Chet Perry Achiever of the Year
Quoyastine "Q" Moore
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Donations Operator

"This is amazing. I never knew it would be like this. The future has great potential. I'm going to Edison College and majoring in business because I someday would like to won my own business."

Quoyastine “Q” Moore is a determined young mother of three who doesn't’ let her past stop her. She led an undesirable way of life which led to her serving 10 months in prison. Q decided this was not the life she wanted for herself
and her children. After completing her incarceration time she was determined to turn her life around. Q started working for an organization where her income was not consistent and they didn’t offer insurance benefits that she needed for herself and her three kids. Q wanted a career with full-time hours and benefits where she could provide for her family and set an example for her children. She began looking for employment, but finding a job with a
felony conviction is not easy. “I was totally discouraged, but I refused to go back to a life that I knew was not good for me and my family,” Q says.

Q was experiencing a tremendous amount of frustration in her job search. While discussing her frustration with a friend, Q told her she turned in 39 job applications and had not been called in for one interview. Her friend told her about Goodwill’s Job Placement Services, she met with Job Placement Counselor Tandy Collins. She interviewed for a job and was hired the same day! “Q has a good attitude,” Tandy explains. “She is dependable, efficient, and willing to do whatever is asked of her.”

”I’m happy that my whole life has done a complete turnaround. I’m turning into a role model for my three kids,” Q explains. “This is amazing. I never knew it would be like this. The future has great potential. I’m going to Edison College and majoring in business because I someday would like to own my own business.”


Graduate of the Year
Candido "Candy" Benitez
Micro Control Systems
Assembler

"It means a lot to me, just to get back into the community." Candido says. "I just want to thank Goodwill for all the help."

Five years ago, Candido (Candy) Benitez’s life took a dramatic unexpected turn. One day while he was riding his dirt bike, he crashed and suffered severe injuries. The accident left him in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the chest down. Before the accident, he worked as a construction worker for many years. His position was a physical job that required strength and agility. Candy would no longer be able to do a job he knew so well.

Candy had to undergo several months of treatment and rehabilitation. He knew his new life meant being in a wheelchair. He feared his life was over and that he would never work again. That changed when he met with Goodwill Employment Consultant, Ketinna Gadsden.

Candy worked with the Goodwill Career Development office for four months prior to placement. Ketinna was able to assist Candy in getting a position at Micro Control Systems in Ft. Myers. Micro Control Systems is a manufacturing plant that produces circuit boards.

“Candy has been doing excellent work for us,” his supervisor Ron Andersen says. “He has shown himself to be very valuable to us.” Candy has been with Micro Control for six months and says it’s a great place to work.

Candy continues to grow and progress taking on more difficult aspects of circuit board assembly. Since starting the position he has progressed through set up of parts to actual soldering of the circuits. “It means a lot to me, just to get back into the community,” Candy says.” I just want to thank Goodwill for all the help.”

“Candy was excellent to work with, always compliant and ready to go,” Ketinna explains. Today Candy lives a typical life working daily and even drives his own car. He is happy in this job and looks forward to a long career with Micro Control.


Employer of the Year
Pall Corporation

(Dale J. Lampman, General Manager - Laura Rhode, Human Resource Manager, and Preston Towns,
a Goodwill Graduate who now works as an assembler at Pall Corporation)

"We are thankful for the support from Goodwill," Laura Rhoad says. "We are honored with the award and we hope to keep working with Goodwill in the future."

The Pall Corporation is a leader in the field of filtration, separation, and purification providing filters for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and aerospace industries. They employ more than 400 employees at their plant in Ft. Myers. Pall’s continued willingness to support Goodwill and its mission, by providing opportunities for people with disabilities within their company, is why they are being named Employer of the Year.

Preston Towns works for Pall as an assembler in the aerospace division. Preston is a double amputee and is missing several fingers. He had previously worked in trucking and was having difficulties getting in and out of the truck on a daily basis when he came to Goodwill industries for job placement assistance. After the initial interview Laura Rhoads, Human Resource Manger, said, “ Preston was such a genuine person I knew I wanted to give him a chance and hired him immediately.” The Pall Corporation feels that it is important to make an effort to provide the necessary accommodations for people with disabilities so that they can work comfortably and productively. “Pall is an amazing company to work with,” Goodwill Employment Consultant Ketinna Gadsden says. Ketinna goes on to say that the Pall Corporation is a great example of an employer who sincerely wants to help individuals overcome their roadblocks and become successful.

“We’re thankful for the support from Goodwill,” says Pall’s Human Resource Manager Laura Rhoad.” Currently, Pall has a Goodwill Graduate working for them and they look forward to hiring even more individuals from Goodwill who would be interested in employment at their company.

Laura comments, “We’re honored with the award and we hope to keep working with Goodwill for a long time!”


Business of the Year
Stephen R. Bowen Construction

Left to right: Stephen R. Bowen, President; Bob Trammell, Admin. Liaison; Gerry Malkowski, Project Superintendent; Dave Chandler, Project Superintendent; Craig Clouse, Vice President.

"It is great honor to be named Business of the Year," Stephen Bowen says. "Goodwill served a great need and this is just a small way we can help."

Stephen R. Bowen Construction is a commercial construction company specializing in the building and renovating of commercial, residential and wireless telecommunication site projects throughout Southwest Florida. After extensive experience in the construction industry working for others, Steve became an entrepreneur in 1987. As a Florida State Certified General Contractor he has completed projects in Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Broward and Desoto counties. For the past three years, Bowen Construction has worked remodeling Goodwill stores in this region. Bowen’s construction’s company tag line says, “Changing the skyline of Southwest Florida.” By helping to rebuild and update Goodwill’s retail stores, Bowen is not only changing the skyline of Southwest Florida, but helping to create stores that will change people’s lives.

After this area was hit by both Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Wilma in 2005 Steve was immediately on the telephone offering assistance and accessing damages to our stores. He was one of the first to ask, “How can I help?” His personal and professional dedication to Goodwill continues with each project completed. On an extremely hot day in June, the newly renovated Punta Gorda Store was opened. At the Grand Opening, Steve worked directing traffic in the parking lot to insure everyone had an opportunity to park easily and safely. The image of Steve in a straw hat working in the heat directing cars in the parking lot while others enjoyed the beautiful new stores is an excellent example of the extraordinary customer service and commitment to Goodwill which makes Bowen Construction stand out as a committed business partners.

At the close of 2006, Stephen R. Bowen Construction had completed six Goodwill Store projects. At this time they are in various stages of remolding three additional stores and will be constructing a brand new store on Daniels Parkway. With excellent construction, dedication to the Goodwill mission and phenomenal customer service we are proud to name Stephen R. Bowen Construction Business of the year. “It’s a great honor to be named business of the year,” Stephen Bowen says. “Goodwill serves a great need and this is just a small way we can help.”

2005
Goodwill Annual Dinner Success Stories


Amy Ofenbeck, Goodwill Public Relations Coordinator Chet Perry
Achiever of the Year

“I knew once I left television news I wanted to work in public relations. My job counselor had me volunteer in the PR Department at Goodwill for a few weeks. I was so excited when I found out they were hiring me, because I knew I could do the job.”

Amy Ofenbeck is a survivor and a fighter! At the age of 26 in 1997 she suffered from a brain aneurysm which almost took her life. She had to endure seven brain surgeries and vocal cord surgery to regain her voice. She has gone through extensive rehabilitation and therapy to regain her motor skills. An extremely motivated individual, Amy battles with fatigue, memory loss, lack of organizational skills, medication side effects, and difficulties in learning new tasks.

In 2004, Amy was ready to get on with her life. Through the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, she was referred to Goodwill for employment assistance. Given her job experience as a local morning anchor and reporter for ABC news, Amy was looking for a job in Public Relations. With encouragement from her employment consultant, Amy began volunteering part-time in Goodwill’s Public Relations and Marketing Department. After six weeks, Amy was doing such a great job that Goodwill offered her a permanent position as their Public Relations Coordinator.

“With all my challenges, Goodwill has been very supportive in helping me deal with my disabilities by giving me extra time to learn things. They have been very instrumental in my workplace success and I thank everyone at Goodwill for giving me a chance!”

Joan McLean,
Outreach Specialist,
Center for Independent Living

“Goodwill has helped me tremendously,”
she says. “They encouraged me to learn how to use a computer.”

When Joan McLean was just 5 years old, she became very ill with the measles. As a result, she lost most of her hearing. In spite of her disability, Joan was employed in a variety of settings but not to her fullest potential. She was referred by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to work with Employment Consultant Jessica Salois. Joan stated that she wanted a position that would allow her to help people and use her office skills and, if at all possible, a full time permanent position. With the assistance of her Employment Consultant, Joan accessed and utilized Goodwill’s Global Learning self–paced computer tutorials for a variety of computer programs. Joan dedicated her days to learning new skills and acquiring proper office protocol and culture during her job search to increase her opportunities in the workforce.

Joan is now working full time at the Center for Independent Living as an intake and resource specialist for persons with disabilities. Joan also teaches a sign language class at CIL, and she’s often seen in the community advocating for those she serves.

“Goodwill has helped me tremendously,” she says. “They encouraged me to learn how to use a computer.”

“We are very proud of what Joan has accomplished and what she continues to accomplish,” Goodwill Employment Consultant Jessica Salois says. “She exemplifies what an individual can achieve when they are motivated, committed and dedicated to themselves. With minimal assistance and lots of support, Joan has achieved and exceeded all expectations.”

Employer of the Year
Center for Independent Living

Some staff members at the Center for Independent Living of Southwest Florida. From left to Right: Gene Bruist; Cyndi Tuning; Ronald Muschong (Executive Director); Ein Sparks;Joan McLean
(Goodwill Graduate of the Year)

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) was established in Southwest Florida in 1992 with four core functions providing advocacy, living skills, peer mentoring and informational and referral services for people with disabilities. CIL provides various services that enable a person with a disability to live independently. These programs and services include job readiness classes, cooking classes and computer training. Last year, the Southwest Florida chapter served 454 people in the five county area. “We’re elated to be recognized as Employer of the Year. It’s a personal goal to get people with disabilities employed and out in the workforce,” says Ron Muschong, Executive Director.

Goodwill is proud to honor the Center for Independent Living serving Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte counties as our Employer of the Year, due to their support for our Graduate of the Year, Joan McLean .

As an employer, the Center for Independent Living has been extremely helpful and supportive of Joan, giving her the opportunity to improve and expand her skills, talents, and knowledge. It is with great admiration Goodwill acknowledges the Center for Independent Living as the Employer of the Year.”


Business of the Year
Perry Ellis

Pictured above Assistant Manager Tammy Scott & Manager Jason McBride Perry Ellis is a high end, trendy men’s clothing store located at the Miromar Outlet Mall in Estero. For the past three years, Perry Ellis has been a regular donor, giving anywhere from a bag of clothing to several large boxes to Goodwill. “It’s a good way to give back to the community,” Perry Ellis Store Manager Jason McBride says.