Spring 2002

Seattle Lighthouse Receives Boeing Company's Coveted Q100 Award
Awards & Recognition Program

"We get orders for Awards and Recognition items from all over the world," explains Personal Products Specialist, Dianne Osterman. "For instance, we have an order right now for an 'Employee of the Quarter' plaque from the Defense Energy Support Fuel Supply Center in Taegu, Korea. We get orders from all kinds of government agencies for awards for all kinds of things: length of service, 'Contractor of the Quarter' or 'Company Grade Officer of the Quarter', things like that."

According to Dianne, award plaques are in the highest demand. "We also sell certificates in frames or folders, clocks, rosewood business card holders and calculators; a whole line of items that can be used to recognize or congratulate someone."

The Lighthouse sells Awards and Recognition items to federal employees under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act. This law mandates that the government purchase specified goods and services from agencies like the Lighthouse, that employ people who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

Director of Logistics, Karen Kidd, explains how sales of Lighthouse Awards and Recognition products support blind employment throughout the country. "We do not make all of the items in our catalog. The clocks come from the Chicago Lighthouse, and plaques are made by Delaware Industries for the Blind," she says. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bob Johnson, adds that the Awards and Recognition line exists as part of a long-term effort to develop a custom products business. "The government customer with a federal credit card has multiple choices," he says. "What we've tried to do from the very beginning with business cards, stamps, personalized office products and now Awards and Recognition, is take the traditional JWOD products and create a full line of terrific personalized products."

Bob says that government agencies are working hard to create their own brand identifications. "Federal government agencies are now doing what commercial companies have been doing: marketing themselves," he continues. "We can help them with our line of business cards, office products and now Awards and Recognition items imprinted with their agency logo. At the same time, our expanded product line gives them more opportunities to support employment of blind people through the JWOD program."

Outlining the Seattle Lighthouse role, Bob says, "Although we don't make all of the products, we compile the catalog, take orders, and provide customer service. These activities provide some excellent technology-rich job opportunities for persons who are blind."

Dianne, who recently left a graphic design position in the private sector, elaborates on the job creation aspects of the Awards and Recognition line. "When I worked in a commercial business, although it was a great place to work and the people were great, I always knew in the back of my mind that the profits were going into someone's pocket. When we're really good and efficient here, and doing a good job, we're putting people to work. I love that!"

To view Seattle Lighthouse Awards and Recognition products on-line visit http://www.LighthouseStore.com or call for a free catalog at (800) 799-0402.

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