Terrell Carter’s life changed when he connected with VersAbility Resources 13 years ago.
The Hampton nonprofit holds 14 regional government contracts that provide jobs for people with disabilities. Carter, 33, works in custodial services at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, a new position for him after 12 years in food service at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Hampton.
Carter refers to the disability that affects his memory as “sometimers.” On occasion, he struggles to remember, “but when I’m in a routine, I do recognize patterns quickly,” he says. Medication largely keeps seizures under control, and nothing interferes with his internal drive to do a good job and make it fun for himself and those around him.
“I’m a people person and love people,” he says. “We clean. We laugh. I’ll take a boring place and make it fun in my own little special way. You’re going to love coming to work because I’m there. The other people there vibe off me and you’re going to see the person they are underneath.”
As a youngster, Carter was an achiever, noting, “I always wanted to be great at whatever I was doing. My mother, my father, my brothers, my uncles, they embedded that mentality into me.”
By connecting with a job coach at VersAbility, Carter found a purpose, friends and even better, a family at the VA Hospital. He started as a ground level dishwasher in the galley and advanced into a supervisory role.
“I met a lot of people who fought in the Vietnam War; it was an incredible experience,” he says. “They became my family. It was hard for me to leave because of the attachment I felt for everyone there.”
The steady employment gave him the means to move out and buy his own car. He’d still be there, but when his job coach Cindy Reeves, Senior Contract Manager at VersAbility, told him about another opportunity that would give him a raise, he jumped at it.
“It was time for me to go for me to grow,” he says.
At Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, Carter felt a family vibe as soon as he walked in the door.
“I make wherever I go a positive place to work,” he says.
Carter remains grateful to VersAbility for providing opportunities that changed his life. “I’ve gotten to meet so many people and learn so many things,” he says. “I didn’t know the VA Hospital existed before I went over there. That was a new world to me. And the people there, they trusted me. Some of them told me I was like a father. Some of them told me I was like a brother. I got a different vibe from each person I met.”
He takes pride in Reeves coming to him for his current opportunity.
“I left because Cindy needed me,” he says. “She’s my boss, a job coach, all in one.”
Carter’s message about VersAbility boils down to this. “If you want to make friends, you want to be in a good environment, VersAbility is the place to be. They make sure you’re OK before they put you in a situation. It’s a great place.”
VersAbility Resources invites local businesses and community members to support the 2022 Ability Am Golf Tournament, one of the nonprofit’s signature fundraisers.
Proceeds from this spring’s event will support VersAbility Employment Programs that continue to help people with disabilities get back to work during the ongoing pandemic. VersAbility’s newest employment program, Future of Work, provides wraparound support services to facilitate people with disabilities successfully completing certification, training and apprenticeship programs to expand their career opportunities in high-demand industries.
VersAbility serves more than 1,700 individuals with disabilities and their families.
The tournament will be held on May 19 at Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk. VersAbility is seeking sponsors at all levels and encouraging recreational golfers to register for the best-ball tournament. For details and benefits related to sponsorship opportunities and registration, visit versability.org/events.
Use of the driving range and a pre-tournament lunch begin at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. A cocktail reception and awards dinner will follow at 5:30 p.m.
Individual golfer registrations are $165. Foursomes can register for $650.
For information, contact VersAbility Marketing and Development Manager Keltie Bransford at kbransford@versability.org or by calling 757-896-6473.
Mike Godwin discovered early in life that he had a knack for connecting with people.
VersAbility Resources’ new Chief Human Resource Officer enjoyed recruiting others to join organizations in high school, a talent that continued in college when the psychology major persuaded students to join his fraternity, Delta Upsilon, and Key Club.
“I became a recruiter right out of college,” said Godwin, a graduate of the University of Florida who later earned his MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business in Dublin, Ireland. Early on, he recruited nurses before going on to become an operations manager of a small company.
Over the years, he worked in sales, human resources for a major hospital system and even started his own behavioral health company in New Orleans. His resume includes six years as Vice President of Human Resources at Eggleston Services, a Norfolk-based organization that provides education, training and employment for people with disabilities. He left in 2017 to become Owner and CEO of two consulting companies, but the experience at Eggleston inspired him to do more to help people with disabilities gain employment and live full lives.
That passion is what drives him in his new position at VersAbility.
“Helping people with disabilities has been the most rewarding, fulfilling part of my career,” he said.
Godwin manages a team of eight at the Hampton nonprofit with a focus on hiring those who excel at providing rehabilitative services and support to adults with disabilities.
“I knew if I was going to go back to working for someone else, it had to be with a great company,” Godwin said. “I really have pride in VersAbility. It’s a phenomenal company and mission.”
Both of Godwin’s parents were social workers and a cousin of his has Down syndrome. Godwin often accompanied his father to work as a youngster, where he was exposed to patients in a large psychiatric treatment center.
“At one point, my goal was to be a psychiatrist, but I decided to go the business route,” he said. “That led to recruiting and HR. I was able to see the impact different hospitals had on the community. It’s a fantastic feeling to see that what you do actually means something.”
Godwin has a long list of what he wants to accomplish at VersAbility. Included are:
A focus on diversity, inclusion and procedural justice. “VersAbility is a big proponent of diversity and inclusion so it’s important to ensure we’re offering opportunities to everybody regardless of race, creed, religion, gender and especially, disability status,” he said.
Expanding opportunities for veterans “I think it would be awesome to increase opportunities for veterans, especially disabled veterans,” he said.
Encouraging more people to make a career as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Those who work as DSPs work one-on-one with people with disabilities to help them become successful at whatever they are doing. “So many people need help in the community and so many people want to help,” Godwin said. “It’s a really rewarding job.”
Increasing national and international employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “We’d love to see our growth continue in that area because this company does the right thing,” he said. “That means more people with disabilities have the opportunity to get a fair wage and to receive good treatment under fair management.”
Outside of work, Godwin and his wife, Holli, are parents to one son, Desmond, 18 months. Holli’s passion for animal rescue means the family is often fostering multiple dogs at once at their Newport News home. They are also regular SPCA volunteers.
As parents, we don’t always recognize developmental disabilities in our children.
Sometimes disabilities are associated with conditions diagnosed at birth, such as Cerebral Palsy or Down syndrome but often they appear as patterns of behavior that might be dismissed with frustration. Moms can do everything right and still struggle to breastfeed newborns with low muscle tone. A toddler’s excessive chewing could be related to sensory issues instead of the terrible twos..
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the significant role early intervention makes to ensure people with developmental disabilities have the same opportunities as those without.
VersAbility Resources’ Early Prevention and Intervention for Children Program (EPIC) helps children reach their full potential. This family-centered program provides information and support to families of infants and toddlers under the age of 3 in Hampton and Newport News.
Getting help starts with a referral to the Infant & Toddler Connection of Hampton/Newport News, says Robin Drummond, manager of VersAbility’s EPIC program. She stresses, “Anyone can make that referral.” That includes doctors, social services or other agencies, or parents themselves, concerned about something that seems off about their child.
The Infant and Toddler Connection filters the referrals and schedules an initial appointment with VersAbility, which meets with families to complete the intake process.
“At that appointment that can take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half, we learn all about the family’s concerns about their child. We explain how early intervention can help and what services are available,” Drummond says.
While children accepted into the EPIC program must meet eligibility requirements, no family is turned away for an inability to pay.
If a decision is made to move forward with early intervention, families are directed to the appropriate resources that typically include physical, occupational and speech therapy. VersAbility remains involved throughout.
“Once we start working with a family, we are with that family as long as their child is in the program,” Drummond says.
An Individualized Family Service Plan lays out milestones for children enrolled in EPIC. The plan is reviewed annually and renewable if necessary.
Often addressing a developmental delay can be as simple as a parent tweaking a certain part of the child’s daily routine. If that’s the case, everyone who interacts with that child regularly — grandparents, babysitters, daycare providers, etc. — must be on the same page in following recommendations.
“When consistency is implemented, you almost always see the progress you are hoping for,” Drummond says.
If the developmental delay continues beyond the child’s third birthday, additional services are available through the Hampton or Newport News public preschool programs and Head Start.
If parents suspect a developmental disability in their child, Drummond encourages them to be proactive.
“Early intervention definitely makes a difference, and that key word is early,” she says. “The earlier we can work with our little ones the better because at a certain point, it becomes a habit. Habits are hard to break.”
Jeep Yates had his pick of colleges after being accepted into all five universities he applied to.
He also has the confidence to succeed in a new learning environment after completing VersAbility Resources’ Pre-ETS Work Readiness Training program. The connection and support he received from his job coach were invaluable. Yates even advanced to be a student instructor mentoring others.
“The program really helped him blossom,” said his mother, April. “I definitely saw his confidence grow.”
Jeep was diagnosed with autism as a first-grader, and doctors initially told April he likely would only reach a third-grade learning level. “They saw that as a stopping point, but I didn’t,” she said.
Homeschooled, Jeep proved them wrong. He became dedicated to learning on his own in addition to the instruction provided by April. “In fact, I was doing so well, I ended up helping my mom,” he said.
Jeep struggles with social anxiety and speaking among large groups. His family moved often as his father is in the Navy, which didn’t make it easier. Referred by the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Jeep connected with Hired Hands, specialists in Supported Employment services that train and place people with disabilities. VersAbility acquired Hired Hands in December 2020, and services continue under the VersAbility umbrella.
“He really taught me so much. We were and still are a team,” said Amanda Kuzma, Supervisor of Supported Employment and Jeep’s coach. “He is incredible.”
Jeep worked with Kuzma virtually on becoming more comfortable speaking among his peers and leading group discussions. He learned about employer expectations related to attendance, hygiene and attire. Mock interviews were helpful. “I actually watched myself on tape to make sure I did it right,” he said.
Jeep also learned email etiquette and composed several practice emails.
Jeep succeeded enough to become a student mentor, and he used the skills he gained to talk with professors at the various colleges where he applied. That confidence along with an academic record that includes six community college credits and an ACT score of 31, made him an attractive candidate for colleges. An ACT score of 31 ranks in the 95th percentile nationally.
Jeep applied to five schools — Florida State, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Spring Hill College and University of West Florida, which is located in his current hometown, Pensacola, Florida. He received admission to all.
He selected West Florida, where a scholarship will pay for his tuition and books, and another will pay for meals. He is eligible for another scholarship that would cover room and board. He plans to major in chemistry.
“It seems like a really good fit,” he said.
Jeep was proactive in talking with all the schools he applied to about accommodations.
“I’ve been really proud of him for stating, ‘This is what I need and the challenges I face,’” April said. “I saw a big change in that he knows how and what to ask.”
The next chapter awaits for Jeep, who is ready and eager for whatever it brings.
VersAbility Resources’ new Future of Work program offers life-long career opportunities to the greatest untapped talent pool in the nation.
Only 19.1% of people with disabilities were employed in 2021, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That’s a number VersAbility aims to increase with a new program that addresses barriers to employment for people with disabilities by developing wraparound support services.
The Future of Work program launched in January of 2022 thanks to a $200,000 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Grant, and additional funders including Newport News Shipbuilding, Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation, Sentara, Truist Foudation, and Dominion Energy.
Support services include dedicated job coaches onsite to facilitate people with disabilities successfully completing certification/credentialing and apprenticeship programs necessary to expand their career opportunities in high-demand industries. The program kicked off with a welding cohort at New Horizons Regional Educational Center. It’s an evening program offered at no cost to the students, who learn how to weld in classes that meet twice weekly for two hours.
Glenn, a student participating in VersAbility’s Future of Work program, feels great about the program. He feels that VersAbility has helped him gather the tools that he needs to get started in the welding field and that this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without VersAbility’s help.
Tameka Davis, Assistant Director of Employment Services at VersAbility, said it’s important that the Future of Work program reflect what the academies from the public schools and local community colleges offer. “The trades are obviously going to be big,” she said. “We’re looking at what jobs are most prevalent in Hampton Roads and welding is a good career because of the opportunities at the local shipyards.”
The support from VersAbility includes helping those who complete the program find work. Davis also continuously connects with employers to develop additional partnerships that have employment potential. Current partners include New Horizons, Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Hampton and Newport News Schools, DARS, Old Dominion University, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Tidewater Community College and Community College Workforce Cooperative.
Surveys were sent out to gauge interest in other career fields that include administrative assistant, medical billing and coding, cybersecurity, culinary and certified nursing assistant.
“We’re gathering the results and trying to see what is popular from the students,” Davis said. “From there we can shape new programs.”
The Future of Work program isn’t limited to high school students. Career switchers and veterans are encouraged to apply. Anyone over the age of 18 with a documented disability is eligible.
Even though the program is in its infancy, Davis is gratified about the impact she foresees for Future of Work.
“We’re empowering individuals,” she said. “A large number of individuals with disabilities complete high school and then get lost between the cracks. By completing the Future of Work program, they can be utilized in various fields where there is a need. Being able to create the diversity and inclusion in the workforce is important”.
“Future of Work is another resource for people with disabilities along with sustained advocacy.”
Eric Workman loves the independence working for VersAbility Resources gives him.
He is a floor technician at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Cheatham Annex. The Hampton resident drives himself there every weekday morning, where his tasks include vacuuming and mopping, and he is learning to strip and wax tile floor.
“I like having my job and that I don’t have to depend on my parents for rides,” he says. “Having a job teaches responsibility and can help you save up money for the important things. Having a job makes you feel like you’ve grown up.”
Workman is saving for a reliable car, hoping for a Kia or Hyundai.
The Bethel High School graduate connected with VersAbility through the Department of Rehabilitative Services. He worked for five years at Norfolk Naval Base and later moved to a custodial position at Colonial National Historic Park in York County. He prefers his current role, which he started in December 2021.
His mother, Jerri-Lynn, is proud of how much Eric has grown.
“He has a purpose, and he knows that his job matters,” she says. “He’s doing something important. This new position has been really good for him.”
Workman is pleased with a hidden benefit of the job. Due to the regular hours, he is more disciplined about his diet.
“I’ve been able to change how I eat,” he says. “I’ve lost a little weight, which is good.”
Workman is grateful to VersAbility for working with him to find not just any job, but a position he enjoys.
“I feel VersAbility Resources does a great job working with adults with special needs and disabilities,” he says. “They know how to make people living with disabilities feel great.”
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day and in recognition of the love VersAbility Resources has for its mission to ensure people with disabilities lead full productive lives, the nonprofit is asking community members to consider making a $14 donation anytime now through the end of February.
When you show your love to VersAbility with a donation, your gift can be earmarked to support a variety of programs that include:
Future of Work
Community Living
Employment Services
Envisions Day Support
EPIC Early Childhood
Lewis B. Puller Center
Donations can also be made to the General Fund.
You can designate your gift be in honor, in memory or in support of another. VersAbility is hoping to raise $1,400 with separate donations of $14 (or more) at a time.
Donate here to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities in the Hampton Roads community.
VersAbility Resources’ newest members for its 2022 Board of Directors hold leadership positions in industry, education and the nonprofit sector.
The new members are:
Shawn Avery, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Workforce Council
Susan Jacobs, Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, Newport News Shipbuilding
Aazia Mickens Dessaso, Executive Director of Ecosystem Development, Techstars
Casey Roberts, Executive Director, New Horizons Regional Education Centers
Edith White, CEO, Hampton Roads Community Action Program
“We welcome all of these regional leaders to our Board of Directors and are grateful that they are contributing their skills and experience to shaping the strategic direction of VersAbility,” said Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO. “Each of our new members share our vision of helping people of all abilities live, work, and thrive in our community.”
Here’s a closer look at the five additions:
Meet Shawn Aver
As President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Avery provides leadership, management and oversight for the premier Workforce Development organization in Virginia. The Council works to ensure systems are in place to create economic prosperity and enhance quality of life for all Virginians throughout the Commonwealth.
Avery’s interest in joining VersAbility’s board is “to provide the same opportunities to all individuals in Hampton Roads.”
Avery serves on various other boards and commissions, including the Virginia Advisory
Committee for Career and Technical Education, GO Virginia Regional Council, Hampton Roads
Chamber, Future Hampton Roads, Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Virginia, and the Hampton Roads Alliance.
Avery holds a graduate degree from Florida Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree from Christopher Newport University.
Meet Susan Jacobs
Jacobs is a veteran in human resources, having worked in that industry since 1986. Prior to her current position as Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for Newport News Shipbuilding, she served as Director of Human Resources and Administration at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
“I believe that everyone has something to contribute to others and that doing so enriches the lives of all involved,” Jacobs said. “I have seen the great things that VersAbility does and am honored to be a part of that work.”
Jacobs also serves on the boards of LEAD Virginia, Riverside Lifelong Health, Hampton Roads Chamber, and the Hampton Roads Alliance. She holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Meet Aazia Mickens Dessaso
In her current role at Techstars, Mickens Dessaso develops and executes strategies and plans to create opportunities for startups, investors, cities, and corporations. Techstars is a global network that provides support to entrepreneurs.
Mickens Dessaso’s tour of VersAbility’s Hampton headquarters several years ago inspired her to join the Board. She looks forward to using “my skills and network to provide access and opportunities for people with different abilities and to connect with like-minded business people in Hampton Roads who share an interest in equity and accessibility.”
Mickens Dessaso is a member of CIVIC and the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. She has appeared on “Shark Tank,” and was honored by the White House as an Emerging Global Entrepreneur.
Mickens Dessaso graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina.
Meet Casey Roberts
The Hampton native and fifth-generation educator serves as the Executive Director of the New Horizons Regional Education Centers, the largest of nine regional educational centers in Virginia. He previously held teaching positions in Hampton, Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight, and director positions for three boards – School Reform Initiative, Alumni Board of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men.
“I bring an array of skills and knowledge of workforce and economic development within the public education sphere that align with the mission and objectives of VersAbility,” Roberts said. “It is my belief that working together toward similar missions accelerates innovation, leverages networks, and further expands opportunities for all.
Roberts earned a graduate degree from Regent University and an undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech. He is currently at work on his doctorate in education administration at The George Washington University.
Meet Edith White
As CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Action Program, White oversees the nonprofit with a mission of improving lives by providing optimum services and mobilizing community resources. She previously served more than 15 years at the Urban League of Hampton Roads, where she was president and CEO before retiring.
White notes that VersAbility’s mission “aligns with my personal values.”
White has served on several boards and committees over the years, including Empowerment 2010 Governance Board; Opportunity Inc.; Workforce Development Board; United Way Minority Council Advisory; Old Dominion University Community Development Corporation Board; Virginia State University Business Advisory Board; and the Newport News Public Superintendents Roundtable. She is the founder of Project Vision, a volunteer leadership development board.
White holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.
VersAbility Resources welcomes five business and community leaders to its 2022 Board of Directors.
Board members provide governance and strategic direction for the nonprofit, which helps people with disabilities to live, work and thrive in their communities.
The new members are:
Shawn Avery, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Workforce Council
Susan Jacobs, Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, Newport News Shipbuilding
Aazia Mickens-Dessaso, Executive Director of Ecosystem Development, Techstars
Casey Roberts, Executive Director, New Horizons Regional Education Centers
Edith White, CEO, Hampton Roads Community Action Program
VersAbility Resources has also named its 2022 Executive Committee members who are:
Chair: Bob Korroch, Partner, Williams Mullen
Vice Chair: Joycelyn Spight Roache, Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager, Old Point National Bank
Secretary: Jeff Tanner, Dean, Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University
Immediate Past Chair: Ron Murray, Vice President of Quality and Compliance at Newport News Shipbuilding
“We’re grateful to have a committed and dedicated Board and Executive Committee who are passionate about advancing our mission of ensuring all people with disabilities are able to lead dignified, productive lives of their choosing as fully accepted members of society,” said Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO of VersAbility Resources.
VersAbility Resources serves more than 1,700 people with disabilities and their families, providing programs in early childhood, student services, day support, residential and four diverse employment programs. Its service area includes all of Hampton Roads and the 10 counties on the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
VersAbility Resources celebrates another milestone year in 2021 while looking to the new year with renewed optimism in advancing its mission of supporting people with disabilities in leading productive and fulfilling lives.
“During these challenging times, our focus hasn’t changed,” said Kasia Grzelkowski, CEO of the Hampton-based nonprofit that serves more than 1,700 individuals and their families each year. “We’ve continued to fulfill our mission every day and create more expansive, diverse opportunities for people with disabilities of all ages in the 757 and beyond.”
VersAbility’s mission-essential employees have risen to the occasion of these challenging times. They’ve continued to go to work in support of the military and critical commercial customers.
VersAbility’s 19 government contracts include loading food on ships for the Navy, staffing global call center operations 24 hours a day for 13 Air Combat Command bases around the country, manufacturing eyeglasses, and performing custodial services that have become more vital with the increased attention on health and safety protocols.
“People with disabilities continue to shine as one of the most resilient workforces throughout this prolonged pandemic,” Grzelkowski said. “While many people stayed home, people with disabilities went to work each day and night to perform mission-essential work for our federal customers. That includes loading food on Navy vessels from submarines to aircraft carriers at the five major ports on the east and west coasts plus Hawaii and Guam.”
VersAbility was already the prime contractor for provisioning food on Navy ships at seven global locations, but that scope was significantly expanded with the award in the fallof a new contract totaling $126 million over five years.
Work on that contract will be performed in Norfolk and other ports nationwide, including the recently added Naval Submarine Base at Kings Bay, Georgia. That breaks down to approximately 50 more jobs for people with disabilities at Naval Station Norfolk in addition to the 100 employees already working at this location.
VersAbility also expanded employment opportunities for people with disabilities by securing a new nationwide contract to perform administrative and human resources services for Military Sealift Command and with the acquisition of Hired Hands, a job training and support organization.
The Military Sealift Command contract, VersAbility’s fifth that is nationwide in scope, represents a new line of business that will provide an additional 65 to 70 jobs with titles such as medical records clerk, medical records technician, supply clerk and personnel assistant.
“We are very excited to be diversifying the options for people with disabilities and veterans by adding administrative services and human resources to our job offerings,” Grzelkowski said. “This represents our ongoing efforts to harness the full array of talent of people with all abilities. We are continuing to hire people with qualifying disabilities, including veterans, to perform this administrative work.”
VersAbility expanded its Supported Employment program when Hired Hands came under its umbrella. Integrating Hired Hands with VersAbility increases capacity for job creation and career development with tailored training and support to meet employer needs.
“The talented team from Hired Hands works to match, place and train people with disabilities for a wide of array of employers throughout Hampton Roads,” Grzelkowski said.
The Hired Hands team also specializes in services and support for individuals within the Deaf community.
VersAbility will launch its Future of Work program in spring 2022 thanks to receiving a $200,000 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Grant. This initiative focuses on preparing people with disabilities for jobs in high-demand industries.
“The goal of the Future of Work program is to support people with disabilities in successfully completing certification and credentialing programs, so they graduate with proven workforce readiness,” Grzelkowski said.
VersAbility’s first welding cohort will begin in January 2022 at New Horizons Regional Education Center.
The Bank of America grant is among several significant gifts awarded to VersAbility in 2021. The others include funding from Newport News Shipbuilding, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation, and more.
Five new board members will join VersAbility in 2022, many of whom will be tapped for their workforce development expertise. The new members joining the board are Shawn Avery, CEO, Hampton Roads Workforce Council; Susan Jacobs, Vice President Human Resources and Administration, Newport News Shipbuilding; Aazia Mickens-Dessaso, Executive Director of Ecosystem Development, Techstars; Casey Roberts, Executive Director, New Horizons Regional Education Centers; and Edith White, CEO, Hampton Roads Community Action Program.
Grzelkowski said she is also grateful and inspired by the tireless work of the entire VersAbility team throughout the pandemic.
The residential team provides quality care 24/7/365 in eight homes in Newport News, Hampton and York County that support people with significant disabilities.
VersAbility’s Early Prevention and Intervention for Children program assists infants and toddlers with disabilities by tailoring therapy programs to ensure each child is prepared for success in school, work and life. The program also educates parents on the many ways they can support their child’s development.
VersAbility anticipates the expansion of one of its Air Force contracts in 2022 and looks forward to creating more jobs for people of all abilities.
Renee Rose started at VersAbility Resources as a two-week temp covering the front desk. Thirty-four years later, she’s the Chief Operating Officer and the nonprofit’s longest tenured employee.
All those years ago, Rose wasn’t looking to put down roots. After a semester of college away, she returned home to Hampton seeking temporary jobs while she mapped out her future.
“I worked many jobs during that time, but VersAbility was the one place I felt connected to,” said Rose, who grew up inspired by her great grandmother, legally blind but able to live independently for 14 years after her husband passed.
“She helped me see how capable people with disabilities are,” Rose said.
It wasn’t long before Rose was asked back to transition into another role — managing a custodial contract offsite that called for transporting the employees and establishing the routine needed for them to complete the work. Some needed a checklist as a reminder of tasks; others required almost no guidance. Several team members at VersAbility pitched in to help.
“It was such a great introduction to what we do,” Rose said. “It instilled in me that this is an organization where everybody will jump in, get their feet wet, focus on what the mission is, and work together to get it done.”
Nearly four decades later, that’s the mindset at VersAbility Resources, which services more than 1,700 people with disabilities and their families with programs in early childhood, student services, day and residential, and employment. The priority is unchanged — making sure people with disabilities lead dignified, productive lives of their choosing as fully accepted members in society.
Rose changed hats multiple times over the years, including a three-year stint serving as a Direct Support Professional where she delighted in seeing the joy that a sense of accomplishment brought to those she worked alongside. She also found rewards in managing VersAbility’s Government Contracts program, which provides employment for people with disabilities in jobs that include ship provisioning for the Navy and staffing a call center at Langley Air Force Base.
But Rose’s affinity for numbers and her knack for navigating Excel spreadsheets led her to a longtime position in accounting, where she received guidance from several mentors whom she emulates today.
“I try to make sure my team knows I’m available,” Rose said. “Frankly, I also want to hear what they have to say. I want to be their advocate. If something needs to be changed, I want to know. I want them to know how much I appreciate all that they do.”
As Chief Operating Officer, Rose oversees all VersAbility operations — a mind-boggling number of services expansive in scope.
“On any given day, you could have a Service Coordinator working with a family to establish a plan that could help their child meet developmental milestones while an Employment Specialist is helping someone fill out an application for a job,” Rose said. “If hired, that person would need training to ensure they’re successful in that job. At our corporate location, we have people working on fulfilling a variety of contracts for commercial customers, and their attention to detail and quality is unmatched.”
The “wow” moments motivate Rose as well. She could point to many, but one that remains close to her heart is watching a high school student blossom. The student was extremely introverted and lacked self-confidence. Initially, she worked with an Employment Specialist and accepted a part-time position that required nighttime hours and almost no interaction with peers. Over time, she showed interest in transitioning to a full-time job during regular business hours but was hesitant to jump into something new as she did not like change.
The solution was to offer her a tryout, so she could experience the job before making a final decision.
“She liked the new job enough to take a chance,” Rose said. “That, to me, was a real indicator of growth because she was willing to accept change.”
Within a month, the student bought a new car, and one afternoon, she listened to music and began to dance while working. Everyone around her smiled.
“She came so far outside of that introverted person she was,” Rose said. “She had become confident and comfortable enough to stand at her workstation and dance.”
Rose became Chief Operating Officer in March 2020, when the world changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been a challenging period that included shutting down the day program briefly and current staff shifting to service many of the contracts VersAbility supports.
“I realized early on that we had to make the best decisions we could to protect the individuals we serve,” she said. “We also had to sustain the work we had to have the employment opportunities available when it was time to bring people back.”
Rose is something of a historian at VersAbility — the go-to for any question and a leader able to bring perspective to most any situation. She touts the terrific team around her that has been flexible and positive throughout.
“It’s nice to work somewhere where you believe in its purpose and I absolutely do,” she said. “It’s a great mission. The services we provide touch a lot more people than the person with the disability. Everyone has different experiences in their lives that help shape them. We don’t provide cookie cutter services here. We provide services that help people enhance their capabilities in ways they’ve indicated they want support. To do that every day is truly amazing.”
Jim Schloss joined the Board of Directors at VersAbility Resources six years ago because he was passionate about building an awareness of everything the nonprofit represents for the community members it serves.
People with disabilities should be accepted as productive members of society.
They are not only successful within jobs, but they also thrive in ones that match their skills and passions.
People with disabilities can live a life without limits.
All of these principles resonate with Schloss, who will rotate off the Board this year.
Schloss does not have a disability and his wife, Sarah, wasn’t born with a disability. But 19 years ago, a catastrophic car accident left Sarah wheelchair-bound with no hope of walking again.
“That drew me to people who want to feel like a part of things and really need outlets and stimulation to feel like they’re a useful part of society,” he said.
Schloss joined the Board at the prompting of a colleague, but watching Sarah’s world change fueled him to remain active in the organization over the years. Prior to the accident, Sarah was an accomplished golfer who worked full time in insurance. Girls weekends and shopping were often combined.
“Bright, beautiful, capable, articulate,” Schloss said to describe his wife. “A lot of what she had was taken away from her.”
Jim said he doesn’t think he would have had the strength to go on had the roles been reversed. He watched Sarah’s struggles. Her social relationships evaporated and not being ambulatory affected her not just physically but emotionally.
Prior to COVID, she was a volunteer at VersAbility, teaching others how to bead, a hobby she picked up after the accident and enjoyed sharing. Today she requires round-the-clock care.
Schloss, who has held leadership positions at Smithfield Foods and started his own branding company to support businesses, joined the VersAbility Board to help with marketing efforts to raise awareness about all the organization’s resources and the quality of its programs.
“There’s so much good. I don’t know that anyone has any idea how many clients we have working in the military world, whether it be on ships, at the Langley Air Force Base switchboard or other jobs in the military that are big part of the defense system of the United States, which is very near and dear to this area.”
VersAbility’s four national government contracts generate jobs for hundreds of people with disabilities across the country. The nonprofit is the prime contractor for ship provisioning services for the U.S. Navy at seven locations around the globe and directly employs more than 100 employees to fulfill this work at Naval Station Norfolk, Pearl Harbor, Langley Air Force Base, Tyndall Air Force Base and Seymour-Johnson.
“We have one client who preps fire and EMT kits so they are perfectly ready for the next call,” Schloss said. “That’s a zero-defect deal. When people say disabilities, it’s a category, but it’s an unfair categorization. When this group is challenged, they really want to do good things.”
Schloss, a grandfather of three, is most touched by VersAbility’s EPIC program, which assists families of infants and toddlers who experience developmental delays.
“You lay your eyes on these kids; I can’t take a breath,” he said.
Schloss would like to see more brand awareness about the life-altering resources people with disabilities and their families can find at VersAbility, but he knows more funding is key to that. He’s been instrumental in planning many of VersAbility’s fundraisers, including the Ability Am Golf Tournament and the All Abilities Shine Gala.
Moving forward, Schloss will be less involved with VersAbility given Sarah’s declining health that requires him to be a caregiver 16 hours out of every day. But VersAbility’s mission will remain close to his heart, and he’s moved by the dedication of the staff that feels the same way.
“They’re doers. They’re troopers,” he said. “I have an incredible admiration for the entire team I have been around at VersAbility. They really get it. This is a team of people that doesn’t want the spotlight, but they just dig and grind and scratch and claw. They get it done.”
VersAbility Resources is asking community members to help fund Thanksgiving meals for the people with disabilities served by the nonprofit.
VersAbility aims to raise $2,500 to help pay for over 250 holiday lunches that will be handed out on Nov. 23 as part of a drive-thru event at VersAbility’s Hampton headquarters. Additional meals will go to the Envisions Day Support program in Newport News, VersAbility’s group homes in Hampton, Newport News and York County, and the Puller Center in Gloucester.
“Sitting down and sharing a meal with family and friends has never been more important for the populations we serve,” said Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO of VersAbility Resources. “Thanks to the generous support of local individuals, businesses and organizations, we have always been able to keep our commitment to what has become an annual tradition, and we are asking for help once again.”
All lunches include a turkey dinner with sides and dessert options. While traditionally VersAbility offered a Thanksgiving luncheon in person, last year and again this year, the meals will be pre-boxed out of an abundance of caution given the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, VersAbility handed out more than 300 meals at the drive-thru event, made possible thanks to crowdfunding and the support of Kiwanis Clubs of Division 13.
Makya Stallings, Danny Giles and Tracey Cheeks didn’t just find jobs through VersAbility Resources. They found careers as Mission Essential employees at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, where they are call center operators who combine to handle as many as 100 calls a day during busy times.
VersAbility is a leader in federal contracting for people with disabilities. Giles, Stallings and Cheeks work on Langley Air Force Base.
No two days are alike. They make sure outside calls are connected correctly. Sometimes they set up conference calls. Often, the voice on the other end of the line is that of a deployed service member trying to connect to family. Frequently, callers don’t know exactly who they need to be connected to. Stallings, Giles and Cheeks work diligently to help them figure it out.
“All my employees make sure our military is connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Jocelyn Garrett, Manager at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. “During COVID, we had a lot of people call here wanting to check on their family and we made sure they get connected. We work as a team.”
A first job
Makya Stallings never held a job prior to being hired at Langley. She was born without sight in her left eye and at the age of 13, she lost vision in her right eye. On the job, she relies on what’s called JAWS, Job Access With Speech, a screen reader for computer users whose vision prevents them from seeing the screen.
“I was told I was the first blind person brought to this location,” Stallings said.
The Newport News native started in July 2019, learning the new computer aide along with military vernacular, a language all its own that she speaks with ease now. It’s particularly fulfilling work because she grew up wanting to join the military. Two of her siblings are retired Army veterans, and another is in the Air Force. Her niece joined the Navy, and several of her cousins are service members.
“I’m a people person,” Stallings says. “I like to learn and communicate with different people.”
What she doesn’t enjoy is being categorized because of her disability. Stallings will tell you she’s a Gemini who dotes on her American Pit Bull Terrier, Gideon. She’s a songbird who uses her voice to lift others, and in her free time, she unwinds by ice skating.
“I’m my own person and I beat to my own drum,” Stallings says. “There’s nothing different about me except for the fact that you can open your eyes and look at your face and I cannot.”
Stallings trains other blind and visually impaired hires at the base. She’s happy to do it because she knows the value of having a job to call your very own. “A lot of us want to work but don’t have the courage to get out there and do it,” she says. “I just try to use myself to motivate the next person.”
At the height of the pandemic, Stallings reported to work despite having to rely on public transportation to do so. “I got exposed to the virus three or four different times and had to be tested,” she says.
Stallings lost her grandmother to the virus, also. “That was one of the hardest things my family and me had to deal with because she’s someone who was always there for us, and we couldn’t be there for her.”
If Stallings needs support at work, she finds it in the team around her. “We definitely help each other out,” she says. “No one watches anybody fall short.”
On the busiest days, calls are back to back to back to back. “Take a breath,” Stallings will remind herself before picking up another line. She works weekends and even double shifts when necessary.
“There’s not a day when we’re not open,” she says. “We’re always here when they need us.”
A military connection
Danny Giles’ heavy military background made him a natural to work at Langley, where he is lead operator on weekdays.
Both of his grandfathers fought in World War II, and his father and sister are retired Air Force. His nephew joined the Air Force five years ago.
In addition to answering and connecting calls, Giles tracks calls on the other 12 bases that Langley hosts and submits hourly reports. If too many calls are dropped, that requires action.
“I like talking to people and helping them out in situations,” he says. “I try to connect them to the place they’re looking for and get them the best possible answer as I can without having to say, ‘I don’t know.’”
During the height of the pandemic, fewer people were on base, meaning calls typically placed from offices there were initiated at home.
“They had to rely on us to make sure we could get them to all the places they needed,” Giles says. “If anything happens, we would pretty much be the first ones to know. It could be at any point of the day or night. It’s a good job. It can be stressful, but at the same time it’s fun and you learn new stuff every day.”
The promotion to lead operator is recent and appreciated. He’s worked on base for five years.
“I like challenges,” says Giles, a photographer on the side who shoots wedding and graduation pictures regularly. “When I was promoted, I was pretty excited about it. I like doing something new and having more responsibility. I’m always looking for new adventures.”
“It’s an honor to work on a military base”
Tracey Cheeks moved to Virginia from Baltimore to help her sister through some medical problems. She expected to stay a month. The pandemic altered that, and Norfolk is her new home.
Back-to-back strokes limit full use of her hands, and lymphedema affects her legs, which makes it hard for her to stand for long periods.
The 56-year-old grandmother has held administrative jobs most of her life, working for the Department of Social Services in Baltimore County, the State Highway Administration in Maryland and the Maryland Department of Transportation.
She was hired in Chesapeake but laid off after three months due to the pandemic.
“I wanted to work; I didn’t want to stay home and do nothing,” she says. “I tell people that I might have a disability, but I can still work. My mind is still here.”
A Richmond staffing firm directed her to VersAbility.
“It was like a dream come true,” Stallings says. She jumped at the chance to work at Langley Air Force Base. “I thought it was going to be a breeze,” she admits. “Now it wasn’t as breezy as I thought! It took time to learn, but I’m someone who writes it down and studies it.”
Stallings brought her notes home at night and learned from the example her peers set.
“I wanted to be good,” she says. “I wanted to know everything there is.”
She refuses to let anything associated with her disability limit her.
“Here I work with people with all different types of disabilities,” she says. “It gives me a lot of push and makes you say, ‘I can do that.’ The people I’ve met here who have a disability amaze me and push me to want to do better.”
Cheeks commutes to and from work using Handi-Ride, Hampton Roads Transportation’s Paratransit service. It’s not unusual for her to leave for work two hours early due to unpredictable tunnel traffic.
“I am never late,” she says.
Cheeks’ brother-in-law served as a Marine for more than 26 years. She used to visit the base prior to working on it. As a young adult, she even considered joining the service.
“It is an honor to work on a military base,” she says. “I love it. The people are great here. I feel good when I come here. I look forward every day to come to work. If you enjoy your job, you stay at it and do your best. And I like it here. A lot.”
Recognition Comes with $200,000 Grant Funding for New Future of Work Initiative, Leadership Training
Hampton, VA – VersAbility Resources is honored to announce their selection as a 2021 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders awardee. This grant provides a unique combination of leadership development and $200,000 in funding for VersAbility to launch their new Future of Work (FOW) program.
FOW is a new VersAbility initiative designed to train people with disabilities to fill the critical jobs our economy needs to thrive. People with disabilities represent the greatest untapped talent pool in the country. In 2020, only 17.9% of people with disabilities in the United States were employed (U.S. BLS, 2021). A focus on young people transitioning to work will be coupled with retraining the long-term unemployed, helping people of all abilities become proud, productive citizens.
“VersAbility is bridging important gaps for individuals with disabilities to help them chart a path toward economic opportunity and stability,” said Frank Castellanos, President of Bank of America Hampton Roads. “Bank of America has had a long-standing commitment to supporting people with disabilities. Our Neighborhood Builders program helps organizations, such as VersAbility, grow sustainably and strategically for a greater positive impact in the community.”
As a Neighborhood Builder, VersAbility will receive a $200,000 grant over two years and comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling. This Bank of America program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development.
With this grant, FOW will develop effective new approaches that capitalize on community need and resources, transforming work and life prospects for people with disabilities by breaking down barriers to successful, long-term employment. Participants in VersAbility’s FOW program will train alongside professionals in high-demand fields, while VersAbility Job Coaches provide support services so that people with disabilities successfully complete certification programs. Services include pre-enrollment prep, tailoring instruction methods to suit different learning styles, assistive technology, transportation training, exam prep, job placement, and more.
“We are so grateful to Bank of America for this critical seed funding to expand careers that create economic independence for people with disabilities across the 757,” says Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO of VersAbility Resources.
VersAbility plans to focus on three certification tracks that suit all abilities including: welding, medical billing/coding, and cybersecurity. Current partners include New Horizons, Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Hampton and Newport News Schools, DARS, ODU, VPCC, TCC, and the Community College Workforce Cooperative. VersAbility will work closely with partners to ensure effective training that leads to careers and economic independence for people with disabilities. Pilot certification programs are currently set to begin in the spring of 2022.
About VersAbility Resources
VersAbility Resources is a comprehensive provider serving over 1500 people with disabilities annually in early childhood, day, student, and residential services, and four diverse employment programs. Serving the entire Hampton Roads region, VersAbility provides manufacturing and logistics services and is a major federal contractor with five nationwide contracts for the Navy and Air Force. Learn more at www.versability.org.
About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
VersAbility Resources raised more than $87,000 at its 2021 golf tournament held on Oct. 14, 2021. The charity event was the first in-person fundraiser since the start of COVID-19 held by the nonprofit that serves community members and their families affected by disabilities.
Pivot Physical Therapy and Annie Belle Reavis Tuccori Foundation were the presenting sponsors for the Ability Am Golf Tournament held at Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk, Virginia.
VersAbility surpassed its fundraising goal for the event, raising a total of $87,127, which included $1,777 from its 50/50 raffle. The recipient of the raffle generously donated the winning amount of $888.50 back to VersAbility in support of the people with disabilities they serve.
Proceeds from the event benefit hundreds of individuals with disabilities who participate in VersAbility’s four diverse employment programs.
“Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, golfers, Board and community members during this year’s Ability Am, VersAbility is creating new jobs for people with disabilities while helping others return to work as we recover from the pandemic,” said Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO of VersAbility Resources.
Grzelkowski joined VersAbility Board members Jackie White and Jim Schloss, greeting golfers and sponsors who contributed to making the day a success. A cocktail and awards reception followed an afternoon of golf.
Sponsors Checkered Flag Auto Group and Pearson Toyota, both of Newport News, placed cars at the two hole-in-one sponsorships on holes 5 and 16, respectively.
While no one aced either hole to win the cars, VersAbility came out on top with their successful event.
Dayon Cary is standing beside the Buzz Lightyear action figures that are a bargain at $10, on sale at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Williamsburg. The customers signal they are fine but recognize Cary and respond with a thumbs up.
Meanwhile, Nate Garrison continues to unpack boxes of drapery panels to set up a display, making sure each of the packages faces the right direction and is organized correctly.
Cary and Garrison are interns from VersAbility Resources, which works to find employment for people with disabilities. The men are finishing up eight-week internships at the Habitat ReStore in Williamsburg, the bargain hunter’s paradise with inventory ranging from fine china to jetted tubs to furnishings of every shape and size.
VersAbility Employment Specialist Sydney Smith works onsite when Cary and Garrison are scheduled for their shifts.
She offers encouragement and directions when necessary.
“Do you need help,” she asks Garrison as he tackles another box.
“I got it,” he assures.
The interns are part of the nonprofit’s Pre-Employment Transition Services program, which teaches soft and technical skills by partnering with community employers to offer professional work experience.
VersAbility works in tandem with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, which refers students to the program.
“The goal is to give students stackable skills that they can carry with them so when they graduate from high school, they have some tools under their belt for the workforce, and they also have an idea what they want to do,” said Vickie Greatwood, Director of Supported Employment at VersAbility. “We try to help students determine their interests, explore careers and then have an opportunity to try an internship and earn a paycheck.”
The employer also benefits from the internship.
“Nate and Dayon have definitely been a light here,” said Kelcey Moeller, Volunteer Coordinator for the Habitat Restore in Williamsburg. “They truly work hard stocking, cleaning and helping the customers, who, by the way, adore them! All of the ReStore employees have bragged on them to me on a regular basis, as well as customers on a daily basis. I have personally loved watching them grow in their independence.”
Moeller is excited for the new growing partnership between the two nonprofits that will lead to more VersAbility interns gaining experience there.
Garrison had never held a job before, so it’s been an eye-opening experience for him. He’s become more detailed-oriented, always focusing on the task in front of him with a refreshing eagerness.
“I like all the stuff,” he says when asked about his favorite part of the job.
Cary largely works independently and is rarely idle, flowing from one task to the next. He sweeps. He cleans. He stocks. He’s happy to help customers or a manager in need of an extra hand.
“Whatever they tell me to do here, I do it,” Cary says. “I know how to work on my own. I know how to handle customers. I know how to get them where they need to go for what they need, and then I step away and get back to doing what I need to do.”
The eight-week internship concluded at the end of August and both men will return to the post-graduate program at their alma mater, Jamestown High School.
“I’ve liked it a lot, and I would love to get a job at the ReStore if a spot opens up,” Cary says.
“We find that our hearts are a little fuller having had the opportunity to know them and work side by side with them,” Moeller adds. “I will miss them, and I hope more than anything that they are taking away with them as much as we have received from them.”
Hampton, Virginia – In May, VersAbility Resources was awarded the Military Sealift Command Administrative and Human Resources Support Services Contract. This contract marks VersAbility’s 19th government contract and their 5th nationwide contract.
VersAbility Resources is a leader in federal contracting for people with disabilities. They hold the contract for loading food on ships for the U.S. Navy at seven locations around the globe. VersAbility employees also provide around the clock global call center support for the U.S. Air Force; manufacture eyeglasses for the Department of Defense; provide food and custodial services for our nation’s military, and much more.
The Military Sealift Command (MSC) contract is a new line of business that will provide an additional 65-70 jobs for people with disabilities and veterans. Jobs include administrative roles, medical records clerks, medical records technicians, supply clerks, and personnel assistants.
“Two things that distinguish VersAbility are our nationwide footprint and the diversity of jobs we offer people with disabilities and veterans. We are very excited to be adding Human Resources and Administrative services to our job offerings. These jobs provide great pay and benefits and can be life-changing for people with disabilities,” says Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO.
The MSC contract has multiple locations including Norfolk Virginia, Ft. Eustis Virginia, Jacksonville Florida, Port Canaveral Florida, and San Diego California. People with disabilities and veterans employed by VersAbility will work at the various sites across the country.
ABOUT VERSABILITY RESOURCES
Since its founding in 1953, VersAbility Resources has grown to serve more than 1,500 people with disabilities and their families each year in early childhood, residential, day and student services, and four diverse employment programs. Services range from coordinating developmental therapies for children to building successful business partnerships that provide staffing solutions for employers and provide jobs for people with disabilities. Learn more about VersAbility Resources today at www.versability.org.
