Appreciation event held for AbilityOne employees Published Oct. 30, 2012 By Kenneth Bitsky 20th Contracting Squadron SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 13th Annual AbilityOne Appreciation Picnic was held Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Memorial Lake pavilion here. The AbilityOne program is a federal initiative to help people who are blind or have severe disabilities find employment by working for nonprofit agencies that sell products and services to the U.S. Government. This annual event is held each October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month to honor and recognize the accomplishments and contributions of loyal employees employed under the AbilityOne program. On Shaw, AbilityOne employees provide mission support services ranging from grounds maintenance, food services, and postal operations to commissary shelf stocking/warehouse operations and individual equipment and supplies through the LCI store. "Shaw was the first base in the Air Force to begin this recognition picnic," said David Theimer, vice president of marketing for the National Institute of the Severely Handicapped. Members of the 20th Contracting Squadron served as the official hosts handling all the planning and preparations for the event. Annually the squadron teams with their AbilityOne partners and the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron to make the picnic a special event for the workers. About 200 Team Shaw and AbilityOne employees had lunch and then dessert provided by Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream. The special guests for the event included: Dennis Fields, NISH Chief Operating Officer, and Col. Scott Arcuri, 20th Mission Support Group commander, and David Theimer. Each special guest provided remarks to the group and assisted during the presentation of awards for the workers. The following awards were presented by the AbilityOne contractors: CW Resources - Grounds Maintenance Employee Awards: Employees of the Year were Morgan Green and William Green. Outstanding Performance: Alexis Powell and Scottie Wright Goodwill Industries: Commissary Warehouse and Shelf Stocking Employee Awards: Longevity in Commissary Operations: · Janice Workman: 17 Years · Wanda Jefferson: 23 Years · Darlene Choice: 24 Years · Roberta Martin: 26 Years · Arnold Moore: 27 Years Most Improved Performers in the Commissary: · Sheri Pickell · Duane Sanders · Troy Jones · Fricia Benjamin · Michael Hilner · Sanquinette Pollard · Andrea Wilson · Derick Singletary Most Dedicated Employee of the Year: · Marjorie Bolden Stocker of the Year: · William Clark Cross Trainee of the Year: · Shadrian Steart Custodian of the Year: · Debra Shad Warehouse Employee of the Year: · Adrian Mashore Food Service Employee Awards: Employee of the Year: · Laverne Cauthen Supervisor/Trainer of the Year: · Joyce Davis Cashier of the Year: · April McBride Base Mail Center Employee Awards: Official Mail Center Employee of the Year: · Russell Shirer The Genesis Center: Base Custodial Employees of the Year: Tim Waldron and Nathan King "Today's employee appreciation picnic, now in its 13th year, is truly a testimony of our commitment to the AbilityOne program," stated Acuri. "On behalf of the 20th Fighter Wing commander, I would like to personally thank all the AbilityOne employees for their outstanding contributions to Team Shaw." At the conclusion of the event, Randall May, 20th Contracting Squadron director of contracting, presented Fields with a Shaw AFB F-16 lithograph for serving as the special guest speaker. Likewise, Field's presented Arcuri and May with a United States flag with the following inscription: Made with love and respect by people with disabilities of Goodwill Industries.