QWE Steering Group

Reginald (Reggie) HughesExecutive Director
Palmetto Goodwill Services
South Charleston, SC

*Reggie has led QWE efforts at Palmetto since 2015 and is the Chairperson of the QWE Steering Group.

How has QWE benefited your NPA?
Palmetto Goodwill Services has been an adopter of QWE going back to 2013, and this shift in culture and mindset has greatly improved our ability to promote upward mobility, improved quality of life, and professional development for all AbilityOne employees. Having the support of the SourceAmerica staff has been instrumental in achieving all the goals in our strategic planning process, which has led to numerous earned certifications, decreased barriers to technology, promotions into management positions and goals of inclusion. We’ve been able to take advantage of the grant opportunity, and the thousands of dollars we’ve been awarded over the years has ensured success in implementing our action plan. QWE is not a program; it’s a culture you build inside your agency.

Duane TurnbullDirector of Work Services
Cottonwood Incorporated
Lawrence, KS

*Duane has led QWE efforts at Cottonwood for four years and is an NPA representative on the QWE Steering Group.

How has QWE benefited your NPA?
Cottonwood has found the Quality Work Environment initiative to be very helpful to the people we serve. As the people we serve grow older, they are less likely to be interested in doing the heavy lifting, bending, and reaching that some jobs require. Cottonwood was able to utilize the QWE grant to create a safer and more ergonomically correct environment for employees, allowing them to complete required job tasks.

Steve PerdueProject Director/Advocacy Director
President and CEO (Retired)
Grand Traverse Industries
Traverse City, MI

*Steve has led QWE efforts at Grand Traverse Industries since 2010 and has been a member of the QWE Steering Group since its inception. In addition to serving as an NPA representative, Steve is also the immediate past Chair of the group.

How has QWE benefited your NPA?
Grand Traverse Industries has completed several QWE assessments and action plans, all of which have helped us zero in on either an area to improve or in development of a new training technique or way of doing business. The time and effort are well worth it, and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has recognized the benefits of QWE in all our surveys over the past 10-12 years.

Scott AukermanInventory Control Expert
Beacon Lighthouse
Wichita Falls, TX

*Scott has been the Chair of the QWE Program at Beacon Lighthouse since 2019 and an AbilityOne Employee Representative on the QWE Steering Group since 2020.

How does QWE benefit people with disabilities?
I would Like to say that working at Beacon Lighthouse has been the most rewarding career decision I have made so far in my life. The enjoyment and satisfaction that I get in solving problems and coming up with solutions that make our employees’ jobs and life easier is such a beautiful reward and inner peace for both me and for the people I have the pleasure of helping.

Robert M. (Bob) HarttU.S. AbilityOne Commission Appointee

*Bob is a private citizen appointee to the QWE Steering Group. Bob served as the First Manager, Legislative Affairs and Program Outreach at the U.S. AbilityOne Commission until his retirement from federal service in 2015. Bob has a passion for serving the Blind community and spends time volunteering for Charlotte’s Tandems.

How does QWE benefit people with disabilities?
QWE creates an environment that focuses on maximizing the skills and aspirations of each individual. This not only provides high-quality products and services for our customers, it helps unlock one's growth potential and opens the doors of opportunity for all those with disabilities who follow.

Ken FernaldPresident and CEO
Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment (AVRE)
Binghamton, NY

How does QWE benefit your NPA?
Since our involvement as a pilot agency for QWE, the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment (AVRE) has recognized the value of the program. Engaging our employees to improve their workplace has been rewarding. Inclusion and involvement across all levels, and throughout every department, allows for critical analysis of projects from many different points of view. The QWE Program is designed to enhance ownership and accountability to drive change. We appreciate learning about success stories of other NPAs within both the NIB and SourceAmerica networks.

Brian ScottCEO
MidWest Enterprises for the Blind
Kalamazoo, MI

*Brian enthusiastically leads MWEB in their QWE efforts and their mission to create jobs and opportunities for people who are blind.