Spring 2004

President’s Award Winner: Ed Elliott

“Polite, prudent, responsible, efficient, self-motivated, intelligent, eager, trustworthy, a good leader, a hard worker” are just some of the virtues co-workers ascribe to Ed Elliott, this year’s recipient of the Seattle Lighthouse President’s Award.

“I am deeply honored,” says Ed, “that the employees thought enough of me to nominate me and that George thought enough of me to give me the award.”

Ed came to the Lighthouse by way of Southern California with twenty-three years of management experience and a specialized education in hazardous waste management under his belt. Upon arriving in Seattle, Ed was hired on as swing-shift supervisor for the Lighthouse production team. “Ever since the day I first came to the Lighthouse, I was totally amazed in the things the Seattle Lighthouse is able to do in providing employment for people who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.”

Seven years later, Ed is still doing a terrific job supervising production of quality products for the federal government such as hard and soft bodied canteens. Ed reports that he really enjoys his work, especially the chance it offers “to make a difference in someone’s life and future by helping them be successful at the Lighthouse.”

Ed cites his fellow employees as one of the most enjoyable aspects of his job. “They’re a great bunch of guys that make coming to work every day fun.” He adds, “it’s a special breed of people that enjoys working nights.”

Ed’s commitment to the Lighthouse production team shines through in the comments submitted by co-workers on the President’s Award nomination forms. A sample comment reads: “Ed Elliott is an excellent ‘lead’, very supportive and conscientious. He performs at a pace and level necessary to keep all production, and production workers, going strong.”

In his private life, Ed cultivates a number of diverse hobbies. Past activities range from playing drums to leather tailoring. The latter pursuit put him in contact with celebrities such as Sonny and Cher, Linda Ronstadt, and Michael Landon. Today, Ed enjoys wood crafting and building computers. “I’ve been working with computers for the last twenty-five years. I don’t buy them, I build them.”

Ed’s gift of gab is well known throughout the Lighthouse, but his talkativeness was stilled at the presentation of the President’s Award. “George referenced in his speech that I like to talk,” Ed remembers. “But when I heard my name, probably for the first time in my life, I was at a loss for words.”

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