufficiency. It is a good fit for those who would like to improve their earning potential and who are committed to preparing for long-term success in the workforce. Social Security disability beneficiaries 18 through 64 qualify. With the help of state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and specialized providers known as Employ-ment Networks (ENs), the Ticket Program offers people with disabilities improved access to meaning-ful employment. Job Squad is one of over 1,000 ENs, including a number of AbilityOne® Network members, that offer a range of free employment support services, including rehabilitation, career and benefits counseling, resume writing, interview skills workshops, referral to vocational training or continu-ing education, job placement services, job-coaching and other types of ongoing employment supports. An EN can offer one or many of these services, and different ENs may specialize in serving select populations. Program participants may speak with several providers before finding a good match, and can choose any EN that meets their needs.

As a nationally recognized leader in customized and supported employment, Job Squad was well equipped to meet O’Dell’s needs. Job Squad worked with O’Dell and his family to develop an Individual Work Plan, a roadmap to help him meet his employ-ment goals. After assessing his skills and training potential, Job Squad placed O’Dell in a job as custodian for the Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI) Criminal Justice Information System in 2008. In the early weeks of his job, O’Dell had a difficult time adjusting. He described it as “really hard work, until you get used to it.” But, Job Squad worked with him until he was comfortable in his duties and he now enjoys his routine. Individualized training, a job coach and other supports helped him become confident in his ability to succeed at work.

PromiseO’Dell is conscientious in performing his five weekly shifts from 3 p.m. to midnight, and is excited about his work. According to Travis Klein, director of Human Resources at Job Squad, O’Dell often volunteered for the challenging midnight shift, and has grown as a team player. “He takes a lead in orienting new employees and strives to promote teamwork with his crew at the FBI building,” he says. FBI employees enjoy having Job Squad employees like O’Dell on site. They contribute to a positive morale, and Travis hopes that contract expansion opportunities will soon allow Job Squad to promote O’Dell into a supervisory position.

PrideO’Dell has seen tremendous improvements in his life since he decided to participate in the Ticket to Work Program. At 26, he is now a devoted father with a family of his own; proud of what his independence has allowed him to achieve. He has been self-sufficient for four years, and feels free of the limita-tions imposed by relying on SSI. As O’Dell talks about fishing with his son, spending time with friends and co-workers, purchasing an all-terrain vehicle, or completing payments on the car, his satisfaction with life after Social Security is clear. He looks forward to a better future for himself and his family with confidence. O’Dell is glad he decided to participate in the Ticket Program, suggesting other young people should take a chance on their future and “…go for it!”

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives helped O’Dell find his path to self-sufficiency. To learn more about using Ticket to Work at your nonprofit, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work or call the Ticket Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD).

Job Squad continued from page 16

CRP Connection  •  NATIONAL  •  Fall 2012  •  19

National Connection

2012 Call for Nominations will open in September.

Don’t miss out!The first 50 CRPs to nominate will receive a$200 training voucher.

www.nish.org/awardsAll SucceSS

StorieS WAnted

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Revised 404 Information Collection Form Expected for Fourth Quarter FY12As mentioned in an earlier NISH Public Policy Update and in keeping with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™ submitted a request to the Office of Manage-ment and Budget (OMB) to add three new questions to the 404 data collection form and revise the certification signature block. The information will enable the Commission to accurately measure veteran participation in the AbilityOne® Program. The complete proposed form can be found on the NISH Extranet. The new questions are 6E, 7H and 7I. The CRP signature block revision clarifies that the form is subject to the False Claims Act. NISH plans to update the QER with these revisions. NISH is coordinating the requisite information technology updates with NIB and the Commission to include the additional fields/questions. Pending final approval by OMB, these revisions will go into effect Sept. 30, 2012 for FY12 data collection. Questions? Please contact ppappas@nish.org.

Northwest and Pacific West Region

Portland, OROct. 9-11, 2012

EastRegion

Arlington, VANov. 7-9, 2012

South CentralCEO Forum

Fort Worth, TXFeb. 5-7, 2013

SouthCEO Forum

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NCWC Regional Conferences and CEO Forums

North CentralCEO ForumComing Soon

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CRP Connection is published quarterly by the NISH Corporate Communications Department . To submit questions, comments or story ideas, please e-mail corpcomm@nish .org or call (571) 226-4660 .

To request additional copies of CRP Connec-tion, or to add or remove your name from the CRP Connection mailing list, please e-mail corpcomm@nish .org or call (571) 226-4660 .

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