The IFB Beat 10-20 Edition

A Message from the Editor

As fall settles in, there’s so much to celebrate across IFB Solutions. This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Wendy Weiss, our new Chief Development Officer. Wendy’s leadership will unite our Advancement, Sales, and Marketing teams under one vision—strengthening how we grow partnerships and resources to fuel our mission of creating life-changing opportunities for people who are blind.

We also join the nation in celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” perfectly reflects what we see every day at IFB—individuals like Kevin Fowler, who found a second chance and a thriving career through our remote customer service program.

From welcoming new hires to recognizing 5S excellence and spotlighting teammates like Tonya Johnson, every story reminds us that when we work together, amazing things happen. Let’s celebrate each other and the difference we make every day!

Quote of the week:

“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” —Henry Ford

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

– Welcome Wendy Weiss, Chief Development Officer
– 80th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
– Meet Kevin Fowler: The Power of a Second Chance
– Welcome to Our New Hires
– 2025 5S Champion: Asheville Facility
– Peer to Peer Employee Shoutouts
– Asheville and Winston-Salem Facility Halloween Festivities
– Employee Spotlight: Featuring Tonya Johnson – Winston-Salem Facility
– Programs Update: Winston-Salem Facility Support Groups

From Our Community

– Back at no Cost: VoiceOver In and Out Course

HR and Opportunities

– Job Opportunities

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

 

 

Welcome Wendy Weiss, Chief Development Officer

As part of the organizational realignment President and CEO Dan Kelly announced earlier this fall, we’re pleased to welcome Wendy Weiss as IFB Solutions’ new Chief Development Officer. In this new executive role, Wendy joins the senior leadership team and reports directly to Dan Kelly.

Wendy will oversee IFB’s Advancement, Sales, and Marketing teams, bringing them together under one vision to strengthen how we grow revenue, partnerships, and philanthropic support for our mission. With extensive experience in procurement, sales, and business development, Wendy is excited to connect that expertise with IFB’s purpose—creating life-changing employment and independence for people who are blind.

Outside of work, Wendy enjoys getting to know nonprofit organizations and volunteering her time to support causes that make a difference in local communities. Please join us in giving Wendy a warm IFB welcome.

 

80th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

This October, we join the nation in celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The 2025 theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” captures exactly what we experience at IFB Solutions every day.

In the next few issues, you’ll meet remarkable individuals who bring this theme to life. Together, these stories remind us that talent knows no barriers—and that with the right opportunities, people who are blind or visually impaired enrich workplaces, strengthen communities, and lead with impact.

 

Meet Kevin Fowler: The Power of a Second Chance

“Before IFB Solutions, I spent three years trying to reenter the workforce after losing my job during COVID-19. Despite my background in IT and customer service, disclosing my blindness often ended the conversation. Rejections piled up — until I learned about IFB’s remote customer service opportunities for people who are blind.

I connected with division manager Shannon Satterfield, took the assessment, and passed. Shannon saw my potential and gave me the chance I’d been waiting for. Now, I’m working again, supporting my family, and doing a job I enjoy. IFB Solutions understands how we work differently — and that makes all the difference. Their support has been life-changing. I’m no longer just trying to get by. Thanks to IFB, I’m thriving.” —Kevin Fowler

 

Welcome to Our New Hires

We’re excited to announce that five talented individuals started with us on October 13. Please join us in welcoming them to the team!

Customer service representatives under the supervision of Shannon Satterfield: Sylvia Herres, Julian Cervantes, Ebony Rivers

Roberto Lafontaine, a maintenance mechanic under the supervision of Frank Ellison.

Yamilet Sierra, a sewing machine operator under the supervision of William Lindsay.

 

2025 5S Champion: Asheville Facility

We’d like to recognize and congratulate the Winston-Salem and Asheville facilities for the outstanding progress made with the 5S program: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. We’ve seen a noticeable improvement in organization, and it’s clear that team members are taking pride in keeping their workspaces clean and orderly. We truly appreciate everyone’s efforts in maintaining our work areas to such a high standard.

With that said, we’re excited to announce that our 5S champion for 2025 is the Asheville facility! It was a tight competition, with Asheville slightly surpassing the Winston-Salem facility with an impressive yearly average score of 98%.

Thank you all for your continued commitment to making IFB a clean, safe, and organized place to work.

What is 5S, and why are we doing it? 

5S is a Lean method that focuses on workplace organization and cleanliness in support of improved quality and efficiency. 5S also supports our blind and visually impaired team members by assuring everything has a place and is properly and consistently stored.

Let’s all work together to help our 5S program be successful. The trophy and belt are up for grabs for the 2026. Good luck to all.

 

Peer to Peer Employee Shoutouts

Do you know a coworker who went the extra mile? Did someone help make your day a little easier? Was there a teammate who lent a hand when you needed it the most?

Now is your chance to give them a shoutout! Email shoutout@ifbsolutions.org and let us know who you would like to recognize and why. This is a great way for us all to spotlight those who truly deserve a little extra appreciation. Let’s celebrate each other’s efforts, one shoutout at a time.

How it works:

• When submitting a shoutout, please include:
  • The employee’s name (first and last if possible)
  • A brief description of what they did and why you appreciate it.

Shoutouts help us:

• Highlight teamwork, kindness, and dedication across IFB.
• Recognize employees for their hard work and positive impact.
• Encourage a culture of appreciation and connection within our team.

Guidelines:

• Shoutouts should not include:
  • Yourself (as much as we love your confidence 😊)
  • Personal or private details that the employee may not want shared publicly.

Each shoutout is a small way to make a big impact. Taking a moment to recognize a coworker not only shows appreciation but helps us build a stronger, more connected workplace here at IFB. Let’s keep uplifting one another and celebrating the everyday moments that matter!

 

Asheville and Winston-Salem Facility Halloween Festivities

Halloween is right around the corner, and we invite all interested employees to dress up and have a little fun!

Asheville: On Thursday, October 30, Asheville employees are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and tour the “Haunted Room” where ghostly tricks and ghoulish treats will await them. More haunted details to come.

Winston-Salem: On Thursday, October 30, the Winston-Salem facility will have a costume contest and parade at 10 a.m. Treat bags filled with candy will be distributed to all employees.

Categories for the costume contest are:

• Scariest
• Most creative
• Best group
• Best overall

In addition to the festivities, we’re excited to bring back the Candy Corn Count game. Participants can guess how many candy corns are in a jar located in the break room. You are welcome to touch and feel the jar to help make your estimate. The employee who guesses closest will win the jar of candy corns! For any employees needing support with participation or those who would like to enter the game, an HR representative and/or Claudia will be available to assist.

New this year: Those who participate in the Halloween parade and costume contest are invited to attend “Boo” party in the TADS room. The room will be filled with Halloween treats, not tricks. So, dress up and let’s have fun!

 

Employee Spotlight: Featuring Tonya Johnson – 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 Tonya Johnson from the fuel handler suits department.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Wilkes County, N.C.

Q: How long have you been with IFB, and what brought you to the organization?
A: I’ve been with IFB for 21 years. I started out working in Wilkes County for the first two years before transferring to Winston-Salem.

Q: What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
A: I love spending time with my kids and grandkids. We enjoy traveling together and doing seasonal activities.

Q: What’s your all-time favorite food or meal?
A: Chicken alfredo pasta

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at IFB?
A: I really appreciate the great benefits and opportunities that IFB provides. I’m thankful for the tools and resources that help us succeed every day.

Q: What’s a quote or piece of advice you’d give to a friend?
A: “If two or more are gathered in His name, anything they ask will be done for them.” —Matthew 18:19

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: 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

 

 

From Our Community

Back at no Cost: VoiceOver In and Out Course

Submitted by American Council of the Blind TTJ Instructor Team

The time has come once again! Don’t miss this awesome opportunity to learn how to use your iPhone with VoiceOver from the ground up — completely free of charge.

The TTJ Instructor Team is back for another season, with a VoiceOver course that’s right for everyone. Whether you are brand new to VoiceOver and the iPhone, or whether you are a seasoned VoiceOver user wanting to refresh and review, this course has something for you.

The VoiceOver In and Out course will meet twice per week, every Monday and Wednesday, beginning October 6 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. The final course session date is estimated to be December 23. All course sessions will take place on Zoom.

Not able to make it to every session? No problem. While there are certainly benefits to attending live, all sessions are also made available to stream on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and most other popular podcast platforms.

In VoiceOver In and Out, you will learn what VoiceOver is and the philosophy behind VoiceOver. You’ll also learn basic VoiceOver gestures, Rotor navigation and use, and the fundamental concepts that will make it possible for you to navigate almost any app or website on your iPhone. Then, you’ll learn the basics of common apps, such as Phone, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Reminders, Clock, Notes, Photos, Maps, Music, TV, Home, Books, News, and many others. You’ll even find out how to download new apps from the App Store, how to edit and format text, how to use Safari for online shopping, banking, and much more,  and other useful concepts. No other VoiceOver course in the world offers such a comprehensive curriculum, taught by certified Apple instructors, at absolutely no cost. If you are a VoiceOver user, want to become a VoiceOver user, or know a VoiceOver user, this course is for you.

Best of all, this course is taught by people who have completed Apple’s requirements for Apple Teacher certification, or who have equivalent experience, so everything is being taught to Apple’s standards, using Apple’s resources. Want to learn about iOS 26? Great! Our team has been hard at work since June, using iOS 26 on a constant basis, putting it through its paces, learning all the new features, and generally getting ready to provide you with the best experiences possible.

Speaking of experiences, this course will offer a combination of lectures, demos, walkthroughs, and discussion and Q&A. We are also thrilled to announce the return of the ever-popular Experience Labs. Because we believe that students learn best by doing, we provide numerous hands-on opportunities for students to try what we’ve taught on their own devices, while we wait on Zoom to hear their questions and their experiences. Students have absolutely raved about our Experience Labs, and we can’t wait to start them again soon.

To participate, you must register. Even if you aren’t sure you will be able to make it to all live sessions, please register. Upon completing the very short registration form using the link below, you will receive an email with the necessary link and info to join the Zoom sessions, along with links to add all the sessions to your calendar. It is very important that you save the join information you receive from Zoom after registering. TTJ will not provide this for you. It goes directly through Zoom. If you lose it, your only option will be registering a second time. All registration is handled by Zoom. TTJ cannot register for you. If you are unable to access the registration form online for any reason, we suggest first asking a family member, friend, or co-worker to help you complete the form, preferably using your device. Or, if you have access to services like Be My Eyes or AIRA, you may be able to obtain assistance from them.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XWM9zfyORaaBiUQsOlMbDA

Please note that each person will receive a different, unique link to join. Do not attempt to join our sessions using someone else’s link, and do not share your join link with anyone else. The link to register may be shared, but not the link to join. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Don’t wait. This course will fill up fast. If you have any questions, please email info@ttjtech.biz or call 814-624-9975, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time. God bless you, and we look forward to working with you soon.

 

HR & Opportunities

We’re expanding our ways to stay connected. 🎉 Please add your personal email to Paycom to make sure you don’t miss any updates.

Need help creating a personal email or updating Paycom? Contact Morgan Dugan at mdugan@ifbsolutions.org. Hourly employees should ask their supervisor to submit a ticket.

Job Opportunities

Customer Service Representative – NC Department Vital Statistics

Education and Work Experience

• A minimum of one year of call center experience is preferred.
• An associate’s degree or higher in a related field is preferred.
• The ability to speak both English and Spanish is a plus.

External candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=177380&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=177381&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

Mattress Closer – Clemmons

Education and Work Experience

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Prior production experience is required.
• One to three years experience with a mattress closing machine or similar seam closing machine is preferred.

External candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=177552&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=177553&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

Merchandising Pricing Analyst – Winston-Salem Facility

Education and Work Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or a related field is required. Experience may be substituted.
• A minimum of three years experience in retail pricing analysis, preferably in a retail or e-commerce setting is required.

External candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=177559&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=177560&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

+13126266799,86167111929# US (Chicago)

+16465588656,86167111929# US (New York)

888 475 4499 US Toll-free

877 853 5257 US Toll-free