The IFB Beat 11-18 Edition

A Message from the Editor

Greetings all! This week you will meet Asheville’s new Employee Relations Assistant, read about celebrations and awards, Thanksgiving lunch details, and community events!

Thank you for reading the IFB Beat, and have a wonderful week!

Anastasia Powell

IFB Solutions Communications Manager
apowell@ifbsolutions.org | 336-245-5698

Quick Links:

New this Week

– Meet Caitlin Jenkins – Asheville Employee Relations Assistant
– NIB Gifts Asheville Employees
– Thanksgiving Lunch Details at Winston-Salem and Asheville Facilities
– IFB Overall Employee of the Year Honored at NIB Conference
– Reminder: 2025 Award Nominations Now Open
– Reminder: IFB Annual Staff Giving Campaign – 2025
– See what S.E.E. is doing!
– Support Group Meetings
– Community Low Vision Center Updates

From Our Community

– Shop RainbowTarts this Holiday Season!
– Showcasing our Musically-Talented Blind Community
– Theater with Audio Description: Royal Curtain Drama Guild Presents “It’s Not About Us”

 

HR and Opportunities

– Reminder: NEW (FREE) BENEFIT ALERT: Wellthy – Caregiving Support Services
– New Job Announcements

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links
Archived Editions of The IFB Beat

Meet Caitlin Jenkins – Asheville Employee Relations Assistant

Caitlin Jenkins joined the Asheville HR team as an Employee Relations Assistant. She is a born and raised Asheville native. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, and spoiling her cat, Stella. She ran her second half marathon in October and is on track to read over 200 books this year. She earned a degree in English literature from UNC-Greensboro and has been working in the world of HR for over 3 years. Let’s give Caitlin a warm welcome to the Asheville team!

 

National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Gifts Asheville Employees

On November 6, staff from the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) visited the Asheville facility to present employees with a gift card as a small gesture of support in light of the challenges brought by Hurricane Helene. The NIB team was moved by the resilience and determination shown by Asheville employees as they continue to recover and rebuild. Our Asheville team expresses their gratitude and appreciation.

 

IFB Overall Employee of the Year Honored at NIB Conference

Josh Denton, IFB Solutions’ Overall Employee of the Year, attended the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) conference, where employees of the year from NIB agencies were recognized for their accomplishments. Josh shared his story and expressed gratitude for the opportunities that IFB Solutions and NIB-affiliated agencies have created for people who are blind.

Watch here:

 

Thanksgiving Lunch Details at Winston-Salem & Asheville Facilities

As a special way to celebrate the season of gratitude, IFB Solutions invites you to join us for a Thanksgiving lunch! We’ll be gathering to enjoy a meal together during your scheduled lunch breaks. Here are the details:

• Winston-Salem Facility: Tuesday, November 26, catered by Canteen Catering
• Asheville Facility: Wednesday, November 27, catered by Apollo Flame Greek Restaurant

We look forward to sharing a wonderful holiday meal with you!

 

Reminder: 2025 Award Nominations Open

IFB Solutions is excited to kick off our nomination process for the 2025 Employee of the Year, Career Achiever of the Year, and Delmer Wall Awards. IFB managers can nominate employees that demonstrate exceptional performance that drives our mission forward. Managers should submit all nominations to Brent Burkholder at bburkholder@ifbsolutions.org by Monday December 2; please reach out to him if you have any questions!

IFB employees, stay tuned as the new 2025 award winners are selected!

 

Reminder: IFB Annual Staff Giving Campaign

The annual Staff Campaign 2025 sponsored by Allegacy Federal Credit Union kicks off on November 11, 2024. Your gifts support job training, employment, transportation, support groups, and programs for IFB employees and communities throughout North Carolina and beyond!

On November 11, all Winston-Salem employees who will be on-site are invited to attend a general assembly session on the production floor to learn more about what your gifts support.

For administrative folks, all IFB email users will receive two calendar invites – one for December 3 at 10 a.m. and another one for December 5 at 3:30 p.m. inviting you to attend a Zoom session dedicated to Staff Giving Campaign. Please accept only one calendar invitation for the session you want to attend. Please decline the other invitation. As always, everyone is invited to participate in staff campaign sessions, but giving is not mandatory.

There will be volunteers in the cafeteria during all breaks on November 12 and 13 to assist employees with completing donation forms.

All donors who donate $20 or more will receive a belt bag with the IFB logo, sponsored by Allegacy Federal Credit Union. We also encourage you to ask your family to participate in the Staff Giving Campaign, and your family member will get an IFB belt bag, and you will automatically be entered into the drawing to have a chance to win a holiday gift basket on December 19.

Supervisors: you will receive a separate email about help needed with filling out staff campaign donation forms.

If you would like to support today, here’s how you can do that:

• Fill out and sign a payroll deduction form (supervisors will have forms) before December 13, 2024.
• Donate with cash or check.
• Donate online at https://ifbsolutions.org/donate/

Questions ? Contact Naomi Venable at nvenable@ifbsolutions.org. Thank you for your support!

 

See what S.E.E. is doing!

The S.E.E. Program went to the Carolina Renaissance Festival for a Saturday event. Their first stop was at the Mother Goose station where each one held a white goose with very soft feathers. The goose even gave hugs by draping her neck over each holder’s shoulder.

 

IFB Solutions Support Group Meetings

• Tuesday, November 19 Veterans support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room
• Thursday, November 21 On the Spectrum support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room

Community Low Vision Center Updates

CLVC Item of the Week:

Deluxe Talking Scale for $49.99. The talking scale is equipped with an easy-to-read LCD display with automatic on/off. Choose between 2 units of measurement (lb./kg) for your weighing convenience. 2-person memory, tracking 30 weights each. Volume control for privacy. A Durable Choice: The scale is a tempered glass platform and provides exceptional durability.

If you have questions or are interested in any of the weekly items, please contact your local CLVC for assistance.

 

From Our Community

Shop Rainbow Tarts this Holiday Season!

Submitted by David Minton

Interested in supporting a business owned by two people who are blind? Looking for an easy and affordable way to bring your favorite smells to your home or give as a gift?

Then look no further. We have wax melts, warmers, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and much more. See Carl Williams (Tina Jolly’s department), call :336-970-0650, email info@rainbowtarts.com or visit https://www.rainbowtarts.com.

We Braille products upon request at no charge and ship within the US via priority flat rate mail. RainbowTarts – where everything makes scents!

 

Showcasing our Musically-Talented Blind Community!

Submitted by Oryan Battis and Jenifer Finley

Get a taste of Oryan Battis’ latest single, “Kool-Aid”! Kool-Aid was a staple in my house growing up, but if you got that mix wrong, it was a flavor disaster! Cherry was always my favorite, and that’s the flavor inspiration behind my newest release!” Oryan shares. After savoring a musical glass of “Kool-Aid,” kick back with your furry friend and stroll down memory lane with Jenifer Finley as she shares her love for her guide dog, Jill, in her touching song, “Guiding Star.”

 

Theater with Audio Description: Royal Curtain Drama Guild Presents: “It’s Not About Us”

Submitted by Kaila Gillespie

When: December 21, 2024
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton on University Pkwy
Time: 7:00pm
Ticket Cost: $50

If interested contact Brenda Neal at 336-408-7646. Money needs to be paid on or before December 3.

 

HR & Opportunities

Reminder: NEW (FREE) BENEFIT ALERT: Wellthy – Caregiving Support Services

For more information, reach out to Tammy Whitmire-Powers, IFB Solutions Benefits Administrator at twhitmire-powers@ifbsolutions.org.

Guardian has partnered with Wellthy to provide personalized care coordination and innovative technology for families, employees, and health plan members. This benefit is free for each employee. Services include:

• For aging parents or relatives: Help with coordinating transportation, moving a loved one into a assisted living facility and end-of-life preparations.
• For children and teens: Get support for things like vetting babysitters, evaluating nanny agencies, identifying counselors, and exploring alternative learning solutions like learning pods and tutors.
• For you or someone you love: Wellthy will design a care plan for situations including a new diagnosis, an ongoing health condition, a surgery, a sudden accident, routine care needs, and more.

Features of caregiving support services include:

• Care coordination – dedicated, hands-on support from specialists
• Care planning – Comprehensive care planning tools and resources in one centralized, accessible location
• Wellthy community – per-to-peer space where family caregivers can find support and exchange knowledge

For additional information click on the following link: http://ifbsolutions.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caregiving-Support-Services-Member-One-Pager.pdf

Visit guardianwell.com to access self-service tools, resources, and dedicated support to help manage your caregiving responsibilities in a way that works for you and your family.

 

New Job Announcements

For all current openings, visit https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs?clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Hand Cutter – Textiles – Winston-Salem Facility

Education and work experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Prior cutting experience preferred.

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=108156&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=108157&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

For more information, please contact a member of the recruitment team at careers@ifbsolutions.org.

 

Zoom Meeting Links

Support Groups Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/99498078576?pwd=ODJzK0sxcXZrME9yN25YRTdiNXBSQT09
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576
PASSWORD: 92638
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Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576