The IFB Beat 8-25 Edition

A Message from the Editor

Hello IFB Team,

Welcome to this week’s edition of The IFB Beat.

As we enter a new fiscal year, there’s a lot happening at IFB Solutions—big changes, exciting updates, and many reasons to celebrate. In this issue, you’ll hear directly from IFB President and CEO Dan Kelly, as he shares important updates on our direction for fiscal year 2026. His message highlights the progress we’ve made together, leadership transitions, and the steps we’re taking to keep our mission strong for the future.

You’ll also find details about upcoming events, including the Winston-Salem facility General Assembly and picnic. Plus, we’re thrilled to welcome new team member Brian Blue-Smith to the IFB family. And don’t miss this week’s Employee Spotlight featuring Marcia Harton, whose story and words of encouragement are sure to inspire.

As always, The IFB Beat is about celebrating our people, sharing important updates, and strengthening the community we’ve built together. Thank you for reading—and thank you for making IFB’s mission possible.

Quote of the week:

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”
— Sam Levenson

Thank you for strolling The IFB Beat. See you next week!

Anastasia Powell

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

 

Quick Links:

New this Week

– Message from Dan Kelly, President and CEO
– Welcome, Brian Blue-Smith!
– Winston-Salem Facility General Assembly, August 26
– Winston-Salem Facility Summer Picnic
– Employee Spotlight Featuring Marcia Harton, Winston-Salem Facility
– Programs Update: S.E.E. Day Campers Visit Chad’s Chai Teahouse
– Community Low Vision Center Updates

From Our Community

– Snap Your Fingers to Tunes with Noah Davis

HR and Opportunities

Job Opportunities
IFB Beat Phone Lines
Support Group Zoom Meeting Links
Archived Editions of The IFB Beat

Message from Dan Kelly, President and CEO

IFB Solutions team,

October 1 marks the start of our new fiscal year, and as we quickly approach that date, I have three important updates to share.

First, thank you. Because of your hard work, we have had fifteen straight months of strong results. We have paid down debt, improved on-time deliveries, lowered inventory, and continued to meet the required ratio of blind-to-sighted work hours. This is an outstanding achievement following one of the most challenging periods in our 90-year history.

In our “Coffees with the CEO,” I have said we will not sit back and wait for things to get better. We will act quickly so we can respond to changes in the world, grow our mission, strengthen our finances, and make work better for everyone.

As we begin FY2026, we will:

• Create a Social Services and Wellness team. This team will ensure employees have access to job training, counseling, and daily living services. Support may come directly from IFB or from trusted community partners, with the goal of helping every employee build greater independence. The new team will report through Jason Moser’s area of responsibility.
• Refocus on our core mission. Some programs that are not central to creating jobs for people who are blind will change, allowing us to invest more in employee support, training, and wellbeing.
• Update our leadership structure. This will help us grow jobs for people who are blind across our three tiers of employment, improve transparency, and prepare future leaders.

I’d like to congratulate Ken Edwards on his promotion to Chief Operating Officer and Vasudha Rangapathy on her promotion to Chief Information Officer. Ken will now oversee manufacturing operations led by Randy Buckner, Base Supply Centers led by David Newsome, and end-to-end supply chain operations under Ken Mullins. Vasudha will continue building her team to strengthen software development and lead the adoption of new AI tools available in the marketplace.

We are also creating a new Chief Development Officer position to bring together sales, fundraising, and product development under one executive leader. Seth Anderson will report to this new role, leading program management and business development across our three primary areas of employment for people who are blind.

Additional leadership changes will be shared in the coming weeks. These moves are designed to create clear responsibilities, improve decision making, and strengthen collaboration across teams.

I am excited about the direction we are heading. These steps will make IFB stronger for the long term and will better support each of you on your path to independence.

Sincerely,

Dan Kelly, President and CEO

 

Welcome, Brian Blue-Smith!

We’re excited to announce that Brian Blue-Smith joined IFB on August 18. He will be working under the supervision of Tracy Jackson as a material coordinator. We are thrilled to have him onboard and are confident he will contribute greatly to our continued success. Please be sure to give him a warm welcome.

 

Winston-Salem Facility General Assembly, August 26

There will be a General Assembly meeting held on the Winston-Salem manufacturing floor on Tuesday, August 26 at 3:15 p.m. We’re looking forward to presenting Employee of the Month awards for May, June, and July. We will have updates from HR and remarks from IFB President and CEO Dan Kelly.

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

 

Winston-Salem Facility Summer Picnic

Thursday, September 11, from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

The Winston-Salem planning committee is excited about this year’s annual company picnic and has many great activities planned. There will be trivia, bingo, cornhole, karaoke, a photo booth, and more. Dairi-O boxed lunches, ice cream, and popcorn will be provided. Three grand prizes will be given out at the end of the picnic, which you don’t want to miss!

Karaoke songs should not exceed three and a half minutes. It will be first come, first served. To sign up for karaoke and trivia, contact Morgan Dugan at mdugan@ifbsolutions.org or X5612 by September 9.

Day of details:

Employees will exit through the lobby to the administrative parking lot. Each department will head to lunch at a different time to avoid traffic congestion. Administrative employees, please join the lunch line at 12:15 p.m.

Parking will not be available in the administrative lot, shipping and receiving area or at Food Lion. Please review available parking here.

For manufacturing employees, please remember and plan accordingly for an early workday dismissal on September 11. Dismissal will be at 1:30 p.m. and all employees will be paid for the remainder of the scheduled workday. For all those to whom this applies, please schedule your transportation accordingly.

 

Employee Spotlight Featuring Marcia Harton, Winston-Salem Facility

Welcome to the Employee Spotlight. Each week, we celebrate the incredible individuals who make IFB thrive. This week, we’re excited to feature Marcia Harton, ACS pads department.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Manning, South Carolina.

Q: How long have you been with IFB, and what brought you to the organization?
A: I’ve been with IFB for eight years. A coworker told me about the organization.

Q: What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
A: I enjoy going to church, spending time with my family, writing songs, and singing!

Q: What’s your all-time favorite food or meal?
A: My favorite meal is fried chicken, rice, cabbage, mac & cheese, and cornbread, with a glass of strawberry lemonade. I also love Red Hots and banana pudding.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at IFB?
A: I enjoy working alongside my coworkers while helping provide quality products.

Q: What’s a quote or piece of advice you’d give to a friend?
A: “Keep God first in all you do. Accept the things you cannot change, and pick up the broken pieces in life. Overcome adversities and life’s challenges by never giving up. You are resilient!”

Special thanks to Morgan Dugan, Employee Relations Specialist, for supporting these highlights. Who knows? You might be next in the spotlight. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.

Programs Update: S.E.E. Day Campers Visit Chad’s Chai Teahouse

Winston-Salem Facility Support Groups:

If you’re interested in attending a support group, please review the update here: https://ifbsolutions.org/the-ifb-beat-12-16-edition/#two-d

 

Community Low Vision Center Updates

Notice: Temporary Closure for Inventory

The Winston-Salem Community Low Vision Center will be closed Monday, August 25 through Wednesday, August 27 for our annual Fiscal Year Inventory. During this time, our staff will be hard at work ensuring that all our equipment, aids, and resources are accurately counted and organized so we can continue serving you efficiently.

We invite you to visit us when we reopen on Thursday, August 28. Our team will be ready to assist you with low vision services then. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

CLVC Item of the Week:

Dark red umbrella hat for $21.95

With a cane in one hand and groceries or other things in the other, you don’t have a third hand to use an umbrella. Here is an umbrella to wear on your head!

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

 

From Our Community

Snap Your Fingers to Tunes with Noah Davis

Submitted by Noah Davis, Winston-Salem facility

Do you love old-school jams? Are you into oldies, Carolina Beach music, or the kind of soulful tunes that knock your socks off? Then you’ve got to join Noah D, the loudmouth from the South, every Sunday from 12–3 p.m. on Super Gold Rock and Soul | Mixcloud.

From doo-wop to the Godfather of Soul himself, this show serves up a tantalizing taste of music from across the decades. Prefer Carolina Beach music? We’ve got those musical waves rolling in strong, with Chairman of the Board steering the ship. Feel like “Grazing the Grass?” You just might run into Friends of Distinction or Hugh Masekela. Want to talk to Cupid? Otis and Sam will lay it down for you.

Feeling nostalgic? We’ll take you way back in time—sorry kids, no Lawrence Welk, Andrews Sisters, or Chordettes this time—but Ray will stop by, and you’ll hear more soul than a Sunday soul food restaurant after church.

Trust us—you’ll be glad you tuned in. It’s Super. It’s Golden. It’s Rock. It’s Soul. This show’s the most! Every Sunday, get ready for a groove so buttery-smooth you’ll want to pour it over mashed potatoes and biscuits—because this soul’s got so much flavor, it’s like hitting the musical jackpot. Tune in here: mixcloud.com/SuperGoldRockandSoul

 

HR & Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Production Supervisor (Puerto Rico facility)

Education and Work Experience

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• A minimum of three years of production supervision and sewing experience is required.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing is preferred.

External candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=163125&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=163126&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

Maintenance Mechanic II (Winston-Salem facility)

Education and Work Experience

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Previous experience in physical plant maintenance is required.
• Training and experience in mechanical, electrical, and general plumbing is required.

External candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=163604&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=163605&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

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

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

 

IFB Beat Phone Lines

English line: 336-245-5691

Spanish line: 336-245-5663

 

Zoom Meeting Links

Support Group Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/86167111929?pwd=G9vSBWcnTFrMHixqb19TpU7q8sQW1N.1

Meeting ID: 861 6711 1929

Passcode: 992614

One tap mobile

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