The IFB Beat 6-22 Edition

A Message from the Editor

As we wrap up another week at IFB Solutions, we’re celebrating both our rich history and the bright future ahead. In this issue, you’ll find another fun fact from our 90-year journey, an exciting announcement about our new partnership with Atrium Health and the enhanced on-site medical services launching July 1, a warm welcome to our newest team members, an inspiring Employee Spotlight featuring Lizeth Soriano and a reminder that investing in your future through the IFB 401(k) plan is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Thanks for being part of what makes IFB Solutions such a special place to work—enjoy this week’s edition of the IFB Beat!

Quote of the week:

“We all do better when we work together.” — Paul Wellstone

Thank you for strolling the Beat. See you next week!

Anastasia Powell

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

 

Quick Links:

New this Week

– Cheers to 90 Years!
– A New Chapter for Employee Health & Wellness Begins July 1
– Welcome to the New Social Services & Employee Resource Center
– Welcome to the Team!
– Employee Spotlight Featuring Lizeth Soriano, Workforce Services, Vital Statistics
– Winston-Salem Facility Support Groups

From Our Community

– Audio Described Movies
– Shop Rainbow Tarts!

HR & Opportunities

– Invest Today. Enjoy Tomorrow.
– Job Opportunities

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

 

Cheers to 90 Years!

🎉 This year, IFB Solutions proudly celebrates 90 years of creating jobs and changing lives for people who are blind. That’s nine decades of perseverance, growth and most importantly, YOU.

This special section of the IFB Beat will take you on a journey through our history. Over the next several months, you’ll discover fun facts, inspiring milestones, employee spotlights and throwback moments. So don’t miss a week!

In 1958, the Lions Club was looking for a new way to support IFB and engaged community leaders. They met with the North Carolina Commission for the Blind and leaders of the Winston-Salem Goodwill Industries’ board of directors, and ultimately concluded that Industries for the Blind should be under the leadership of the Goodwill Industries’ board. They then relocated IFB’s operations to a larger building at 2308 North Liberty Street, after operating out of 1010 North Liberty Street from 1946–1958.

 

A New Chapter for Employee Health & Wellness Begins July 1

We are excited to announce an important enhancement to employee health services at IFB Solutions!

Exciting changes are coming to employee health services at IFB Solutions. Beginning July 1, employees will have access to a new on-site Atrium Health clinic, expanded healthcare resources and a centralized employee resource center designed to make it easier to access the support you need—all in one convenient location.

Beginning July 1, IFB Solutions will partner with Atrium Health to provide dedicated on-site medical care for employees in Winston-Salem. This new partnership reflects our continued commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our employees by providing convenient access to high-quality care and an expanded network of medical services.

 

Welcome to the New Social Services & Employee Resource Center

The former Community Low Vision Center space is being transformed into a centralized employee services hub, bringing several important resources together in one convenient location. The new space will house:

• Atrium Health on-site medical clinic
• training services
• social services support
• human resources benefits support

The Atrium Health clinic will officially open on July 1.

 

What services will be available?

The on-site clinic is designed specifically for IFB employees and will be open Monday–Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed for lunch 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)

The clinic will provide:

• Primary care services: sick visits, health screenings and testing, chronic disease management, vaccinations and virtual care support
• Employee health services: Code Yellow incidents, workplace injury assessments, first aid, saliva drug screening, healthcare navigation, referrals and care coordination

All medical services will continue to be provided at no cost to employees.

In addition, dependents 18 years of age and older who are covered under your health insurance plan may also receive care through the on-site clinic.

You do not have to be part of the Atrium Health network to be seen at the IFB clinic. However, if additional care or specialist follow-up is needed outside of IFB, those services must be provided by a healthcare provider within your insurance network. The on-site nurse will gladly assist with referrals to help ensure your follow-up care stays in network.

 

Important change: sick visits will require an appointment

Beginning July 1, walk-in medical visits for illnesses will no longer be available.

If you are not feeling well and would like to be seen by the on-site provider, you will need to schedule an appointment by phone or online scheduling through the Atrium Health patient portal.

Appointments are scheduled on a first-available basis. With broad appointment availability throughout the day, every effort will be made to accommodate same-day appointments.

Before your appointment, please notify your supervisor that you have a scheduled clinic appointment. After your visit, the nurse will provide you with a note documenting your appointment, which you should give to your supervisor.

Scheduling information, including the phone number and patient portal details, will be shared soon. Posters with this information will be displayed throughout the building in accessible formats. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, please see Amber Frederick, who will be happy to help.

 

Thank you, Dr. Collins, and team

As we welcome Atrium Health, we also want to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. Collins and his staff for their many years of dedicated service to IFB Solutions employees.

Their compassionate care, professionalism and commitment to helping employees stay healthy have made a lasting impact on our workplace. We are grateful for the exceptional care they have provided over the years and wish them continued success.

Employees who currently have Dr. Collins as their primary care physician may continue receiving care through his private practice after June 30. If you would like to remain a patient, please contact Dr. Collins’ office directly for information about continuing your care.

We look forward to this exciting new partnership with Atrium Health and the expanded healthcare resources it will bring to our employees. Additional information will be shared as we approach the July 1 opening.

 

Welcome to the Team!

We’re excited to welcome several new team members who have joined IFB Solutions. Please take a moment to introduce yourself and help make them feel at home as they begin their journey with IFB.

• Clemmons: Derrick Hodge
• Base Supply Centers (BSC): Shawn Talmadge

We are glad to have Derrick and Shawn on board and look forward to the contributions they will make to our mission. Please join us in giving them a warm IFB welcome!

 

Employee Spotlight Featuring Lizeth Soriano, Workforce Services, Vital Statistics

Welcome to Employee Spotlight. Each week, we celebrate the incredible individuals who make IFB thrive. This week, we are excited to feature Lizeth Soriano.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Los Angeles, California

Q: How long have you been with IFB, and what brought you to the organization?
A: I have been with IFB since September 2015, but my journey actually began in December 2012 when I lived in El Paso, Texas. When I moved to California in early 2015, I resigned from IFB. A few months later, I received a call asking if I would be interested in joining a pilot remote-work program. I happily accepted and was rehired. I’ve been part of the IFB family ever since.

Q: Do you have any fun facts or hidden talents you’d like to share?
A: I taught my dachshund (weenie dog) how to sing along with me! Sometimes when I’m singing in the shower or around the house, he’ll stand by the door and howl right along with the music.

Q: What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
A: My biggest hobby is karaoke. I participate at least twice a week and sing in both English and Spanish. I even have a small fan group that comes to hear me sing!

Q: What’s your all-time favorite food or meal?
A: I absolutely love seafood. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at IFB?
A: The support I’ve received throughout the years. Whenever I’ve had a question, needed guidance or faced a challenge, I could always reach out to my supervisor for help. IFB feels more like a family than a company, and that’s something I truly appreciate.

Q: What’s a quote or word of advice you’d give to a friend?
A: “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” — Rikki Rogers

Special thanks to Director of Professional Services, Shannon Satterfield, for supporting these highlights. Who knows? You might be next in the spotlight! Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.

 

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

Audio Described Movies

National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of South Carolina hosts audio described movies and trivia nights on Fridays at 8 p.m. via Zoom. Please note: Friday, June 26 is trivia night. There will be no movie on Friday, July 3.

To join the events, go to the Zoom link below or call 1-929-205-6099.

NFB of SC movie and trivia night Zoom link, Meeting ID: 803 254 3777, Password 124578

 

Shop Rainbow Tarts!

Submitted by Carl Williams

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

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.

Check back often for sales!

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

 

 

HR & Opportunities

Invest Today. Enjoy Tomorrow.

Your future is worth it.

Don’t pass up a chance to double your money! With the IFB Solutions 401(k) Plan, IFB Solutions matches 100% of the first 5% of pay you contribute each pay period. Review your contribution rate today and take full advantage of the company match!

Example 1:
$50/month total contribution
($25 employee + $25 employer match)

Assumptions:

• 7% average annual return
• 20 years of saving
• Compounding monthly

Results After 20 Years:

• Total contribution: $12,000
• Estimated account value: ~$26,000

Employer match + investment growth + compound growth = a strong financial future. Remember, small steps today can create big rewards tomorrow. Consider taking one of these actions today:

• Enroll in the 401(k) plan
• Increase your contribution percentage
• Review your current savings goals
• Make sure you are receiving the full company match.

Need help with enrollment or account changes? Contact the Ascensus Call Center at 855-593-7279, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m., or email Tammy Whitmire-Powers at twhitmire-powers@ifbsolutions.org.

 

Job Opportunities

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

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

 

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