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News/Events
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Staff News
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Jerry Duewel
Communications and Marketing, Florida
Jerry Duewel's last day with Experience Works is September 2. "Uncle Jerry" began with EW as a volunteer several years ago. He has made an extremely valuable contribution to our operation both in Florida and nationwide. He managed the last two responses to the Florida state grant proposal - the copying, collating, assembling, shipping, and tracking of more than 5,000 pages (eight copies of eight different proposals, budgets and attachments), monitoring the award announcement, and requesting the scores and summaries through the Freedom of Information Act. He also managed the closing of the Florida office and the distribution of 25 years of "stuff". But it was the little things he did, the acts of kindness that he wanted no credit for, that "endeared" him to many of us.
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He consistently bought food, drinks and gifts for the office staff and the participants in the office. When he learned that one of the SCSEP participants had a television but could not afford to have cable installed, he paid to have it installed. When he learned that members of the Experience Works staff had exhausted their leave for catastrophic events, he would donate leave to the leave pool. If staff tried to reimburse him for things he had provided to them or provided for a meeting, he regularly said, "oh, just make a contribution to Experience Works." And, perhaps most memorable was his consistent can-do attitude when asked to help with a special project - he was always willing to try his best.
We thank Jerry for his kindness, commitment, and warmth, and wish him the best of health and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Retirement Recognition - From Participant to State Manager!
Darryl Anderson
State Manager, Georgia and South Carolina
In 1984, widower Darryl Anderson retired from a rewarding career with the Georgia Power Company to look for a job that didn’t require as much time behind the steering wheel. His top priority was raising his two children in his hometown of Alma, Georgia. When they left home to begin lives of their own, he found a new career with Corrections Corporations of America. “The prison system is definitely a world all by itself,” he said. “But, I enjoyed the work, and the people I worked with – especially one of my supervisors, Cora Boatright. (Remember her name.)
After spending several years in Memphis, Tennessee, Darryl was ready to move back to Alma. Unable to get a transfer, he left his job and returned home. As he looked for work, he saw an advertisement for Experience Works and decided to make a call. Little did he know that one call would connect him with a job opportunity, as well as reconnect him with a dear friend. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “All of a sudden I heard the woman on the other end of the phone saying – ‘Thank you for calling Experience Works, this is Cora Boatright. May I help you?”
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Cora, who had retired years earlier, was training as a part-time Administrative Assistant for Experience Works. She quickly talked with the Employment and Training Coordinator and soon Darryl was offered an opportunity as an Employment and Training Assistant covering Wayne and Jesup Counties. “I loved working with the people,” he said. “I really understood because I was in the same position they were.” His abilities did not go unnoticed, and in 2005, Billy Wooten (Georgia State Director at that time) promoted him to ETC. In 2010, he accepted the GA/SC State Manager position.
Darryl, happily remarried for four years, is looking forward to retirement. “My wife and I both decided to retire early and enjoy life while we are still able.” With five grandchildren between them, their time will most definitely include lots of family outings. An avid bass fisherman, he also expects to spend more time entering local fishing tournaments.
“Experience Works is the best program in the world for seniors,” he said. Although Darryl enjoyed working with everyone, he claims the GA/SC staffs are the best hands down! (Spoken without prejudice-of course) “I especially want to thank Billy Wooten, Barbara Harrison and Candee Harris - for always being there and for always caring!
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Retirement - 42 Years of Service!
Pat Langreck - Wisconsin State Director
What were you doing in 1968? It might take some of us a few minutes to think back, but Wisconsin State Director Pat Langreck remembers very well. “I accepted a job as a part-time clerk typist for a non profit organization named Green Thumb.” What she originally thought was temporary work turned into a 42 year career.
From clerk typist to office manager, field consultant, state manager, and a few other positions mixed in along the way, Pat admits she enjoyed the path that led her to become the Wisconsin State Director. “I treasure so very much, the opportunity I have had to know and work with so many really great people in the organization, the friendships developed, the challenges we have faced and shared and the many good times we have had.
Speaking of good times – Pat refers to the many “encampments” as times she will never forgot. One in particular is the time staff went to Farmers Union Camp in Bailey, Colorado. “To say the least, it was a memorable experience that provided great fellowship and fun, in spite of some of the adjustments we needed to make.” (Hmmm – would love to hear more about the “adjustments”)
Another favorite dates back to the early days of Green Thumb and the “crew concept”. According to Pat, there were safety monitors on the crews and a safety symbol named “Thumby”. It was also a time when there was very minimal paperwork. “If memory serves me correctly, a single enrollment form and a withholding form was all we used. Checks were typed and we used a pegboard system for journal entries.” (Ah, the good ol’ days)
Other memories include the Geezer.com initiative - our former website for products made by seniors, opening and closing three Staffing Service offices in Wisconsin, the time the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) managed to survive by only one vote in Congress, and last but not least – the “Green Thumbs in the Kitchen” cookbook project. (Although the word “cookbook” makes many co-workers shutter, Pat –and a few others - still think a new cookbook could be successful!)
On a more solemn note, Pat recalls being in Washington, DC on September 11, 2001 and watching the plane fly into the Pentagon. “I’ll never forget the people in the organization who helped me get home via an automobile caravan.”
“Working for this organization has provided me with tremendous learning and personal development opportunities. It has also given me the ability to help people and have an impact on how society looks at/deals with an aging population relative to their value in the workforce and in society. There’s still so much to be done!”
What’s next on the horizon for this soon-to-be retiree? “I’m going to take a very deep breath and attempt to figure that out!”
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Nedra Brooks retires with best wishes from her Experience Works family!
Achieving 6 out of 6 goals in 2009 is just one of a long list of accomplishments made by Nedra Brooks since joining Experience Works. Starting as a clerical aide in Albany, Georgia in 1998 she soon moved on to serve as a Program Aide, an opportunity that allowed her to help others. She recruited folks, worked with the community to coordinate the training they needed, then provided support as they searched for jobs. She loved it! In 2001 she became an Employment Specialist for the Senior Strategy Program, a program operated under the Experience Works umbrella in Georgia. Keeping on the move she became an Employment and Training Coordinator in South Carolina in 2005 then moving on to Columbus Georgia in 2009. Brooks was always willing to do what was asked and needed.
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Brooks cherishes the many memories including all of the good friends she has made. She remembers Geezer.com and helping seniors sell their wares on the internet. The Experience Works Staffing Service was another service that Brooks fondly recalls, “I wish they would bring the staffing service back! It really did help seniors get jobs.” She talks about participants, their successes and the challenges they faced. She is proud of the partnership she shares with the Transitional Center and ex-offenders that she has helped.
Over the years, Nedra Brooks has projects that she has put on hold, just waiting for the day when she had ‘more time’. She quilts, writes and is researching her family roots. She looks forward to spending time with her daughters, Laura and Mary and their families—and like all good grandma’s, she is quick to share stories about the grandchildren that she is so proud of.
She looks forward to the future but says sincerely, “Experience Works is my family. I am going to miss everyone, especially the participants and of course Barbara Harrison, she has always been my hero, she is just amazing.”
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Celebrating 30 years with EW!
Pat Wise
Employment and Training Coordinator, South Carolina
Oh, the the stories Pat Wise could tell after celebrating 30 years with EW. But before we get to that – it turns out that two of her colleagues had a few stories to tell on her…
According to Barbara Harrison, a participant was furious when Pat had the nerve to find her a permanent job. She called Barbara to let her know ‘she did not want to leave her host agency’ and referred to Pat as “the wicked witch of the west.” “What’s even funnier is that we live in the east,” said Barbara. “I love to tease Pat about that!”
Billy Wooten shared a similar story about a participant who was enraged when Pat asked her to transfer to a new host agency. (What was Pat thinking?) “The participant told me that Pat was like a serpent, spewing poison!” (Pat obviously helped the participant tap into her creative side.)
One phone call with Pat Wise, and you know that those references couldn’t be further from the truth. This humble woman has a passion for her work and is dedicated to EW’s mission - and then some. “Pat was job developing and encouraging seniors to get training, gain new skills and look for a job way before that was the part of the day to day activities. She was a pioneer in developing networks of employers that she could refer participants to. In the early days - the 1980s - Pat and South Carolina were always in the top five states in the numbers of participants who got jobs,” said Billy.
Achieving this milestone, Pat said she has too many memories to mention, but there was one participant she will never forget – a 60+ year old woman who hadn’t completed the 12th grade. As the woman updated her job skills at a local nutrition site, she became determined to graduate from high school so she could be on the same educational level as her grandchildren. After two years of on-the-job training during the day and working on her GED at night, her dream of graduating became a reality. The woman was so thrilled that she enrolled in a local all female college and received her degree at the age of 73. “I will never forget this woman who refused to let anything get in her way of achieving her dream,” said Pat.
Pat shares her former participant’s motivation for success. “I see and believe that regardless of that steep hill we must climb to make things right, we can always reach the summit because of our wit and determination.”
In her spare time, Pat loves to play bridge, attending plays and musicals, singing in the choir and last but not least, babysitting her grandchildren.
When asked what she has planned for the next 30 years with EW, she chuckled and said “I hope to be an ambassador of good will for the organization!” (We think she already is…)
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Emily Leckie
Employment and Training Coordinator, Augusta, GA
Emily Leckie estimates that she has worked with more than 2,000 participants during her 17 year career as an Employment and Training Coordinator. “It was always amazing to me to learn each person’s circumstance and be able to help them achieve a better life.”
Emily was also thrilled to have the opportunity to travel - especially to Washington, DC, where she was fascinated with the inter-workings of our government. “While on Capitol Hill, I had the honor and privilege of witnessing the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. It’s a memory I’ll have forever.”
Although retirement is bittersweet for Emily, she admits she’s ready to start a new chapter in her life. A self-proclaimed “busybody”, she is looking forward to spending more time in her flower garden, as well as travelling – beginning with a trip to Yellowstone in the very near future. With five children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren living close by, she anticipates lots of family fun as well.
“Experience Works is a great organization and everyone has been wonderful to work with. Even though some days could be trying – you just had to laugh and go with it. Seeing our participants succeed made it all worthwhile.”
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Bob Fortier
Employment and Training Coordinator, Candor, NY
Bob Fortier has always had a heart for helping people. A retired caption with the NY police force, a former director of a Red Cross Chapter and more than 12 years as an Employment and Training Coordinator with Experience Works, Bob has always gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others. Even after suffering a stroke six years ago, he made a strong comeback and has continued to set a positive example for others – achieving six out six goals this year.
One of his fondest memories was of a participant he assigned to a cemetery as a maintenance trainee. The participant loved the work so much that he told his co-workers that when he died, he wanted to be buried there - under the beautiful tree where he ate his lunch every day. When he passed away, the cemetery director and employees pitched in to make sure his wish was carried out.
“That’s a true testament as to how much our Host Agencies mean to our participants, and how much our Host Agencies appreciate and value the work they do.”
Looking ahead, Bob has accepted a new challenge as the director for Child Evangelism Fellowship based in Candor, where he will be working with children and churches in three counties to provide opportunities for spiritual growth. Among his duties will be coordinating Vacation Bible Schools and developing teenage mentoring programs to help teach younger children about the Bible.
“I’ve enjoyed working with Experience Works, and it’s been wonderful to help put a smile on the faces of all the people who came to us who were really hurting.”
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Vicki Simmons recognized for 20 plus years with Experience Works!
Vicki Simmon’s journey with Experience Works began in 1990. A path that she says offered her the opportunity to meet some incredibly interesting people. “It’s all about people” she says, as she tells about the participants that would have lost their homes or just would not have made it without help from Experience Works.
Simmons found joy in helping others make choices that would better their lives. Her efforts made a difference, earning her numerous certificates, plaques and recognitions, including: Heart of Hospice Award, Host Agency Certificates of Appreciation, a Congressman Ney and Congressman Tiberi ‘Proclamation Commending Vicki Simmons’ as well as a wall full of Experience Works certificates.
“Memories—there are so many”, she notes as she talks about the friendships she has made and the people that inspired her along the way. “Sally Boofer taught me to do it right, Kent Kahn brings humility and compassion to the job, Diane Cowan is always there when you need her and Carol Kincaid, she is special too.”
She reminisces about the days gone by, fondly recalling the years she worked as a Field Consultant. Laughter fills her voice as she talks about the encampments at Bailey, Colorado and sleeping on army cots. “Staff meetings were more than just training”, says Simmon’s, “Outside we talked non stop about our day to day work, plus it was an opportunity to travel to places, that otherwise, we would never have seen. Like Nemacolin, where I was mesmerized by the paintings of Rembrandt and Picasso.”
Full of good memories, she hopes that everyone will keep in touch. Simmons last days of work will be Friday, June 17th. Thanks Vicki for 20 plus years of sharing your talents, knowledge and enthusiasm. You truly have a winner’s spirit!
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Faye Sharp Retires After 20 years of Dedicated Service
On September 30, 1991, Faye Sharp joined Green Thumb. Working as an Area Supervisor, Faye helped low income folks over the age of 55 that needed to find jobs. For twenty years she continued in that position in both Florida and Ohio. Names changed. Green Thumb became Experience Works, the Area Supervisor title was changed to Employment and Training Coordinator, but her mission to help older workers find employment that would pay their bills remained the same.
Faye has many pleasant memories of her years with Experience Works. Speaking in a gentle tone full of compassion, she says, “It is all about the people. The people we serve—our participants, host agencies, communities and our amazing staff, all working for a common goal. When I think about Experience Works and my decision to retire, sometimes it makes me a bit sad. But for me, it is time to retire and move back to Ohio, close to my children, my brothers and family.”
Thanks Faye Sharp for your many years of dedicated service to older workers in both Florida and Ohio. Our best wishes go with you!
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