Wednesday, March 17, 2004

WORKTEC made a difference in Hodges' life

Customers entering the Publix in Tyrone walk away with more than groceries. If they visit during Keenan Hodges shift, they come away with a smile.

Hodges, who is 31, moved to Tyrone at the end of 2002 to live with his cousin after the death of his mother. The move took him away from his home in Chicago and a 10-year job with Marriott. Hodges is now a front service clerk at Publix, which opened in December 2003. The store’s manager is happy to have the tall man with a big smile as part of his team.

“Keenan is an excellent associate who enjoys working for our customers,” says store manager Curtis Beaver. “And customer service is what sets us apart from our competition.”

When Hodges came to WORKTEC through the Department of Labor’s Rehabilitation Services, his 10 years of work experience and good work ethic made an excellent base on which to build more job skills. He’s a man who does not let a developmental disability get in his way.

“Keenan was referred to WORKTEC for job placement and job readiness,” says Kathe Eaton, WORKTEC support specialist who serves as Keenan’s job coach. “I mainly worked with him on interviewing skills. Publix is good at working with people with disabilities and I was confident Keenan could meet the job requirements. I felt people would see his ability, not his disability.”

The aim of WORKTEC’s supported employment staff is to help people achieve the best they can — regardless of what that is. Job coaches build a relationship and get to know them as individuals. At the same time, job coaches who work in WORKTEC’s employment services division create partnerships in the business world so they can match employees with an appropriate business partner. Another important element in the success of people with disabilities is their family.

“Keenan has great family support,” says Eaton. “He also has a great attitude and he’s friendly. It must have been hard for him to leave the only job and home he knew. We can all learn a lesson from Keenan.”

The past year has been a time of adjustment for Hodges, but his cousin is proud of the way he has handled it and his many accomplishments.

“He loves his job and is full of energy, even at the end of the day,” says Lillie Chapital. “He has also lost 170 pounds since moving to Tyrone.”

Hodges’ future looks bright. Publix is a company that believes in promoting from within and the store’s manager is already thinking ahead.

“Keenan completes all his tasks and has a positive attitude,” says Beaver. “We will talk about advancement based on his interests.”

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