“To improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for persons with severe disabilities.”
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V

  The Director’s Corner
By Phil Taylor, Executive Director

For a good many years I have used as a mission-based management tool called a  3-Year Strategic Business Plan (SBP) to help guide each department along with senior management toward goals established for each of the upcoming three years.  These goals were strategic in nature and related both to our mission and to our vision.  Our mission is to improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for persons with severe disabilities.   We have articulated our vision that we will provide every eligible person with a disability the necessary supports to be able to achieve their maximum potential in their living and working environments. Our primary core values are: there is dignity in work and work is the glue that holds our society together; that people have the right to choose where to live and work; people have the right to live, work, and train in their own community; and that people should be able to expect certain outcomes.

The SBP is updated by having the Senior Management staff review the previous year’s goals and extend unmet ones into the next year along with establishing new ones.  This plan has particular importance because various levels of management use these goals as targets to work toward over the entire year.

Presently, I’m working with twenty of our managers in developing their core competencies in their organizational roles and skills which far exceed what their day to day routines entails.  This training spans five areas: mission-based management and leadership; management skills; professional and public relations; vision; and strategic planning.  The training in management skills will have direct implications for training of subordinate staff particularly in reaching outcome performance-based goals identified in the SBP.  Throughout the year various training benchmarks have been established which will help develop these core competencies.  From this type of involvement at all levels, we will better meet established goals, and by the end of the year, they will be helping develop new goals for next year’s SBP.  It is exciting to imagine all of the possibilities that can come about with that kind of effort.

Some of the 2003 goals established for senior management include: to increase our net income; to nurture good management  practices with all management staff; to keep core business competencies strong while developing other mission  related ideas; to research new potential products within the global market through the Americas-Group  and Workability International joint projects’ committee; to increase gross revenues by another 10%; to bring Blytheville Branch into the black; to bring the Blytheville managers’ performances up to their roles’ responsibilities and core competencies; and, to prepare the Blytheville Branch Manager and Consumer Services Counselor to identify their own annual goals and objectives for the next year’s Strategic Business Plan.  There are many other goals established for the following areas: Marketing and Public Relations Initiatives; Production/Manufacturing; Retail Sales in Jonesboro, Paragould, and Blytheville; Consumer Services; and New Development Goals for Senior Management.  Also, there are included goals for 2004 and 2005.

We hope this type of strategic planning will help us better meet our mission and help guide us toward our vision for the future.  As always, I really appreciate all of your efforts that you do on behalf of our consumers.  Keep up the good work.

INCENTIVE AWARD WINNERS
 
The incentive award winners for November and December safety and attendance, as well as the 4th quarter winners, were chosen from a drawing at the staff meetings in January.  Two employees at each meeting for each month were chosen from all eligible employees to win a prize for meeting safety requirements and for maintaining perfect attendance.  Safety winners were: Stan Arnold, Bryan Simons, Phil Taylor, Jeannie Hyde, Saprenia Aldridge, Paul Hedge, Angela Byrd, Mike Chism, Regenia Wilbanks, Bonnie Coleman, Laurie Stadler, Ramona Martin, Carrie Armstrong, Alex White, Kathy Garman, Carolyn Roberts, Shannon Agee, Vicky Goodwin, and Chris Paslay.  Attendance award winners were: Brian Rookey, Darren May, Kathrine May, Christy Wyatt, Stan Arnold, Mary Mooney, Phil Taylor, Paul Gunter, Rita Puryear, and Patty Brewer. And finally, the winner for the four hours off with pay for meeting the attendance requirement for November and December is Brian Rookey.  Way to go!!
 

 Welcome to Abilities Unlimited

Kendrea Agee    ACS Implementor
Sue Gramling    ACS Implementor
Amber Hawthorne   ACS Implementor
David Hopkins    Supported Living Trainer
James Lawrence   ACS Implementor
Fabian Borja-Lombeida  ACS Implementor
Jeanette Morris    ACS Area Admin. Asst.
Brittany Phillips   ACS Implementor
Frankie Talley    ACS Implementor
Candace Weaver   ACS Implementor

 
Paragould Consignment Schedule of Events

?Feb. 1st - Now accepting spring/summer consignments.  Stop by and drop your items off for processing...NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

?Feb. 3rd - Welcome our new Manager, Kathy Branscum, to the Unlimited.  In honor we will be offering 25% off all red tag items in the store through the end of February!!!

?Feb. 14th - Valentine Sweetheart drawing for extra percent off coupons to be used on your Unlimited store purchases.  Four winners will be selected from entries made in the store during the month of February 1st through the 14th.  Be sure and stop by and submit your name!!

?Feb. 15th - 10% off all orange ticketed items begins.

?Feb. 22nd - 20% off all orange ticketed items begins.

   Happy
   February
    Birthdays

Sharon Dachs    1st
Shelby Scales    2nd
Anna Rutherford   4th
Darren Smith    5th
Cindy Lambert    7th
Treece Speed    7th
Lilly Sledge    8th
Keisha Hazelwood   9th
Stephanie Gotay   13th
DeeDee Daniel    13th
Patty Brewer    16th
Stephanie Garcia   16th
Jon Legvold    16th
Brandy Taylor    18th
Ramona Martin   20th
Bonnie Coleman   25th
Alice Waddell    25th
Amanda McCall   26th
Iva Sue Ring    26th
 JANUARY SERVICE AWARDS

Cynthia DeAnda, Nicole Dietz, and Jessica Newsom - ACS Implementors and Keisha Hazelwood, WAC/AD Supervisor in Paragould  celebrated one year with Abilities Unlimited in January.  Each received a certificate and pin. Thank you all for your dedication to Abilities Unlimited.

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Just a little reminder  - When your address or phone number changes, please contact the office to let us know.  From time to time, we need to contact you or send you a mail out.  Thanks so much for your cooperation!