Board of Directors

Mark Schiemann

President

Hank Adams

Kevin Auten

Tonya Barber

Gary Connor

Gary Elmore

Leslie Frankwick

Glenn Hays

Pam Honeycutt

Virginia Hunter

Stan Jordan

Skip Kraft

Greg Pizzuto

Mikell Reynolds

Ned Robinette

Brian Rucker

Brad Shive

Kelly Smith

Senior Staff

John Williams

Executive Director

Gary Yelton

CVO Site Director

Glenn McDonald

Marketing & Sales Coordinator

Tammy Lemmons

Administrative Assistant

Robbi Russell

RVO Production Manager

Donna Johnson

CVO Production Manager

Tamara Chisholm

CAP/Innovations Manager

Wilson Cherry

QP/Special Projects Coordinator

Joy Martenstyn

ADVP Manager

Theo Chunn

Editor / IT Coordinator &

CAP/ Innovations Team Leader

Bridging Connections

Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc.

Board Members

Stan Jordan-President

Kelly Carpenter

Gary Connor

Gary Elmore

Clement Fleming

Leslie Frankwick

Pam Honeycutt

Jeff Joyce

Kirk Kruger

Ann Medlin

Suzette Pritchard

Ned Robinette

Brian Rucker

Brad Shive

RVO Leadership Team

John Williams—Executive Director/QP

Wilson Cherry– Special Projects/QP

Tamara Chisholm-CVO Innovations Mgr.

Carol Cupples-CVO Production Mgr.

Skip Kraft-CVO Instructor/QP

Tammy Lemmons-Admin. Asst./Bookkeeper

Joy Martenstyn-ADVP Program Mgr.

Glenn McDonald –Sales & Marketing

Diane Ogden-QP/Newsletter Designer

Sherry Robbins– RVO Innovations Mgr.

Robbi Russell-RVO Production Mgr.

Mark Schiemann-GE Quality Assurance

Gary Yelton– CVO Site Director

Bridging

Connections Summer 2014 edition

CARF International Accreditation

Rowan Vocational Opportunities is pleased to announce that it has received a three year accreditation from CARF International.

This accreditation is valid through June 2017.

CARF International was founded in 1966, the same year as RVO, Inc., as the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facil-

ities. CARF International is an independent, nonprofit, accreditor of health and human rehabilitation service providers. CARF In-

ternational works with Aging Services, Behavioral Health, Opioid Treatment Programs, Business and Service Management Net-

works, Child and Youth Services, Employment and Community Services, Vision Rehabilitation and Medical Rehabilitation..

CARF family organizations currently accredit more than 50,000 agencies and services at 23,000 locations. CARF International

Accreditation extends to countries in North America, South America, Asia and Africa. CARF provides accreditation services

worldwide at the request of health and human service providers.

CARF surveyors that reviewed RVO, Inc., examined the following elements: Leadership, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Input

(Persons Served), Legal Requirements, Financial Planning, Risk Management, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Technology,

Rights of Persons Served, Accessibility, Performance Measurement, and Performance Improvement,. The Mission of CARF and

RVO, Inc., is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services, through a consultative process that centers on en-

hancing the lives of persons served. The CARF survey team was at RVO, Inc. for 2 full days. While here, the surveyors examined

our services, talked with staff and consumers, and visited CVO and the Shoe Show enclave. RVO, Inc. hopes that this continuous

process of evaluation and accreditation will help us improve the vison of responding to a dynamic and diverse environment and act

as a catalyst for improving the quality of life of the persons served.

Summer Fun at RVO Innovations By: Diane Ogden

By: John Williams

On July 23rd, the Innovations Department took a trip to Dan Nicholas Park to enjoy some rides and the zoo there. Afterwards eve-

ryone enjoyed a picnic lunch. The gang had a blast on the train ride and carousel. The workers at Dan Nicholas Park are always so

pleasant and attentive to us. Check out the pictures of some of our smiling faces.

This summer the Innovations Dept. started our very own garden. We named our garden Hope, because we all had high hopes of

growing beautiful flowers and producing delicious fruits and vegetables. We would like to send a special thank you out to Mr. Bob

Blake for his hard work on clearing the scrubs and weeds, building our tiny fences and planting our first beautiful rose bush. Once

the ground was cleared and fresh soil was spread, each consumer that wanted to participate could either plant a seasonal flower, a

cucumber seed, or a watermelon seed. The first part of the summer was a true challenge for the consumer because of the extremely

high temperatures and lack of rain. All of the consumers pitched in and made sure that the garden was watered daily and weeds

pulled weekly. Three months later

we had beautiful red, white, and pur-

ple flowers and cucumbers measuring

four to six inches long. We didn’t

produce any watermelon, but hey,

there’s always next year!

High Hopes for Hope By: Sherry Robbins

RVO Got Talent By: Diane Ogden

CVO has been working hard all Summer. We want to thank our part-time Summer staff, Robert Moore and Michael Brooks for

their dedication serving our consumers. We miss them when they are not here. We continue to work on our production contracts

with Supply Technologies, Fisher Athletic, Innovasource, ErgoBiz, McKenzie Sports and Elevation Group. CVO has their new

work for SunDrop going well and our consumers love this new job. CVO has also had a lot of fun this Summer. We celebrated

Independence Day on July 3rd with fun, food and games. Augie B. was this year’s winner of our annual watermelon seed spitting

contest. Everyone enjoyed a pizza lunch provided by CVO. Also, we held our 4th annual production of “CVO’s Got Talent”. One

of our newest consumers, Kim A., won the contest. The competition was very close this year. Our panel of judges had a very diffi-

cult time deciding the winner. We want to thank all of our guests who came to watch the show. All who participated were winners.

Everyone is already talking about their talent for next year. We look forward to Fall and cooler temperatures. Come see us anytime.

Summer news from CVO

On July 25, 2014, RVO hat its’ annual “Got Talent” show. This years show was filled

with great singers and dancers. The show even highlighted some staff talent. A big

shout out to Ted Oglesby for once again organizing this years show that EVERYONE

looks forward to. It was a super show and thanks to all who participated.

By: Gary Yelton

The CVO Musical Act The YMCA Dancers

RVO receives blessing from Salisbury Academy

Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc., recently received a $2500.00 grant from Salisbury Academy as a part of the schools Com-

munity Outreach program.

Funding for the grant was a part of money raised from the schools Annual Winter Bloom Gala. The elegant event held at the histor-

ic Boxwood Lodge in Mocksville, hosted 372 people and raised funds to provide scholarships for area high school students to at-

tend the Broyhill Leadership Conference, scholarships for students to attend Salisbury Academy and to provide educational technol-

ogy for students that at the Academy.

Funds donated to RVO will be utilize to help person with developmental and intellectual disabilities receive vocational and life skill

training to assist with long term transitory employment and independence. For several years now, Salisbury Academy students

have provided Christmas gifts and sponsored a party for consumers at the workshop.

Each year, Salisbury Academy teacher Heather Coulter and RVO staffer Wilson Cherry have coordinated the event. “Their collabo-

ration with Rowan Vocational Opportunities has been a great learning experience for our students”, said Coulter. “Our students

benefit so much from the interaction with the consumers at RVO, it helps develop their character, deepens their faith and realize the

joy of giving and helping others”, she concluded. “We are truly grateful for the continued compassion and support of the Salisbury

Academy students, faculty, staff and Board of Directors in enriching the lives of our consumers,” said John Williams, RVO Execu-

tive Director. “Their involvement and generosity is a major asset in helping us improve our level of service and community collabo-

ration”, said Williams.

CVO Aktion Club Car Wash and Bake Sale

You know you would have to be crazy to have a car wash in the rain, if that’s the case, the Aktion Club of Concord must

be a gritty group because that’s what happened on July 19. With liquid sunshine raining down most of the morning the

Aktion club didn’t want to give up. The members arrived between 6:30 and 7:00 AM determined to raise some money

so they can give back to the community. They put up a tent, brought tables and chairs outside and sat in the rain calling

out the passing cars to stop and take a look.

After 2.5 hours of sitting in the rain the group made a decision to pack everything up at 10:00. However, when the time

arrived, the rain had stopped, the sun came out and the cars starting rolling in. One o’clock came and the Club was able

to sell almost all of the donated baked goods and washed a whole bunch of cars. By the time they hung up the rags and

call it a day, the sky opened up again and it rained for the rest of the day.

The Aktion club was able to raise $400.00 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House in Char-

lotte, some going to school supplies for the adopted class and the rest of it going towards other community projects.

By: Wilson Cherry

By: Joy Martenstyn

RVO Hosts “Women in Business”

Over 30 business and professional women recently attended a luncheon meeting and tour at Rowan Vocational Opportu-

nities, Inc. The meeting was a part of the Rowan County Camber of Commerce Women-in– Business series. This pro-

gram is designed to empower and inspire women though inspirational messages, mixers, networking and seminars to

enhance their involvement and effectiveness in Rowan County. Women in Business is chaired by Penny Grier-Link who

thanked the agency for hosting and providing lunch for the group. Chamber President Elaine Spalding, expressed her

commitment to helping individuals with disabilities find and maintain employment. The Chambers activities are de-

signed to assist businesses with developing policies and advocating for legislation that will help business growth in com-

mercial, industrial, agricultural and rural and urban communities. John Williams, RVO Executive Director stated, “We

are extremely happy to host this group of dynamic ladies and leaders in our community.” He further stated, “The Cham-

ber has continued to play a vital role in helping our community with issues pertaining to Federal, State and local legisla-

tion, transportation, education and employment opportunities.”

For many years the chamber has been both a clearinghouse and vehicle for the business community to be a strong advo-

cate and major force in the economic growth of this county. Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc., operates within the

guidelines of a human services agency as well as a business that must comply with standards regulated business and

industry practices.

By: Wilson Cherry

A big thanks goes out to the RVO Janitorial Crew. It is with their hard work, as well as their supervisor Cat Drye, that

RVO stays so clean. Our janitorial crew is constantly working throughout the day cleaning our bathrooms, sweeping

common areas, mopping, dusting and staying on top of things in a facility that has many people in and out all day long.

Whenever there is a need for a clean up from a sudden spill, you can always count on a member of the janitorial crew to

assist as soon as they are called. There are many on the crew who rotate from day to day. We thank Melissa, Danny,

Anthony, Ashley, Erin, Sheneeka, Maurice, Sheila and Calvin for all the great work you do to keep us looking good!

Meet the RVO Janitorial Crew By: Diane Ogden

Donate Thank you for your support of Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc.

Your contributions will help us fulfill dreams for both RVO and CVO consumers.

You can decide where you want your gift to be used to make a difference.

_________________________ ____________________________

Name Address

_________________________ ______________________________

Phone

Check Amount: __________________________ Cash Amount:___________________

Signature:_________________________________________

Calendar of

Events/Closings

September 2014

Sept. 1, 2014-Labor Day

November 2014

Nov.11,2014-Veteran’s Day

Nov. 27 and 28-

Thanksgiving Break

December 2014

Dec. 24, 25, 26, 20014–

Christmas Break

Mission Statement

Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc. provides opportunity and training for

adults with disabilities to develop work habits and skills leading to employment.

Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc. also provides these consumers with daily

living skills to increase independent functioning at home and in the community

and in a diverse and inclusive environment.