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| Orion clients working at TimberTech |
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| Author: Gary Huffenberger |
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Date: 4/17/2007
Beginning this week, Orion Rehabilitation Center clients will work on-site at one of Wilmington's fastest growing businesses.
Orion workers are people with some form of developmental disability. They have been doing jobs for TimberTech since April 2005 at the Orion facility in the Nike Center near Wilmington. Now, however, they will go to work at the TimberTech plant on Prairie Avenue.
Probably about 15 people a day from Orion will work at the plant, performing several different jobs for TimberTech, a decking material company located in Wilmington since 1999.
"The TimberTech people have been terrific for us to work with. We've really forged a really close relationship with the folks here. I think they're as excited for us to be here at the plant as we are to be here," said Dave Ross, director of Orion Rehabilitation Center.
Moving the work to the TimberTech plant makes sense, said Ross. It will eliminate a lot of material handling and transportation from the plant to Orion, which is a 15-minute drive, and also help avoid down time when work can't proceed because a piece is back at the plant.
The Orion workers pack sample kits, placing decking material inside packages so contractors and other people can see the different colors and feel the different textures of building material available from TimberTech.
One type of sample kit, said Ross, has 23 pieces in it.
Orion workers also do other TimberTech jobs that can be performed by someone of just about any functioning level who has a desire to be productive and work there, Ross said.
Thus, people who aren't capable of being as productive as a higher-functioning person are still provided opportunities.
A Department of Labor certification allows Orion workers to be paid at a piece rate.
"It doesn't exclude anyone because their productivity rates may be a little bit lower. So that's a good thing," said Ross.
Doing the work at TimberTech helps Orion fulfill its mission of trying to give its clients an opportunity to integrate and be part of the community, Ross said.
"There will be a lot of friendships and relationships develop here. It won't be long before people know each other on a first-name basis, and that translates into greetings when they run into each other at the grocery store and so on," Ross added.
Two Clinton County MR/DD (mental retardation/developmental disability) staffers will be present at all times when Orion workers are at the plant.
Tanny Crane, CEO of the Crane Group, which is the holding company of TimberTech, said Monday at the Orion orientation, "Bringing you adds so much to our company. We can't tell you how delighted we are to have you with us."
The Crane Group traces its history back 60 years ago to Crane's grandfather. Even back then, said Crane, her grandfather believed it is very important to share with the community.
Her father felt the same way.
"My father used to always say, 'Our community's been so good to us that we need to give back. We need to be stewards to our community,'" said Crane.
"This is part of our core values at Crane Plastics," she added.
Ross feels fortunate to have TimberTech on board, so to speak, and providing jobs to Orion clients.
"Especially in this day and age. The old sub-contract type of work that sheltered workshops existed on - a lot of that has been sent out of the country. It's just not available anymore," remarked Ross. |
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