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2007 AbilityOne Outstanding Contributions Award Recipients
Sean P. Murphy
Contracting Officer
Army RDECOM Acquisition Center, Natick Contracting Division
Murphy has had oversight for equipment and supplies purchased at the Natick Contracting Division, which include many AbilityOne items pertaining to uniforms, helmets, body armor, boots, and Special Operations Forces specialty items. As a result of his efforts, AbilityOne opportunities at Natick have increased dramatically, from $5.1 million in FY00 to $65 million in FY05. Due to Murphy’s commitment to maximize job opportunities for AbilityOne Program participants over the last six years, contracts awarded under his leadership currently provide employment for more than 450 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities.
Nancy Holdaway
Senior Contracting Officer and Small Business Representative
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
In 1995, when the Department of Veterans Affairs experienced a shortage of qualified switchboard operators, Holdaway contacted NIB and was introduced to the workings of the local AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agencies. This project continues today, and Holdaway’s contagious enthusiasm for working with the AbilityOne Program has resulted in the establishment of several contracts in VA facilities in upstate New York, including additional communication centers, mailroom and janitorial services, laundry services and, as of last year, a network contract with Winston Salem Industries for the Blind to provide all prescription eye-glasses for veterans in upstate New York. Holdaway also shares her experiences with her colleagues across the nation, which has been a source of encouragement for establishing AbilityOne partnerships in other VA networks. Due to her consistent commitment to maximize job opportunities for people under the AbilityOne Program during the last 16 years, contracts awarded under her leadership currently provide employment for approximately 80 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities.
Arvetta Edens
Contract Specialist
Little Rock Air Force Base
For 14 years Ms. Edens has developed and enhanced the AbilityOne Program for the
Arkansas Army National Guard and Little Rock Air Force Base. She is the contract
administrator on grounds maintenance and food services AbilityOne contracts and has
periodically stepped in as administrator for the AbilityOne custodial contract.
In 1993-2001, she steered procurement of administrative supply items to vendors
supporting the AbilityOne Program, and increased AbilityOne office supply purchases
from 20% to 75%. In 2001, she was instrumental in converting base grounds maintenance
service contracts to the first AbilityOne grounds contract. Her exceptional work has
provided employment to more than 145 people with severe disabilities and enabled the
AbilityOne Program to provide the Federal Government with $3.5M annually.
Lt. Col. Roger Westermeyer
Commander, 55th Contracting Squadron
Offutt Air Force Base
Lt. Col. Roger Westermeyer's association with the AbilityOne Program began in 2000 at
Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington. He was instrumental in the 256% growth of
Fulltime Equivalent Employees for custodial and grounds maintenance contracts at Fairchild
and 17% growth at Offutt AFB, with the administrative services and custodial contracts.
He originated the AbilityOne Appreciation Picnic at Fairchild and Offutt, honoring
AbilityOne workers and increasing awareness of the capabilities of people with severe
disabilities. He consistently looks for opportunities on base to further the AbilityOne
Program by revisiting small businesses and training personnel; and he encourages his
staff to look to AbilityOne first.
John Elliott
Supervisory Contract Specialist
Scott Air Force Base
For 7 years John Elliott has managed four AbilityOne contracts that enable the AbilityOne
Program to provide the Air Force with $40M in services. These contracts provide
mission-critical operational support to Scott AFB and its 375th Airlift Wing.
Contracts include grounds maintenance, food service, custodial services and the operations
of the Scott Recycling Center. Impressively, Mr. Elliott's work on the custodial
contract resulted in employment for 40 people with severe disabilities who clean 1.5M
square feet of office space per day, in 100 buildings. Mr. Elliott's dining facility
contract is routinely recognized as one of the best AF dining facilities. In FY05,
Mr. Elliott's contracts provided employment opportunities for 169 people with severe
disabilities. Furthermore, last year 63 workers graduated from the rehabilitation
program and 20 were placed into competitive employment.
Leslie Strand
Lead Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Ms. Strand has been an unwavering AbilityOne supporter for 18 years. She oversees
AbilityOne contracts that provide the Federal Government with $18M annually and employ
100 people who are blind or severely disabled. These contracts positively impact 10,000
government personnel and their dependents daily. The Elmendorf dining facility is one
example of this positive impact. AbilityOne employees, contingency cooks who backfill
essential military personnel positions due to deployment, serve 40,000 meals a month and
operate at peak efficiency 24/7. On a different contract, Ms. Strand teamed with
AbilityOne to introduce workforce efficiencies in mail sorting by re-arranging workspace
layout, contributing to a reduction of operational expenses by 31%. Moreover, she
understands accessibility needs for people with disabilities and has helped to resolved
snow/ice related issues for workers. Furthermore, she co-sponsored Disability Awareness
Training for government personnel throughout the Elmendorf AFB and Ft. Richardson
communities.
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