Horizons
Winter 2015
Volume 15, No.4
Jobs. Independence. Empowerment.
Our Mission: To create and enhance opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency of
people who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.
Congratulations to our 2014 Employees of the Year!
Congratulations to Production Worker Mae Lynn Mullen and AbilityOne Supervisor Carla Abbott,
who were named as The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.’s 2014 Employees of the Year!
These awards are given for leadership in the blindness field to visually impaired employees who
display outstanding personal and professional qualities. They will both travel to Crystal City, VA
for the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) National Conference and Expo in October. Carla
Abbott will compete as an indirect labor representative for the Milton J. Samuelson Award and
Mae Lynn Mullen will compete as a direct labor representative for the Peter J. Salmon Award.
Mae Lynn Mullen
Photo with caption: 2014 Employee of the Year Mae Lynn Mullen, Production Worker
Since starting at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Mae Lynn Mullen has worked diligently in
various areas of production, leading to her current position in aerospace assembly. “There are
interpreters available to communicate between Deaf-Blind and hearing employees,”* Mae notes.
“We are provided training, so if there are people who want to learn American Sign Language
(ASL) so they can communicate with Deaf-Blind employees. I really love working one-on-one
with people and being able to teach them some ASL.”
Born with retinitis pigmentosa coupled with deafness, Mae’s condition is commonly known as
Usher’s Syndrome I. Adopted at the age of five from Seoul, South Korea, Mae moved to the U.S.
and entered the public school system in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She took ASL classes and eventually
would join the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in her last two years of high school. After
graduation she attended community college in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a few years before making a
move to the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) in New York. “HKNC provided independent
living skills, training, and a lot of experience. It helped me become more independent and able to
make decisions on how to live my life with vision loss,” she reminisces. After her experience at
HKNC, Mae went back to community college for a year and then transferred to Gallaudet
University to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in child development.
Mae accepted a position at the Lighthouse working on air ducts and relocated to the Pacific
Northwest in 2006. She has been very active in the Deaf-Blind community in Seattle, and
regularly participates in Deaf-Blind Community Classes (DBCC) facilitated by the Lighthouse.
“I’ve learned a lot from the DBCC and it’s a great opportunity to learn about topics and socialize
with other people in the community. It’s fun and also educational.” Mae was flattered by the
recognition of her peers in winning the Employee of the Year award. “I just felt honored that my
fellow coworkers voted for me; that they see my work and appreciate my attitude.”
Outside of her work at the Lighthouse, Mae is very active with Washington State Deaf-Blind
Citizens (WSDBC), volunteering, and running half-marathons. Recently diagnosed with cancer
last year, Mae had to withdraw from a series of events she was to run. “I have two goals now, one
to win a battle against cancer so I can return to running again — I won’t let cancer take away my
life where I can enjoy and finish my goal for running a full marathon; my second goal to
demonstrate to my Deaf-Blind and blind peers my commitment to helping others through
participation in events to raise money for cancer prevention.”
* — Mae’s comments were translated from American Sign Language into English by an
interpreter.
Carla Abbott
Photo with caption: 2014 Employee of the Year Carla Abbott, AbilityOne Supervisor
“The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. gives us great opportunities and benefits that most other
employers do not,” says Carla Abbott, Lighthouse AbilityOne Supervisor. “They give us access to
technology and training to enhance our upward mobility. We are able to learn that technology
and skills and pass that knowledge on to one another.” Going on her tenth year at the Lighthouse,
Carla is the proud recipient of the 2014 Employee of the Year Award for indirect labor.
Born visually impaired from macular degeneration and congenital aniridia, Carla grew up in the
public school system in Seattle after moving from Arizona when she was five. Nearing the end of
her education at Evergreen High School, she found work in maintenance and janitorial services,
and eventually went on to find work doing landscaping for an apartment complex. “I kept working
for that same company for six years. I learned light maintenance, cleaning, painting, office skills,
and eventually became a manager through upward mobility,” she noted.
In 2005 Carla found out about opportunities at the Lighthouse and quickly found a job in
production. “I started as a production worker in part marking in the Machine Shop, and a few
years later I got promoted to lead in the part marking area. My goal was to become a supervisor
one day, so I asked my supervisor if I could take training through Archbright (formerly WA
opportunities).” After taking several leadership and supervisory training courses, Carla completed
the Effective Supervision program from National Industries for the Blind (NIB).
Well recognized by her peers as an exemplary leader, Carla was flattered to discover that she
won the Employee of the Year Award. “It means a lot to me that I was respected by my coworkers
and that they felt that I worked hard and was committed to helping my staff grow. There were
really great candidates this year; everyone had good stories and skills to offer the Lighthouse and
I’m honored to be selected.”
When not helping out her coworkers on the production floor, Carla is a grand master 7th degree
black belt in Tae Kwon Do; one of the few highest-ranking women in the Pacific Northwest. She
also received a lifetime achievement award from her dojo the same day she was awarded the
Employee of the Year award. In her spare time, she enjoys going fishing, bike riding, and going
out to movies.
A Message from President and CEO Kirk Adams
Photo with caption: President and CEO Kirk Adams
As we reflect on 2014, one clear theme comes to mind — growth!
With a record year for manufacturing, we were able to hire 34 new employees who are blind,
Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities across the organization. As we continue to grow and
see higher than expected revenues from our aerospace contracts, we anticipate hiring an
additional 20-30 more employees who are blind over the next 12-18 months.
This year, we celebrated the expansion of Inland Northwest Lighthouse (INL) with a fiesta-themed
event on May 7. By almost doubling our manufacturing and warehouse space, we were able to
add new products to our wallboard and easel lines and move production of several items from
Seattle to Spokane. Other areas for growth include new product development and business
partnerships with companies like CamelBak,The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman
Corporation, and ACCO Brands.
I’d like to personally congratulate our 2014 Employees of the Year, Mae Lynn Mullen and Carla
Abbott, on their achievement. We’re honored to have them represent the Lighthouse throughout
2015 and at the National Industries for the Blind annual conference next October.
In this issue you will read about the retirement of some of our beloved Lighthouse family
members, Linda and Ed Elliott. They both leave a lasting legacy, having touched the lives of
many of our employees in deep and meaningful ways by contributing to their upward mobility and
personal growth.
We’ve come a long way since the early days of manufacturing jigsaw puzzles, brooms, and
caning chairs. As we continue to grow and expand, we are optimistic about what the future holds
for The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Thank you for believing in our important work and for continuing to support our mission in 2015.
Sincerely,
Kirk Adams
President and CEO
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Upcoming Events
February 26, 2015
Get to Know the Lighthouse
We want to share our story with you! We have organized a series of fun, informative events for
you to “Get to Know the Lighthouse.” This is your opportunity to witness and experience the work
that we do to create job opportunities and training in our community. We promise you’ll be
inspired! This is the first in a series of four events; please join us on Thursday, February 26 from
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Microsoft at Bellevue Place. This event can only accommodate up to 15
guests, so an early RSVP is suggested.
Please RSVP by contacting Andrea Travis: atravis@seattlelh.org or 206-436-2253.
March 31, 2015
Redefining Vision Luncheon
Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation invites you to attend our annual Redefining Vision
Luncheon on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at The Westin Seattle. Share in
our mission and help us support jobs, independence, and empowerment for people who are blind,
Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities. A $150 investment in our mission is suggested.
Please RSVP today at www.redefiningvision.org or by contacting Andrea Travis:
atravis@seattlelh.org or 206-436-2253.
June 11, 2015
INL Summer Celebration
Mark your calendars for Inland Northwest Lighthouse (INL)’s third annual carnival-themed event
on Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 4-7 p.m. at INL in Spokane. Join us in celebrating increased
jobs, empowerment, and independence of people who are blind in Spokane at this summertime
extravaganza. The event will include delicious food and beverages, engaging activities for kids
and adults, outstanding raffle prizes, tours of INL’s recently expanded facility, and fun for the
whole family!
Sign up for our e-mail list at www.inlandlh.org to get all the latest details. To volunteer, please
contact Shawn Dobbs at 509-487-0405.
New Product Lines Create Increased Opportunities at Inland Northwest Lighthouse
Photo with caption: Exterior shot of Inland Northwest Lighthouse in Spokane, WA
Photo with caption: A 36”x24” Mahogany-framed magnetic dry-erase board with plastic sides, one
of the several new wallboards being produced at INL
The recent expansion of Inland Northwest Lighthouse (INL) has already resulted in increased
job opportunities for people who are blind in Spokane. The addition of 42 thousand square feet of
manufacturing and warehouse space has enabled INL to produce several new items including 13
new wallboards. About half of the new wallboards that we are manufacturing are magnetic
boards, some are medium density fiber (MDF) boards with an oak or mahogany finish, and a
couple of boards are built with plastic sides.
Besides manufacturing a new line of wallboards, Tim Dotson, Plant Manager at INL said,
“There are six new easels currently in product development that will be brought on board in
2015.” The expanded line of easels will include a reversible easel that will allow for writing on
both of its sides. As a result of the expansion of the wallboard and easel lines, INL was able to
hire six new employees who are blind in 2014.
Pat O’Hara, Vice President of Operations for The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., said soon all of
the processes for the entrenching tool (E-Tool) will be relocated to INL.” He added that with the
relocation of the E-Tool to Spokane, along with increased orders for wallboards and easels, we
expect to hire seven more people who are blind at INL within the next few months.
We are excited to hire new employees who are blind and to offer them the opportunity to
receive training in the areas of braille literacy, computer and assistive technology, and orientation
and mobility. With an increase of newly hired employees, also comes an increase in these
mission-related expenses. As you know, we rely on the generous support of our community to
continue making our work possible. Thank you for helping us enable more people who are blind
in the Inland Northwest to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. You make a difference!
It’s Good to Receive When You Give!
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. has a program that gives back to you, when you make a gift! It’s
called a Charitable Gift Annuity through The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation. It gives you
a guaranteed fixed income for life when you generously support the Lighthouse.
Gift Annuity’s afford philanthropists returns of up to 7% in a market where 1.5 – 2% is considered
good. It’s good to receive when you know your giving has such a dynamic impact.
For more information about the Lighthouse Charitable Gift Annuity or planned giving to the
Lighthouse, please contact Troy Coalman at 206-436-2174.
Spotlight on Tom Kuebler
by Troy P. Coalman, Donor Relations Manager
Photo with caption: Tom Kuebler
“The more that comes to me, the more that I have to give away,” says Tom Kuebler, current
member of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Board of Trustees and former board member of
Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation. He speaks eloquently of his life’s journey, his
devotion to community service, and how he came to be a part of the Lighthouse family.
Tom’s early service began with an interest in working closely with those in the addiction and
recovery community, work he still does to this day. Later, with the birth of his two sons and their
diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), he would eventually be drawn to working with the blind
community. His awareness grew stronger when his son Jeffrey began working at the Lighthouse,
where he has been an employee for many years. Upon making a donation to honor his sons’
work, Tom would reconnect with President and CEO Kirk Adams whom he had met many years
prior through their work in investment banking. Because of Tom’s passion for the Lighthouse
mission, Kirk extended an invitation to join the Board of Trustees and later help found the Seattle
Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation where he has served for the last eleven years.
He remembers one of his proudest moments as a parent and board member at the Lighthouse
was when his son Jeffrey was honored with the Ray Haman Employee of the Year Award in
2011.
“It was a truly special day for me; I was very proud of him,” Tom recalls.
As a well-respected leader and long-time supporter of the Lighthouse’s work, Tom’s recent
retirement from his role on the Foundation Board was recognized with the naming of the Tom
Kuebler Guide Dog and Employee Support Fund. When asked to reflect on his legacy, he replied;
“I was able to educate and make the community aware of what blind people accomplish while
helping to fulfill the mission of the Lighthouse.”
Thank you, Tom, for your many years of service and continued efforts to support the
Lighthouse’s mission and helping us provide future opportunities for adults who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities.
Linda and Ed Elliott: A Legacy of Service to the Lighthouse
Photo with caption: Linda and Ed Elliott smiling at their retirement/farewell party in November of
2014
On Friday, November 7th, 2014 the Lighthouse said farewell to a couple of our beloved family
members: Linda and Ed Elliott. Linda was one of the 2011 Employees of the Year and worked at
the Lighthouse for 31 years, retiring as Injection Mold Shop and Production Manager. After 17
years of service, Ed retired as a senior Set-Up Specialist. The couple is coming up on their ninth
wedding anniversary.
During her tenure at the Lighthouse, Linda made it a point to contribute to the upward mobility
of those around her. “Nobody is useless!” she exclaims. “Even if you give just a little bit of help,
these guys will bust their butts for you.” Linda recognizes that the Lighthouse makes sure that
anybody, no matter what their disability, can move up and improve their skills. Ed agrees that
employees here are, “extremely supported on every level.”
When asked about the legacy that they wish to leave behind, Ed and Linda wish that people will
remember them as their friends. “The biggest part of our lives is helping others,” they say. Both
Linda and Ed reached out to Lighthouse employees on a personal level and enjoyed helping
people turn their lives around.
Linda and Ed plan to spend their retirement amongst their family and devoting time to their
congregation. Please join us in thanking Linda and Ed for their many years of selfless service to
the Lighthouse. And don’t be surprised to find them around the Lighthouse at times. Linda leaves
us with this: “I’ll be here to haunt people.”