The IFB Beat 8/19 Edition

A Message from the Editor

Hello everyone! In this edition, we’re thrilled to start the introductions of the IFB Solutions Finance team, announce new training opportunities, and re-introduce benefit tips. For Winston-Salem Facility folks, don’t miss details for our picnic, as well as notice of a general assembly Monday, August 26.

Anastasia Powell

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

Quick Links:

New this Week

– Meet the IFB Solutions Finance Team
– Training Opportunity for Winston-Salem Facility – Deadline this Thursday 8/22
– Winston-Salem Facility General Assembly Monday, August 26
– Trans-Aid Bus Pas Update
– Winston-Salem Facility Company Picnic Update
– What’s Happening in the Field: BSC Visits
– See what S.E.E. is Doing!
– IFB Support Group Updates
– Community Low Vision Center Updates

From Our Community

– Accessible Pharmacy Presents: Blindness & Diabetes Prevention Program

HR and Opportunities

– Benefit Tip: Saving Money on Healthcare Procedures!
– New Job Openings

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links
Archived Editions of The IFB Beat

Meet the IFB Solutions Finance Team

In the next few editions of the IFB Beat, we will introduce you to the IFB Solutions Finance department. This week we start with Natalya McCandless, Director of Accounting and Karen Burnette, Accounts Payable/Receivable Manager.

Natalya McCandless: Director of Accounting

Natalya McCandless brings over 3 years of dedicated service to IFB as the Director of Accounting. Her journey to IFB was a culmination of a long-time desire to work for a nonprofit, sparked by a recruiter’s timely introduction. In her role, Natalya oversees all aspects of the organization’s financial health, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, leading audits, filing tax returns, and presenting clear financial statements that narrate IFB’s operational success.

She manages a dedicated team including Eva Duvall; Staff Accountant, Amy Poole; Senior Manager of Manufacturing and Cost, Evariste Ntirenganya; Senior Corporate Accountant, and Karen Burnette; Accounts Payable/Receivable Manager, collaborating to support IFB’s mission through meticulous financial stewardship. Natalya finds great fulfillment in mentoring her team and fostering a culture of excellence and growth.

Her experience at IFB has been transformative, learning from and alongside blind and visually impaired colleagues who inspire her with their resilience and determination. Natalya and her family, who relocated from Washington DC, embrace an active lifestyle to include, traveling, hiking, cycling, kayaking, and living a simple life enjoying friends, family and sharing the love of Jesus with others. If you need assistance with expense reports, outstanding vendor invoices, production billing, etc., Natalya is just an email or phone call away!

 

Karen Burnette: Accounts Payable/Receivable Manager

Karen Burnette has been an integral part of IFB for nearly four years, celebrating her anniversary this October. Growing up in Winston-Salem, Karen was always aware of IFB’s mission to provide jobs for the visually impaired, which eventually led her to join the organization.

As the AP/AR Manager, Karen plays a crucial role in the financial operations of IFB. She oversees Accounts Receivable, handling invoicing and collections, and manages Accounts Payable, including the payment of all vendor invoices, expense management, and processing payment runs. Her team includes Demarious Bowens; Accounts Payable Specialist, Gabrielle Buie; Accounts Payable Specialist, Nekisha Walters; Accounts Receivable Specialist, and Tasha Thompson; Accounts Receivables Lead, all of whom report to her.

Karen’s time at IFB has been marked by her belief in the power of self-confidence and achievement. She shares, “Believe in yourself and you will achieve great things.”

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Karen is a proud graduate of High Point University. She has been married for 29 years and enjoys life with her husband and their 16-year-old daughter. Karen loves dancing and singing with her daughter, playing Scrabble, and solving puzzles. She also has a keen interest in true crime and murder mystery literature. If you have questions or need assistance with expense approvals, invoice issues, or vendor set-up inquiries Karen will be glad to lend a helping hand!

 

Training Opportunity for Winston-Salem Facility Employees – Deadline this Thursday, August 22

Over the past few months, during our Coffee with the CEO sessions, several blind employees have expressed interest in further developing their sewing skills. To support your growth and provide more opportunities within the textiles departments, IFB is revamping our textiles training program. More details will be shared soon, but we need to hear from all blind employees who are interested in additional training. If you’re interested, please inform your supervisor by this week. HR will gather the list from supervisors on Thursday, August 22, so be sure to get your name in!

 

Winston-Salem Facility General Assembly Monday, August 26

There will be a General Assembly meeting held on the manufacturing floor on Monday, August 26at 3:15pm. We’re looking forward to presenting employee of the month awards for May, June, and July as well as a reminder of company picnic details and remarks from Dan Kelly, President, and CEO.

Supervisors, please be sure to shut down all equipment, fans and other things that contribute to noise on the manufacturing floor promptly at 3:15pm. If your workspace is not close to the central offices (outside Travis Guerra and Edward Sykes’ doors), please move closer to ensure you can hear. Any office administration working in the building on August 26, your presence will be appreciated. Thank you!

 

Trans-Aid Bus Pass Update

Due to new management at the Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA), changes have been made to the distribution process for Trans-Aid bus passes. As a result, there has been a temporary delay in the availability of bus passes for employees to purchase. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and are actively working with WSTA to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

We appreciate your patience and will keep you updated. In the meantime, we encourage you to explore alternative options to purchase bus passes.

 

Winston-Salem Facility Company Picnic Update

The annual company picnic is right around the corner! Get ready for fun activities, food, and door prizes.

Picnic date: Thursday, August 29 from 12:00-3:00.

There will be slots available for karaoke with songs that are no longer than 3 and a half minutes. It will be first come, first serve so don’t delay! To sign up contact Morgan Dugan at mdugan@ifbsolutions.org or X5612.

There will be early dismissal from the company picnic on August 29. Dismissal will be at 3:00pm and all employees will be paid for the remainder of the scheduled workday. For all those to which this applies, please schedule your transportation accordingly.

Stay tuned for more company picnic details!

 

What’s Happening in the Field: BSC Visits

On August 7, 2024, IFB Solutions President and CEO, Dan Kelly, along with CFO, Jason Moser, visited the Base Supply Centers at the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture buildings in Washington, D.C. Their visit aimed to support the mission of these Federal BSC locations. During the trip, Dan and Jason engaged with key federal officials in both buildings to explore opportunities for increasing visibility and business revenue. They also took the time to meet with BSC employees at each site. This was a productive visit and a delight for BSC employees.

 

See what S.E.E. is Doing!

A big thank you to the volunteers from the Spark Ministries for their hard work in the extreme heat of July to spruce up the schoolhouse playground area. Four youth from churches across the country and their advisors put rubber mulch under the swing, repainted the bridge, pulled weeds out of the climbing area, and put matting under the second picnic table. Picnickers will no longer have grass tickling their legs, kids using the slides will not land in weeds, those that use the bench swing will not have to put their feet into a mud puddle, and the bridge is once again a bright red and white. This work was done in 98°F heat so water breaks were mandatory. Spark volunteers also joined us for lunch twice during S.E.E. Day Camp. Again, we appreciate all the effort and positivity that brought the playground area back to enjoyability.

 

IFB Solutions Support Group Updates

Upcoming Support Group Meetings

• Monday, August 19 AAA Committee meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room
• Tuesday, August 20 Veterans support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room

 

Community Low Vision Center Updates

CLVC Item of the Week:

Advanced Talking Blood Pressure Monitor for $69

(Please note – an earlier edition of this week’s IFB Beat had an incorrect price. We apologize for any inconvenience.)

Do you have high blood pressure? Then you need to start taking care of yourself! This talking blood pressure monitor can help you do just that! Come and talk to us about this item or others you may need to help you better monitor your health!

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

 

From Our Community

Accessible Pharmacy Presents: Blindness & Diabetes Prevention Program

Submitted by Accessible Pharmacy

Join the Accessible Pharmacy Services Diabetes Lifestyle Coaches on a journey to a healthier you! Get healthy, stay healthy, and avoid diabetes with this virtual program taught by two women who are blind.

Goals:

• Lose weight through healthy eating.
• Increase physical activity.
• Learn to identify and address barriers to healthy eating and physical activity.

Duration (1-Year):

• 22 virtual sessions spread out over the course of 1 year starting in September 2024
• Participants lowered their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 71%.

Click here for more info and to join Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Interest Form (google.com) If you have any questions, please email them at info@AccessiblePharmacy.com.

 

HR & Opportunities

Benefit Tip: Saving Money on Healthcare Procedures!

Did you know? Employees can save money on healthcare procedures and earn cash rewards by choosing a fair-price provider! You can earn $25, $50, or $100, depending on the medical procedure.

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

 

New Job Announcements

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

Customer Service Representative – El Paso, Texas

Education and work experience:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• 2 years of customer service experience preferred.
• If applicable, demonstrated proficiency in use of Assistive Technology required with either JAWS and/or Zoom Text for visual adaptation.
• Bilingual Spanish-English capability a plus.
• Must reside within 70 miles of El Paso, Texas.

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=96763&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=96764&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

BSC Store Clerk – Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Education and work experience:

• High School Diploma
• No prior experience required

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=96954&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=96955&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

Material Handler – Clemmons, NC Facility

Education and Work Experience

• Must be able to attain and maintain forklift certification.

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=96951&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

BSC Store Clerk – Rock Island Arsenal, IL

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=97201&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=97202&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

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

 

Zoom Meeting Links

Adult Support Groups Zoom

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