News & Events

On Friday, August 31, 2012 PRIDE Industries honored Congresswoman Doris Matsui as an AbilityOne® Champion, in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of Americans with significant disabilities through employment. The presentation took place in her district at PRIDE Industries’ Sacramento Facility.

The AbilityOne Program is a Federal initiative to help people who are blind or have significant disabilities find employment by working within a national network of over 600 nonprofit agencies that sell products and services to the U.S. government. More than 50,000 individuals are employed through the Program and its network of affiliated nonprofit agencies like locally-headquartered PRIDE Industries.

An AbilityOne Champion is an elected policymaker who has demonstrated significant support of the Program and participating nonprofit agencies in their district or state. "Congresswoman Matsui is a long-time friend and supporter of PRIDE Industries," says Michael Ziegler, President and Chief Executive Officer, PRIDE Industries. "She understands the powerful impact that the Federal Government through the AbilityOne program can make on changing lives - one job at a time. I am grateful for Congresswoman Matsui's support of job creation for people with disabilities here at home and across the nation."

According to Bob Chamberlin, President and CEO of NISH, “Individuals with disabilities are employed in part because of an Act of Congress—The Javits Wagner O’Day Act. While the Program has been in place for nearly 75 years, its modern day champions like Congresswoman Matsui that keep the Program strong. Residents of California’s 5th District should take pride in her commitment to employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities."

PRIDE Industries employs nearly 1,000 individuals on AbilityOne contracts including nearly 350 in the state of California.

“PRIDE Industries is a shining example of how nonprofits, business and government agencies can work together to support people with disabilities while receiving quality work and saving money on their bottom line,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I am honored to be recognized as an AbilityOne Champion and will continue to support this successful and important program.”

Washington, DC, July 12, 2012 – Today, RADM Mark F. Heinrich, Department of the Navy, and Anil Lewis, Private Citizen, were publicly sworn-in as members of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, which operates as the U.S. AbilityOne CommissionTM (Commission). Both were appointed by President Barack H. Obama.

“Mark and Anil each brings his own experiences to the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, from both the Defense procurement arena and the disability community. We need both of these perspectives to increase employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities,” said Chairperson J. Anthony Poleo.

The Commission administers the AbilityOne® Program under the auspices of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, a public law that requires the Federal Government to purchase certain products and services furnished by nonprofit agencies employing individuals who are blind or have other significant disabilities. The AbilityOne Program is the single largest employment source for Americans with disabilities, providing more than 50,000 job opportunities nationwide in Fiscal Year 2011 alone. At the same time, AbilityOne delivers quality product and service solutions to Federal customers and is an important part of the U.S. military industrial base.

Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich became Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and 46th Chief of Supply Corps in July 2011. Previously, he served as Commander, NAVSUP Global Logistics Support headquartered in San Diego, Calif. His additional flag officer assignments include extensive Joint experience: Director, Logistics Operations and Readiness (J-3/4) for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va; deployed to Kuwait June-December 2008 as Director of the United States Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center at Camp Arifjan, where he applied deployment and distribution expertise to enable the planning and execution of Joint and combined force military operations. His first flag officer assignment was as Commander, Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va., now known as DLA Aviation. The Admiral was commissioned in the Navy Supply Corps following graduation from the Naval Academy in May 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. He also holds masters' degrees in Business Administration and Petroleum Management from the University of Kansas. He attended the Kellogg Graduate School of Management Advanced Executive Program. He is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps. His personal decorations include two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Legions of Merit, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and various other awards. He is a qualified Surface Warfare Supply Corps officer and a Naval Aviation Supply officer. The Admiral is the recipient of the 2011 Osborne A. “Oz” Day AbilityOne Awareness Award.

Anil Lewis was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at age nine. Originally mislabeled as “educably mentally retarded,” Lewis excelled academically and became the first member of his family to attend a four-year college. Lewis became blind from his RP in 1989, while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Computer Information Systems at Georgia State University (GSU). Currently employed as the Director of Strategic Communications for the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, Lewis is responsible for a variety of public relations, governmental affairs, and strategic programs; and most notably, the NFB’s Blind Driver Challenge™, an innovative research project to develop nonvisual access technology that will make it possible for a blind person to safely and independently operate an automobile. Starting as President of the Atlanta Metropolitan Chapter in 1993, he eventually served as President of the NFB of Georgia for eight years and was elected to the NFB Board of Directors.
He was appointed by the governor as a Board Member and President of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) of Georgia, served as the Founding Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Disability Law and Policy Center (DLPC) of Georgia, and was an independent disability consultant until 2010. Lewis has received numerous awards for his work in the disability community - 1997 GSU Outstanding Alumnus award; 2002 recipient of the Kenneth Jernigan Memorial Scholarship, used to obtain his 2003 GSU Master’s degree in Public Administration with emphasis in policy analysis and program evaluation; 2003 GSU Torch Bearer of Peace Award recipient; 2004 American Bar Association Paul G. Hearn Advocacy Award; and 2006 Leadership DeKalb Alumnus of the Year. Lewis is also a 2008 graduate of the Leadership Georgia program.

RADM Mark F. Heinrich

Anil Lewis

Washington, DC, January 12, 2012 – Today, Carol Lowman, Department of the Army; Jan Frye, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Karen McCulloh, Private Citizen were publicly sworn-in as members of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, which operates as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission). All three members were appointed by President Barack H. Obama.

"Carol, Jan, and Karen bring a wealth of experience to the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, from both the Federal Government and the disability community," said Chairperson J. Anthony Poleo. "I will draw upon their knowledge to help increase employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities."

The Commission administers the AbilityOne Program® under the auspices of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, a public law that requires the Federal Government to purchase certain products and services furnished by nonprofit agencies employing individuals who are blind or have other significant disabilities. The AbilityOne Program is the single largest employment source for Americans with disabilities, providing more than 50,000 job opportunities nationwide in Fiscal Year 2011 alone. At the same time, the AbilityOne Program delivers quality product and service solutions to Federal customers and is an important part of the U.S. military industrial base.

Dr. Carol E. Lowman is the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC), a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. She previously served as the Deputy Director for ACC, which is headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. As Executive Director, she oversees the Mission and Installation Contracting Command, the Expeditionary Contracting Command, and six major contracting centers. ACC provides global contracting support to warfighters through the full spectrum of military operations. With more than 5,700 military and civilian personnel worldwide, the organization awards and manages more than 240,000 contractual actions valued at an estimated $86 billion per year. Dr. Lowman has also served as the Director and Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting and Chief, Business Systems Division for the Army Contracting Agency Southern Region at Atlanta, GA.

Jan R. Frye is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Logistics for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Frye is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, after serving on active duty for 30 years. During his Army career, he served in senior acquisition command and staff positions in the United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, Hungary, and the U.S. He also served as the Chief of Contracting at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Contract Management Association.

Karen J. McCulloh consults as a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist with businesses and nonprofit organizations to educate on the inclusion of people with disabilities into the labor force.  She was the founding Executive Director of disabilityworks, a project of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, from 2005 until 2010.  Appointed by the Secretary of Labor to sit on the Job Corps Advisory Committee from 2006 until 2008, she served as Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Disability.  In 2003, she co-founded the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities, served as President from 2003 to 2005, and is now serving as the Immediate Past President.  Ms. McCulloh also served as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago.

Jan Frye, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, is sworn-in by Chairperson Tony Poleo, as a member of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Carol Lowman, from the Department of the Army, is sworn-in by Chairperson Tony Poleo, as a member of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Karen McCulloh, a private citizen, is sworn-in by Chairperson Tony Poleo, as a member of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

For more information contact
Stephanie Lesko
slesko@abilityone.gov
703-603-2146

Chairperson Tony Poleo administers the oath of office to William Sisk, GSA

Washington, DC, October 6, 2011 – Today, William (Bill) Sisk, Assistant Commissioner in the Office of General Supplies and Services for the Federal Acquisition Service of the General Services Administration (GSA), was sworn-in as the newest member of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, which operates as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission).  Sisk was appointed by President Barack H. Obama.

“I welcome Bill Sisk to the Committee, and I am confident that he will do well in his position,” said Chairperson J. Anthony Poleo.  “His knowledge of Federal procurement will be an asset to the AbilityOne Program, and I look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead.”

The Commission administers the AbilityOne Program under the auspices of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, a public law that directs the Federal Government to purchase certain products and services furnished by nonprofit agencies employing individuals who are blind or have other significant disabilities.  The AbilityOne Program is the single largest employment source for Americans with disabilities, providing more than 50,000 job opportunities nationwide in FY2010 alone.  At the same time, the AbilityOne Program delivers quality product and service solutions to Federal customers and is an important part of the U.S. military industrial base.

Sisk has more than 20 years of experience at GSA.  As Assistant Commissioner in the Office of General Supplies and Services for the Federal Acquisition Service, Sisk leads GSA’s acquisition of a wide range of commodities and services used by Federal agencies.  In this position since June 2011, he is responsible for the diverse business line programs of Global Supply Operations, Acquisition Operations and Personal Property Management.  He is also responsible for the FAS Emergency Management function that is focused on solutions to Federal Government’s disaster response capabilities.  Sisk leads an organization of over 1,200 Government employees and contractors with $23 billion in annual business volume.  Prior to his current position, in 2007 Sisk was the Regional Commissioner for the Federal Acquisition Service where he represented GSA’s Assisted Acquisition Services, Fleet Management, Network Services, Personal Property and the Customer Accounts and Research Division. 

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Commission bi-monthly meeting held in New Orleans, LA.

For more information contact
Stephanie Lesko
slesko@abilityone.gov
703-603-2146

Chairperson Poleo, left, shakes hands with Vice Chairperson Kesteloot

Washington, DC, July 14, 2011 – J. Anthony (Tony) Poleo, Chief Financial Officer, Defense Logistics Agency, was elected Chairperson of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) at its July 2011 meeting. Poleo was appointed to the Committee by President George W. Bush in February 2007, as the Department of Defense representative.

“I am honored to serve as the next Chairperson of the Committee, and look forward to collaborating with newly-elected Vice Chairperson Jim Kesteloot on this worthwhile employment program. Much has been accomplished, but much more progress needs to be made to better serve individuals with disabilities. And, I am confident that the Committee members and our dedicated staff will continue to pursue this important mission with the highest integrity,” said Poleo.

The Committee is responsible for administering the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, a public law that directs the Federal Government to purchase certain products and services furnished by nonprofit agencies employing individuals who are blind or have other severe disabilities. The AbilityOne Program is the single largest employment source for Americans with disabilities, providing more than 50,000 job opportunities nationwide. At the same time, the AbilityOne Program delivers quality product and service solutions to Federal customers, and is an important part of the U.S. military industrial base.
Poleo currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer, Defense Logistics Agency. The Defense Logistics Agency, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is responsible for providing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other Federal agencies with a variety of logistics, acquisition and technical services in peace and war. These services include logistics information, materiel management, procurement, warehousing and distribution of spare parts, food, clothing, medical supplies and fuel, reutilization of surplus military materiel and document automation and production. This worldwide mission is performed by approximately 27,000 civilian and military personnel with an annual budget of approximately $42 billion. From 2001 to his selection as CFO, Poleo was the Principal Deputy Comptroller, DLA Directorate of Financial Operations. He holds Defense Financial Management and Government Financial Management certifications; and he has also completed the Program for Senior Executive Fellows at Harvard University and the Leadership for a Democratic Society program at the Federal Executive Institute.

James M. Kesteloot, of Chicago, Ill., was elected Vice Chairperson. He was appointed to the Committee by President Barack H. Obama in September 2010, as a private citizen representative providing insight into the obstacles to employment of persons who are blind. A long-time national advocate for employment of people who are blind, he recently retired as executive director and president of the Chicago Lighthouse after a 40- year career with the 104-year-old agency. Under his leadership, the Lighthouse was transformed into a nationally acclaimed social service organization that’s widely respected as being among the most comprehensive in the nation. He has consulted for many organizations and has served on numerous councils, including appointments by Ill. Governors James R. Thompson and Jim Edgar to the state Blind Services Planning Council, and an appointment by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley to his Task Force for the Employment of People with Disabilities.

“As Vice Chairperson, I look forward to working with newly-elected Chairperson Tony Poleo in advancing the Committee’s strategic direction and creating jobs of the future, consistent with my appointment and President Obama’s goal of empowering people with disabilities,” said Kesteloot.

Andrew D. Houghton completed his term as Committee Chairperson from July 2006 - July 2011. Appointed to the Committee by President George W. Bush in March 2003 and reappointed in May 2006, he served as a private citizen representing the interests of nonprofit agency employees with severe disabilities. Houghton was the first private citizen and first person with a significant disability to serve as Chairperson in the Committee’s 70-year history.

For more information contact
Stephanie Lesko
slesko@abilityone.gov
703-603-2146

Left to right: NISH COO Dennis Fields, Committee COO Kimberly Zeich, Honoree Gidget Hopf, Chairperson Andrew D. Houghton, Honoree Rich Gilmartin, and NIB COO Scottie Knott

Washington, DC, July 13, 2011 – The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) presented its inaugural Chairperson’s Award for Leadership to A. Gidget Hopf of ABVI-Goodwill of Greater Rochester, New York, and Richard (Rich) Gilmartin of Lakeview Center, Pensacola, Florida.

“AbilityOne authorized nonprofit CEOs demonstrate exceptional leadership and results; I’ve often recognized how essential they are to the success of this employment program, and now we have an award to officially honor their contributions,” said Chairperson Andrew D. Houghton. “Both Gidget Hopf and Rich Gilmartin embody the spirit and mission of the AbilityOne Program. To me, a leader is someone who does more than simply comply with the basic requirements. Leaders have vision, quality work environment principles, strong business acumen, and national impact.”

The Chairperson’s award was designed to recognize leaders who consistently meet or surpass the Committee’s statutory and regulatory requirements, who fulfill its guiding principles for a Quality Work Environment (QWE), and exhibit business acumen that leads to increased employment opportunities for the AbilityOne constituency. These individuals also demonstrate leadership on behalf of the AbilityOne Program that has impact across the entire AbilityOne community and the nation. Two such awards may be given to AbilityOne nonprofit agency CEOs each year – one nonprofit CEO associated with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and one associated with NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Significant Disabilities.

During her 25 years as President and CEO, Gidget Hopf has transformed ABVI-Goodwill into an industry leader of vision rehabilitation services. Through her service on the AbilityOne Enterprise CEO Forum, NIB Board, and National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB), she has been a strong advocate for the AbilityOne Program. She was instrumental in establishing the original celebration for the Program’s enabling legislation, “JWOD Week.” Her work on other constituency boards, such as the General Council of Industries for the Blind and the Board of the American Foundation for the Blind has been extensive. An early adopter of the Committee’s QWE, in fulfilling the Committee’s guiding principles, she ensured ABVI was among the first 10 NIB-associated agencies to complete the self-assessment and roll-out. She continually meets or exceeds the statutory and regulatory employment requirements of the Committee and places emphasis on upward mobility through continual ABVI production goals. Over the past several decades, through her efforts, ABVI has become a model nonprofit agency, establishing a track record as an innovator. Hopf and ABVI were the first leader to develop a co-branding initiative with industry and they set the model for seeking affiliation with other nonprofits, such as Goodwill Industries, International.

Under Rich Gilmartin’s leadership, Lakeview Center (operating as Gulf Coast Enterprises) continually meets or exceeds the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act. Lakeview Center was one of the QWE initiative early adopters, with Gilmartin one of its main proponents. His expertise was essential while serving on the QWE Steering Group, identifying inclusion practices, and chairing the subgroup on physical and cultural barriers. He also shared his knowledge as a leading member of the CEO Forum on implementing the statutory “Definition of Disability,” and he has actively and positively participated as a speaker at multiple events, including the National Council of Work Centers regional conferences and NISH National Training and Achievement Conferences. Gilmartin is an active participant in the AbilityOne division of ACCSES, which represents more than 80 partner organizations across the country as the voice of disability service providers. With his management expertise and business acumen, Lakeview Center has established a multi-state footprint in several business lines, creating employment for hundreds of individuals with significant disabilities and with widespread acclaim for quality performance.

The AbilityOne Program is the largest source of employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities in the United States, providing more than 50,000 job opportunities at 600 nonprofit agencies nationwide in FY 2010 alone. The AbilityOne Program is administered by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, an independent Federal agency, with assistance from National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Significant Disabilities. The Committee is comprised of 15 Presidential appointees, with 11 representing Federal agencies, and four serving as private citizens who are knowledgeable about the obstacles to employment of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities.

For more information contact
Stephanie Lesko
slesko@abilityone.gov
703-603-2146