IFB Solutions

IFB Solutions has named Maximus and Guidant Global as its 2024 Partner of the Year — citing the companies’ dedication to creating a workplace that supports the needs and experiences of people who are blind. Maximus and its recruiting partner, Guidant Global, offer work-from-home customer service roles to individuals within proximity of its three Texas call centers. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eRBQDYuK

IFB Solutions is hiring an individual who has ample experience in sales, project management and cross-functional team leadership to support the success of its Workforce Services division. Learn more about this Winston-Salem opportunity at: https://lnkd.in/eRktu7N4

Braille Literacy Month is celebrated each January in honor of Louis Braille (1809-1852). As a teenager, Louis, who was blind, created the tactile code that has changed countless lives around the world — including many IFB employees, who rely on the system every day. Did you know that IFB offers free braille classes to both employees and the community? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eYwcvsRv

"A year of memories. Cheers to you! Be proud of the work we did together in 2024 that built a stable foundation for 2025. With 88 years behind us, we’re just getting started. Happy New Year to you and your families." — Dan Kelly, IFB President and CEO As we look forward to all that 2025 will bring, we also celebrate the highlights of our last year — the launch of the Workforce Services Expansion Campaign to create 300 jobs for people who are blind, the grand opening of the U.S. Naval Academy Base Supply Center, the first fuel handler's suit trousers shipped from Winston-Salem, the strength and resilience shown by our Asheville team in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and many more.

In the winter edition of IFB's Impact newsletter, meet Charity Hampton — whose journey with IFB, from childhood to now, demonstrates the vital role IFB's programs play in building brighter futures. Learn more about Charity, her current role at the Ronald G. Sherrill Community Low Vision Center, and other stories of success in the latest issue of Impact: https://lnkd.in/eqAEd5ZM

We would like to recognize IFB’s outstanding Employees of the Month, from August through October. In August, we celebrated Sewing Machine Operator Lynn Drake as Employee of the Month, as well as runner-up Production Assistant Roselia Bolanos. Then in September, we recognized Machine Operator Alidel Ocasio-Serrano, along with runner-up Howard Johnson, also a machine operator. In October, we acknowledged Sewing Machine Operator Jean Smith, as well as runner-up Lead Maintenance Mechanic Frank Ellison. Each of these individuals displays IFB's core values of Business with a Heart and Commitment to Excellence. Congratulations to all! ??

On Friday, September 27, Hurricane Helene impacted western North Carolina, including IFB Solutions' Asheville operations. While the Asheville facility remains secure with no damage, it will be closed on Monday, September 30. IFB is working to check in with all employees; if you are an Asheville facility employee and have received a text from HR, please follow the steps to check-in. The safety and well-being of our team remain our top priority. We’ll continue to provide updates as more information becomes available, and will be communicating individually with customers and vendors. Thank you!

We are delighted to introduce IFB Solutions' new plant manager for our Asheville facility, Alina Garcia Ravelo. Alina, who was born and raised in Cuba and has a master’s degree in industrial engineering, is the first person who is blind to fulfill this role. “Being legally blind myself, I feel like my employees can relate to me and I can relate to them," Alina said. "I understand what they are going through, because I’ve been through the same. You have to work twice as hard to reach your goals, so every accomplishment means so much more. Any time I’m able to help someone succeed, it’s a celebration — and it’s the best feeling of my professional life." Learn more about Alina here: https://lnkd.in/euEwUH6v

Meet IFB Solutions employee Jackie Perrea, who credits IFB with helping her launch a new career after vision loss by providing her with JAWS (Job Access with Speech) training for upward mobility opportunities. IFB's JAWS training helps individuals like Jackie find success in careers that rely on vision-based computer skills, like navigating through multiple windows on a screen. Many employees in IFB's Workforce Services division have benefitted from this training program. Recently, IFB Solutions launched a three-year, $3 million campaign to expand its Workforce Services division to support 300 jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired. Learn more about IFB's campaign to expand its Workforce Services division here: https://lnkd.in/e-x3v_kS

IFB Solutions, the largest employer of people who are blind or visually impaired in the country, has hired Alina Garcia Ravelo to oversee its Asheville operations as the nonprofit’s plant manager. The Asheville manufacturing facility, located on Sardis Road, is one of three manufacturing facilities operated by IFB Solutions, a nonprofit headquartered in Winston-Salem.