Annual Report
2007 Report to the Community

2007 Employee of the Year: Congratulations Jordan Clodfelter!

Jordan Clodfelter at work assembling hydration packs.

Jordan was born in Portsmith, VA but grew up primarily in Issaquah. At eight years old his parents and teachers noticed problems with his vision. “I started with a magnifier to read books and by the time I was in high school I was using a CCTV scanner,” he says. “I could never see the blackboard in the classroom, not even if I was sitting in the front.” His doctor diagnosed him with retinitis pigmentosa.

Jordan’s vision gradually declined, and by age 20 he was using a white cane to get around. “I was never able to drive, and I couldn’t really see at night,” he says. “I also have some hearing loss that I’ve had all my life and use a hearing aid.”

Jordan started work at the Lighthouse in May 1999 and has worked in a variety of areas. “I’ve worked in [canteen production], the machine shop, stamp production and business cards,” he says. “I’ve almost done it all.”

Currently, Jordan works in our annex building on hydration packs and other industrial products. “I’ve learned a lot and gained a lot of experience from the annex, and from every job I’ve done,” he says.

“Jordan’s attendance, his productivity and dedication to doing the best he can at work is unsurpassed in the annex,” says Jerry Kopp, who recently retired from his position as production supervisor. “Jordan is most conscious of quality and refuses to compromise even the slightest bit from total perfection of the product that he is working on.”

“Jordan is a very loyal employee,” says Jodene Martinson, who works alongside Jordan in production set-up. “He is always here, and does everything with enthusiasm. He’s a very polite, nice person – we’re lucky to have him.” Mae Sawyer, Lead for GSA, agrees. “He will try any job we ask him to,” she says. “He’s a good worker with a great sense of humor.”

“He will never say no to learning something new and is always ready to help a fellow co-worker if need be,” Jerry says. “Jordan is a key person in getting things out the door on time for our Lighthouse customers.”

Jordan likes to volunteer at the Talking Book and Braille Library whenever he can, and wishes he could be at the library every day to help out more. One of his favorite past-times is listening to heavy metal music. “I would never have guessed it,” Jerry laughs. “Jordan is so mild mannered and easy going and heavy metal music seems to be just the opposite!” Jordan also enjoys reading non-fiction books and is learning how to cook. Aside from work, family is also very important to Jordan. “Any time I have a problem, my family comes to the rescue,” he says. “And they know I would do the same for them.”

Jordan admits he was “a little surprised” about learning that he had won Employee of the Year. “But that’s Jordan,” says Jodene. “He’s very humble.”

“His productivity and sense of being the best he can at what ever he is doing is an inspiration to all of us in the annex,” adds Jerry. “That’s why he is Employee of the Year.”

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