2019 Achiever of the Year: Janice Hardin

Janice has really blossomed since coming to Goodwill after high school. She joined the Skills Development Adult Day Program because she wanted to work, and the program allowed her to earn a paycheck in the contracts division while learning job skills. She was reserved, rarely smiled, afraid of change and lacking in self-confidence. Eventually, she opened up. She tried new jobs, made friends and was excited to come to work. Janice worked hard on every task assigned and became a leader within the program. Her confidence soared.

As Janice’s skills developed, so did her desire to be challenged. She stepped outside of her comfort zone and joined the Goodwill Mobile Crew – traveling to stores to help with sorting, inventory rotation and cleaning. Here she learned the valuable skills of dependability and teamwork. Then, she applied for and was hired at Project SEARCH – Cintas, an internship program for adults with disabilities. She continued to develop her self-confidence and was able to interact more with the community.

After graduating from the program, she realized she didn’t want to leave her Goodwill family, so she accepted a part-time job at a Goodwill retail store, still working part-time in the contracts division. At the retail store, Janice has learned many skills and fills several different job roles. The store is where her friendly, sassy, go-getter personality really shines! She does everything from sorting, greeting customers, taking donations, testing electronics and, her least favorite job, cleaning. Janice loves to stay busy and is eager to learn new things.

Janice’s coworkers say she is an important part of the team. Her upbeat, ornery, bubbly personality is a real morale booster, and she is a joy to be around. Her hard work is noticed and appreciated. She has gone through an amazing transformation that has given her the confidence and motivation to lobby for her own independence and to truly be herself. She continues to work on cooking, budgeting and reading to improve work options. Her goal is to get her own apartment in the future.