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Tracie Thomas — Warehouse Associate

Tracie Thomas — Warehouse Associate

Featured employee Joshua Smith quality checks a Super Cereal Plus bag.

“The most enjoyable part of my job is being a part of the TVS mission. On the struggle days, that’s what keeps me going.”

Featured employee Joshua Smith quality checks a Super Cereal Plus bag.
  • Graduated from Rosman High School in 1991
  • Started at TVS in December 2018
  • College Education: Associate in Arts (AA) from Blue Ridge Community College
  • Professional Growth at TVS: Originally hired as an INTERACT Direct Support Professional (DSP). “This was the most personally rewarding job I’ve ever had in my life.” 
    After 9 months, Tracie accepted the HR Administrative Assistant position before being presented with an opportunity as a Warehouse Associate.
  • Warehouse Associate, in a nut shell: “Responsible for data entry of all incoming materials and ingredients and outgoing shipments of Mountain Maid INDM and Low-Fat Bakery Mix. As well as, moving materials from the warehouse and production locations, and assisting in other inventory or logistic tasks.”
  • Why TVS? “I had gone through VISION Transylvania in 2015 and toured the facility. I heard about the mission and saw the operation. It was the first place I looked at for employment in 2018 after retiring from elections.”
  • Career goals? “I plan to keep working towards using my full potential for the company because I have so much more to give. I just don’t know where that will take me yet.”
  • Previous Work Experience: 25 year career at the local election center working as an election clerk and moving up to the election director.
  • Favorite part about working at TVS? “The mission first and then the people I get to work with.”
  • Favorite TVS memory? “A lot. But thinking back, I would have to say that watching INTERACT participants perform a song in sign language at the Transylvania County jail was one of the best experiences. It was heart-warming to watch the reactions from the inmates.”
  • What makes TVS different? “It is all about working together on a large scale. Each department works independently, together to reach the overall goals.”
‘In The Loop’ – TVS Program’s Monthly Bulletin

‘In The Loop’ – TVS Program’s Monthly Bulletin

Every month, the TVS Support Services team or the TVS Employment Specialists create an informative bulletin for our participants, parents/guardians, and for TVS Programs & Services employees. These one-page bulletins offer a glimpse into the hard work and dedication of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and also serves as a fun way to share important information. We hope you find this information useful.

Current In The Loops

2024

Issue 47, Jan – Lessons for Supporting Persons with Disabilities (2 of 4)

 

Glancing Back at Past Issues

2023

Issue 35, Jan – Importance of Inclusion in Schools & Education 
Issue 36, Feb – Therapeutic Relationships & Boundaries
Issue 37, March – Commitment, Competency, Mission: The TVS Purpose
Issue 38, April – CARF Accreditation
Issue 39, May – Person Centered Planning
Issue 40, June – Understanding Boundaries & Relationships
Issue 41, July – Employment Rights & Responsibilities
Issue 42, Aug – How to Protect Yourself from Scams
Issue 43, Sept – The Benefits of Job Shadowing & Sampling
Issue 44, Oct – Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Appreciation Week
Issue 45, Nov – Lessons for Supporting Persons with Disabilities (1 of 4)
Issue 46, Dec – DSP Support Tips during the Holidays

 

2022

Issue 23, Jan – Understanding 2022 Disability Benefits
Issue 24, Feb – Pre-ETS Virtual Job Shadowing
Issue 25, March – Caring for the Caregivers
Issue 26, April – Disability Issue or Human Being Issue?
Issue 27, May – Mental Health Awareness Month
Issue 28, June – Accommodations
Issue 29, July – School’s Out!!
Issue 30, Aug – Supporting People with I/DD as they Age
Issue 31, Sept – Medicaid Managed Care
Issue 32, Oct – Friendship. The #1 Need
Issue 33, Nov – Holiday Stress
Issue 34, Dec – First Job ‘Need-to-Knows’

 

2021

Issue 11, Jan – A Quick Glance at Equality VS Equity
Issue 12, Feb – COVID-19 Can’t Stop our FUN!
Issue 13, March – The Basics about Able Accounts
Issue 14, April – TVS Employment Success Team(Pre-ETS)
Issue 15, May – Informed Decision Making
Issue 16, June – Anxiety, Transitions, & Expectations
Issue 17, July – Disability is as Natural as Being Human!
Issue 18, Aug – Looking Closer into Local Unemployment
Issue 19, Sept – Resiliency in Highschool Students
Issue 20, Oct – Our DSP Commitment Continued (part 3)
Issue 21, Nov – Quality in Person Centered Supports
Issue 22, Dec – Unwrapping the Holidays

2020

Issue 01, March – Understanding our DSP Commitment (part 1)
Issue 02, April – Tips to Talking about COVID-19
Issue 03, May – The Importance of Healthy Eating
Issue 04, June – Our DSP Commitment Continued (part 2)
Issue 05, July – Understanding Loneliness
Issue 06, Aug – Our Response to COVID-19
Issue 07, Sept – The Concept of Dignity of Risk
Issue 08, Oct – CARF International Accreditation
Issue 09, Nov – Workplace Etiquette during COVID-19
Issue 10, Dec – ‘No Limits’ Artists Express Creativity

Recognizing Suzanne Byers for 10 years at TVS

Recognizing Suzanne Byers for 10 years at TVS

“Be kind and don’t sweat the small stuff” are the words of wisdom from Suzanne Byers as she reflects back on her decade at Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS). Her 10 years of dedicated service are decorated with glittering smiles, paint, and colored construction paper, as she has assisted with the TVS programs growth into the services we have today.

In 2010, Suzanne Byers was hired as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) to help participants build boxes on the production floor. As the programs have grown and evolved to meet North Carolina standards, so has Suzanne. “When production would be slow, program participants moved into the training room to spend some time on education,” she said. Some of the topics included counting money and eating healthy. They also worked on writing emails to “E-buddies” online.

It was past CEO and Suzanne’s Aunt-in-Law, Nancy Stricker, that suggested that she apply as a DSP in 2010. “It is impossible to believe that 10 years have flown by since she was hired,” said Nancy. “I am so proud of Suzanne. I know she is following her heart and that she will continue the important work she continues to excel in.”

In 2012, Suzanne was promoted to the Activities Coordinator for INTERACT and Life Skills; while also assisting with respite every weekend for three years. She was promoted again in 2017 to her current position as Life Sills supervisor.

Prior to TVS, Suzanne had various jobs, including working at the Boys and Girls Club and as an interim K-12 teacher in Transylvania County. Suzanne attended Brevard College and graduated in 2004 with a double major in Art and English. The following year she achieved her certification in K-12 Education, however Transylvania County Schools did not have any open job positions.

“Her practice of active listening allows her to align regulations and human need together,” Nancy said. “Suzanne’s personal creativity assures that individual participants can do the things they want to do, while experiencing and exploring their interests.”

Suzanne is described by her peers as kind, compassionate, quiet, and an advocate for individuals with disabilities.

“I really appreciate all the good times we have together, Suzanne really builds comradery amongst the team,” said Jonathan Coggins, Life Skills DSP. “She cracks jokes with us and makes us all laugh.”

 

Outside work, Suzanne can be found spending time with her husband, Sheridan, and their two children; Ellis and Cullen. She loves hiking and running, being in nature, and reading.

“She is a veracious reader,” Nancy said with a laugh. “Therefore, the joke in our family is that you NEVER want to play Trivial Pursuit with her, unless you don’t mind humiliation.”

Suzanne is a member of the TVS book club and has helped organize past TVS events such as group participation in the Brevard Rotary Club 5K runs.

“She is a team player and is always willing to organize larger TVS events,” Program Director Carla Hill said. “She uses art as a medium and our participants respond positively and enjoy this type of self-expression.”

Carla has been Suzanne’s supervisor for the past seven years. “I remember Suzanne helping participants make individual videos that demonstrated a specific area that they were passionate about,” Carla recalls. The project allowed the participants to develop better communication skills, organizational skills, and presentation skills, while also receiving praise from their peers and others in the room.

Suzanne works to help individuals express themselves so that their individuals’ voices are heard.

“From this career, I have become more aware of the different abilities and of the hidden disabilities,” Suzanne said. “People are people, there are no walls built around them like society portrays and you really start to see that when you work with them every day.”

Thinking back on her career at TVS, Suzanne says, “I have more compassion for the person and care less about what people around me think. I am looking forward to continue growing our programs in whatever fluid direction they take.”

Written by Jenifer Welch