2006 JWOD Outstanding Contributions Award Recipients

Bruce Ferguson, Director of Contracting, Army Contracting Agency, Northern Region Fort Drum, New York

The Committee thanked Mr. Ferguson for the initiatives he has undertaken over the past 22 years to increase support for the JWOD Program and create employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. Mr. Ferguson has contributed immensely to the implementation of command-wide awareness programs, projects, and initiatives, which have led to significant success and continual growth in the overall JWOD Program at Fort Drum. Highlights of his career include contracts encompassing recycling, custodial and dining facility attendant services. In 1996, he established a Self Service Supply Center that provides supply and maintenance JWOD products; and in 1998, he implemented an innovative contract for central issue facility services, the first of its kind in the U.S. Army. His concept prompted several similar contracts at other installations, resulting in wider product selections, lower pricing, and improved customer service for Fort Drum customers - a win-win situation for both the Army and the JWOD Program. Mr. Ferguson's consistent record of successfully supporting the JWOD Program includes several NISH and Army awards, reflecting a career that has created a work environment that fully supports the JWOD Program. As a result, JWOD contracts that he awarded provide employment for 200 people who are blind or severely disabled.

Sharon McPherson, Contracting Officer, Office of Business Operations, Internal Revenue Service

Over the past 19 years Ms. McPherson has continually increased support for the JWOD Program and created employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. During her government career at Andrews Air Force Base and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), respectively, she awarded a $30-million commissary shelf stocking and warehousing project, and she developed and awarded an unprecedented off-site IRS mailroom contract to a JWOD-affiliated nonprofit agency - the first nonprofit-owned and nonprofit-operated mailroom operation in the Federal government. In addition to awarding contracts, Ms. McPherson continually shares her JWOD expertise by training new employees and contracting representatives from large Federal agencies. Due to her commitment to maximize job opportunities for people under the JWOD Program, contracts she awarded currently provide employment for more than 300 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

Colonel Peter Maunz Commander 45th Contracting Squadron 45th Fighter Wing Patrick Air Force Base, Florida

During his 23-year military career, Col. Maunz has increased support of the JWOD Program and created employment for people who are blind or severely disabled by promoting, developing, or administering multiple JWOD contracts. As Commander, 509th Contracting Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, he awarded the first individual equipment base supply center for the Air Combat Command to a JWOD-affiliated nonprofit agency. At his subsequent command of the 1st Contracting Squadron at Langley AFB, he spurred procurement officials to adopt that concept using JWOD-affiliated nonprofit agencies. While at Langley, he also oversaw the conversion of Langley's base postal service center operations to JWOD performance. In his current role, Col. Maunz oversees five JWOD contracts which currently provide employment opportunities to more than 150 people with severe disabilities.

Garfield W. Boon, Jr. Deputy Director Contracting & Acquisition Management Office U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command

The Committee recognized the initiatives Mr. Boon has undertaken over the past 25 years to increase support for the JWOD Program and create employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. Highlights of his career include enabling JWOD employees to manage the Command mailroom, provide mail courier operations, and support Command administrative services. Mr. Boon also oversees the 1998 JWOD facilities support contract employing 13 individuals with an 80% disability ratio. These individuals perform such services as minor vehicle maintenance, purchasing, inventory control, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and machine shop services. In addition to awarding and managing contracts, Mr. Boon is a vocal proponent of the JWOD Program. During 2005's funding reductions, he advocated for JWOD employees so effectively that not one JWOD employee at his installation lost his or her job. Mr. Boon works closely with NISH to quickly identify issues and improve JWOD Program utilization. Accordingly, Mr. Boon schedules site visits to nonprofit agencies so that Army employees can gain first-hand knowledge of JWOD solutions that are available to support government customers in meeting their missions. Due to his commitment, more than 50 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities work on contracts he awarded.