2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ken Jones (Chair)Merck (Retired)

Michael Jones (Vice-Chair)3C Store Fixtures, Inc.

Donald Evans (Secretary/Treasurer)Wilson City Council

Hearn Walston (Past-Chair)Bridgestone (Retired)

Maj. Scott Biddle (Member-at-Large)Wilson Police Department

Pam Boyette (Member-at-Large)Boyette Farms

Bill BlackmanWilson County Commissioner

Ray MayoNC Manufacturing, Inc.

Willie WilliamsWilson Police Department (Retired)

Melanie WomblePDSS

MANAGEMENT TEAMCindy Harrell - Executive DirectorCarlton Goff - Business Manager

Sheryl Futrell - Business ManagerEricka Simmons - Program Manager

Joni Tyson - Operations ManagerMichael White - Production Manager

Fall 2019

“Simplifying Work”

Our Mission is to provide vocational evaluation, training and placement for individuals age 16 and over, with disabilities or disadvantaged circumstances, so that they might secure an optimal earned income and enhance their independence in the community.

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Inside this issueSentinel Award winner pg. 2Awards Recipients pg. 22018-19 Benefactors pg. 3Farewell, Vivian and Carlton! pg. 3

Giving Information...We appreciate the generosity of our community for its ongoing financial support through contributions! Please consider making your tax-deductible donation today.

We are proud to earn 90% of our revenue income through contracts and production work. Diversified Opportunities, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization.

1010 Herring AvenueWilson, NC 27893

Phone: (252) 291-0378 WilsonPhone: (919) 909-3363 GoldsboroFax: (252) 291-1402Email: doi@doiwilson.com

Follow us on the Web:DiversifiedOpportunitiesInc.com

Like Us on Facebook Teamwork makes DOI work

Teamwork, as featured speaker Jonathan Varnell pointed out in

his remarks at Diversified Opportunities, Inc.’s 44th annual Open House and Awards Day Celebration on Oct. 30, is at the very core of DOI’s mission.

Varnell, the United States Pro-duction Manager for Alliance One North America LLC and an Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College graduate, said that teamwork is defined by “a willingness to coop-erate with one another.”

DOI’s Open House and Awards Day symbolizes its partnership with the community as dozens of business and civic leaders and representatives come to share a meal with Diversified staff, train-ees and board members. It’s also a time for DOI to remind its clients how valued they are.

“We love it,” said DOI Executive Director Cindy Harrell. “We always have a terrific turnout from the community and we couldn’t do what we do without this group of people. So we are just so grateful and are very appreciative of that.”

DOI got its own thanks from Varnell in the form of an award that he presented to Harrell for

DOI’s longstanding relationship with Alliance One.

“It’s a great organization,” he said prior to the banquet. “It’s one of those things that makes you feel good to be involved with. It’s a double win with the fact that it makes you feel good, but also you’re helping them help the com-munity, you’re helping businesses. It’s a great partnership and rarely do you come across a case where you’re able to do all those things. You’re helping the community, you’re helping a business and you feel good about doing it.”

There were lots of good feelings during the awards presentation

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Designation Code:1108

Thank you!

Donation Level

CARF Accredited Since 1982

Thank you for mailing this form with your contribution made payable to:

Diversified Opportunities, Inc.1010 Herring Avenue • Wilson, NC • 27893

q Platinum ($5,000 & above) __________

q Gold ($2,000-$4,999) __________

q Silver ($500-$1,999) __________

q Bronze ($100-$499) __________

q Friends ($1-$99) __________

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

FCMU.S. Postage

PAIDWILSON, NC

Permit No. 464

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Diversified Opportu-nities, Inc., trainee Bobby is congratu-lated as he walks up to receive the Spirit Award at DOI’s 44th annual Open House and Awards Day Celebration on Oct. 30.

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Friends ($1 - $99)Amazon Smile ● Delta Kappa Gamma ● Jose Aguilera* ● Lori B. Barnes* ● Jamie L. Batts* ● Chris Beneck* ● Paula & Scott Benson ● Yvonne L. Boykin*

● Gywn Bradley* ● Kay Bunch ● Melanie Byrd* ● Ethan Credle* ● Robert T. Evans* ● Kim Farris* ● Will Farris ● Brittany W. Fulghum* ● Stephen L. Gardner* ● Bonnie Gay* ● Vicky Harper* ● Eric Hayes* ● Cathy Helmer ● Margaret Holt* ● Hayward Humphrey ● Sherri Jones* ● Jennifer Lantz* ● Betty McCain

● Sheila Milne* ● Daniel Moore* ● Jerri Moore* ● Uniqua Neal* ● Officer B. Nestor* ● Marcia & Robert Parker ● Kevin Pennington* ● Tiffany Reese* ● Thomas J. Rhodes, Jr.* ● Phillip Rountree* ● Joan & Robert Satterly ● Dewey Sheffield ● Mary Ann Sherrod ● Erin Spencer* ● David L. Stancil*

● Michael Stanford* ● Denise & Todd Stinagle ● Mitch Vick* ● Amy Wells* ● Frances Winstead ● LuAnn Wooten* ● Martha Wrenn

In-Kind Contributors 3C Store Fixtures, Inc. ● BB&T Lighthouse Project ● Golden Circle Optimist Club ● Brenda Farmer♥ ● Footloose Friends ● Jackson Stone

● Wilson Police Department ● Wilson Community College ● Shauna Allen-Smith, Wilson Fire Department ● Collins Aerospace ● Dewey B. Sheffield Insurance ● Bobby Warenda ● YMCA ● The Arc of Wilson

* Denotes United Way Designation ♥ Denotes DOI Staff

Silver ($500 - $1999)Alliance One International, Inc. ● BB&T Employees United Way Designations*

● Greenfield Academy, Inc. ● The Turner Battle Bunn, Jr. and Catherine Eagles Bunn Foundation, Inc. ● William S. Biddle* ● Brenda & Donald Evans ● Footloose Friends ● Carlton Goff*♥ ● Brian Holland* ● Elizabeth Hooks* ● Thomas P. Hopkins*

● Keri & Michael Peevey ● Adam Rech* ● Lisa & Bill Shreve ● Ericka Simmons*♥ ● Elizabeth & Russell Stone ● Joni Tyson*♥ ● Myrtle Williamson

Bronze ($100 - $499)Carpets by David, Inc. ● First United Methodist Women ● Lane & Pridgen, PA ● Southern Container Corp of Wilson, Inc. ● Vivian Artis*♥ ● Billy H. Barnes* ● Cindy & Jim Barrow ● Kathi Blackmon* ● Renee Bowie*♥ ● Beverly & Rob Boyette

● Becky Boykin*♥ ● Sue Broadwell* ● Shirley Byrd* Deborah Capps* ● Janet Curtis* ● Kathie Davis ● Patricia & Jimmy DeRatt ● Richard Driver* ● Katherine Dupree* ● Kimberly Van Dyke* ● Allison Ethridge* ● Susan Everett*♥

● Marcus Fielding ● Matthew Fulghum* ● Betty Garner* ● Christa Goff*● Michael Harrell*● R.W. Harrison ● Chris Hill* ● Stephen Hodgkins* ● Teresa Holland* ● Phyllis Johnson♥ ● Robin & Bobby Johnson ● Susan Kellum* ● Rodger Lentz* ● Bernard McLeen* ● Thyra Little● Susan & Eugene Nemechek ● Shannon Nichols* ● Bobby Parker♥ ● MeAnn Parker ● Marsha S. Parks*● Charles Pittman ● Lanette Pridgen* ● Jerry Pridgen* ● Joelyn & Tom Rhodes ● Mayor Bruce Rose

● Mary & Otis Sherrod ● Barrie Smith*● Dale Speight*♥ ● Jerry Stancil* ● Jean Tyson ● Kimberly Van Dyke*● Kathy & Bill Vaughan ● Randolph Ward* ● Michael White*♥ ● Jack Wiggins, Towe Insurance Services ● Suni Williams* ● Venzella & Willie Williams

● Amy Williamson* ● Marcia & Buster Williamson ● Melanie B. Womble* ● William Woolard* ● Gail Zeigler*

Diversified Opportunities, Inc.would like to thank all of our 2018-19 BenefactorsPlatinum ($5000 and Above)

Bridgestone North Americas Trust Fund Gold ($2000 - $4999)

Bridgestone Employees United Way Designations* ● GlaxoSmithKline Foundation ● Cindy Harrell*♥

Our Adirondack Wood Furniture makes the perfect Christmas gift!

• Cypress Duck Nesting Boxes • Adirondack Rockers • Chairs & Benches

• Picnic Tables and Swings

Greenfield students give back and get backThe chance to work with people at Diversified

Opportunities, Inc., sometimes brings about an indirect bonus, especially for young people.

That was certainly the case for Greenfield School students who spent many hours at DOI last year as part of their Chick-fil-A Leader Academy project. The students volunteered at DOI during the 2018-19 school year that culminated with a Hawaiian luau-themed prom they held for the DOI trainees in May. The prom proved to be such a delight for the students that many of them returned to DOI over the summer to continue their volun-teer work.

Their work earned the group the Sentinel Award, which was presented at DOI’s 44th annual Open House and Awards Day Celebration to Greenfield Chick-fil-A Leader Academy advisors Sarah Bradley and Melodie Powell in the form of an American flag painting that was created by DOI trainees.

Bradley said the effect on the students of working with DOI trainees was palpable.

“I’m a college counselor and I was telling one of the ladies who works here, Susan Everett, that so many of my kids, when they had to write their essay on one activity they did in high school that was the most impactful to them, so many of them chose to talk about either volunteering at Diversified over the summer or doing the impact project at the end of the year,” Bradley said. “They were so incredibly touched and moved by working with this population. A lot of them worked on the impact project and then chose to volunteer over the summer.”

Powell pointed out the importance of having young people gain the experience of working with others who may not be as fortunate as themselves.

“It just gives them perspective and helps them to be grateful for all that they have and putting themselves into other people’s positions helps them to be more empathetic and sympathetic and be able to see the community at large,” she said.

Bradley said that the Leader Academy students at Greenfield

are already making plans for another big event this year at DOI.“We’re planning something for Christmas this year,” she said.

“We do two projects annually with Chick-fil-A Leader Academy. We do ‘Do Good December’ and a larger impact project at the end of the (school) year. Last year our impact project was the Hawaiian luau and this year we’re hoping to do a Christmas party or Christmas dance for them as part of the ‘Do Good December’ project.”

And after all, nothing feels better than giving.“Servant leadership is really what we preach to them and talk

about, is that if you have the ability to help, why wouldn’t you?” Bradley said. “And you get so much out of that by doing this. You are helping other people, but it changes them more than it changes everybody else.”

Awards RecipientsPartners In Service: Amber Allen, Cierra Jones and Brittany Black (Vocational Rehabilitation), Tommy Curlings (Eastpointe), Eric Barnes (Computer Central), David Up-church (DRU), Jack Wiggins (Towe Insurance Company)PRIDE: 3C Store Fixtures, Food Lion, City of Wilson, BridgestoneHelping Hands: BB&T, Wilson Police Department, Lin Jones, First Group, Wilson Luncheon Lions ClubPillars of Support: Myrtle Williamson, Michael and Keri

Peevey, Wilson Police Chief Thomas Hopkins, Bridgestone North America, Alliance One InternationalSpirit: BobbyEmployee of the Year: Susan EverettHighest Productivity Earners: George, Sierra, Adriana, Arnesha, AprilEmployers of the Year: Amy Jo’s Country Restaurant, Alliance One International, Budd Group, WonderworksTriumph: Edna Marie LewisSentinel: Greenfield School Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, Kay Bunch

as DOI’s clients and partners were recog-nized for their contributions throughout the previous 12 months. However, some of the biggest applause was reserved for DOI trainee Bobby, who earned the Spirit

Award, and Susan Everett, who was salut-ed as DOI’s Employee of the Year. Finally, Kay Bunch was given a standing ovation as she came forward to be presented with one of two Sentinel Awards for her many years of service to the community, with

ARC of Wilson and, most recently, the United Way of Wilson.

In his closing remarks, Ken Jones, the Chair for DOI Board of Directors, elo-quently stated, “This organization makes this community better.”

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Bunch saluted for lifetime achievements at Awards Day

Greenfield School Chick-fil-A Leader Academy advisors Sarah Bradley, left, and Melodie Powell, right, accept the Sentinel Award from Maj. Scott Biddle of the Wilson Police Department and Diversified Opportunities trainee Wayne during DOI’s 44th annual Open House and Awards Day Celebration on Oct. 30.

the Christmas gift

that gives all year

Thank you, Carlton and Vivian!

Please join us in thanking longtime DOI employees Carlton Goff, left, and Vivian Ardis for their many years of service as we wish them the best of luck in their retirement!