Brenda Rutherford - KSI in Delaware

 

Our "Customer Spotlight" is a chance for you to get to know the clients we work with. Every one of of the hardworking social service professionals we have helped has a story to tell and this is where we let them tell it.

This month, we spoke with Brenda Rutherford, the IT Director at Kent-Sussex Industries (KSI) in Delaware, about her work at their not-for-profit vocational rehabilitation organization:

Vertex Systems: Tell us about Brenda.

Brenda: I’m married, have 2 children, and have lived in Dover, Delaware since 1966 but I am originally from Easton, PA.

I graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Delaware in 1976.

In 1990, I finally became pregnant after years of trying. I had worked for a concrete company for 12 years and quit just before my daughter was born. After three months off, I decided to go back to work and applied at KSI because I had at one time worked for one of the founders of KSI and felt as though it was a good fit for me.

I had never been around anyone with a disability before coming to KSI. I am working on my twentieth year and am so glad that I took the opportunity to work with such wonderful individuals.

VS: Tell us about KSI.

Brenda: The mission of KSI is to assist people with disabilities in the pursuit of their potential in employment and meaningful participation in their communities.

We provide employment opportunities in the community and in our Milford facility. We also provide Supported Employment and Competitive Placement services. And we provide Vocational Educational opportunities such as Community Trips and Community volunteer trips.

We currently have 102 full-time staff, 259 active participants and 55 casual production workers.

VS: The most amazing part of your day?

Brenda: It's the first thing in the morning, seeing the smiling faces on the participants as they walk through the door and get ready for their daily adventure. But I cannot forget to mention paydays.

The smiles when the supervisors hand the participants their pay checks is out of this world. You would think you had just handed them the world.

VS: The worst part of your day?

Brenda: Hearing the alarm go off at 5:30 a.m.!

VS: What about the future of your organization?

Brenda: Even though there have been a lot of cut backs in State and Federal funding, KSI's future looks pretty stable with plenty of growth potential.

It seems as though much of the employment opportunities in our area are putting a lot of focus on hiring individuals with disabilities. Our in-house facility production work has been increasing every week. Our Supported Employment program has also seen an increase in our participants finding stable job opportunities out in the community.

VS: Anything you have to share about the work you’ve done or any of your clients?

Brenda: Let me tell you about one of our hard-working participants.

Arthur Patrick Clendaniel is a small man with a huge spirit. Preferring to be called Patrick, he’s a man to whom others look up, one who inspires others and shares the best of himself with them.

"I like his honesty and enthusiasm, his willingness to please," says Gerri Cassidy, Patrick's Program Manager for many years. "He takes such pride in KSI and pride in himself. And he's proud of his honesty."

For Patrick, working with the crew at Procter & Gamble is right where he wants to be. Palletizing baby wipes, he's a dedicated perfectionist, always making sure things are arranged exactly as required. And as a crew member there, he's exactly the kind of guy with whom anyone would like to work.

"I like it here a lot. I like my coworkers, program managers and supervisors," Patrick says. "I'm working hard and making more money."

Working at P&G has given Patrick the chance to show his best qualities—his inspiration and solidarity with his team members. “When we have crew meetings, he always likes to say something positive that motivates the other crew members," says his current Program Manager Tom Lyons. "He wants to be a hard worker and never gives up. And I've never heard him criticize others. That's a very high character."

Patrick's character is inherent in every part of his life, and working on the crew has helped inspire him to take more positive action elsewhere. "He's a great team player. He'll help anyone who asks," Cassidy explains. "Since he has worked at P&G, he's really become so much more independent, not only here but at home."

With Patrick's motivation and dedication to do well, Community-Based Work opportunities like P&G are so important for providing productive outlets for great energy. Patrick is not only proud of KSI, he also makes KSI proud every day he represents us in the community. We appreciate the kind of enthusiastic and positive example he provides his coworkers.

 "Patrick wants to be successful, acknowledged and respected for his capabilities. And he shows it every day," relates Lyons. "He believes in KSI and what he does. He’s a perfectionist and a quality-conscious person. You admire someone like that."

Read the full Case Study on KSI.

 

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