Envision Attends NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo | Envision Blog

Envision Attends NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo

By Beth Walker • Oct 24, 2024
Envision employees of the year and leadership at a dinner table.

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Every year, the National Industries for the Blind (NIB)/National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB) Training Conference and Expo brings hundreds of representatives from NIB associated nonprofit agencies, like Envision, together. The goal of the conference is to network with industry leaders, federal customers and agency representatives to learn and exchange ideas for future growth.  

At Envision, we are honored to be able to provide meaningful programs, services and employment to help empower people who are blind or visually impaired to live their best lives. We are one of the largest NIB-associated agencies that employs hundreds of people who are blind or visually impaired to manufacture and sell products through the AbilityOne Program. Every October honors National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which was another focus of this year’s conference. Observed annually, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of employees with disabilities both past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices.   

 All four of our Employees of the Year - Brandon Murphy, Brandon Popillion, Edward Alonzo and Keela Alonzo - attended this year’s conference. Managers, Supervisors, plus ones and other team leaders with Envision were also in attendance, which allowed for networking with many other NIB-associated agency members. The conference included a plethora of panel discussions and presentations, one of the main topics focusing on public policy efforts like the 1% AbilityOne Program utilization goal. This goal aims to urge Congress to adopt a 1% AbilityOne Program utilization goal for the Department of Defense. If this 1% goal is met, it would open the door for thousands of people who are BVI to have more employment opportunities through the National Industries for the Blind and its affiliated agencies, like Envision. 

Our President and CEO, Michael Monteferrante, and our Director of Digital Accessibility, Mika Pyyhkala, attended the conference and spoke on three panels with leaders from NSITE, another NIB associated agency. The panels highlighted Envision’s partnership with NSITE and discussed improved business model plans for organizational growth and plans to create a more direct and positive impact on job seekers who are blind or visually impaired.  

Additionally, an expo was held for NIB-associated agency members to sell their SKILCRAFT products made by employees who are blind or visually impaired through the AbilityOne Program, with opportunities for networking with other vendors. Kathy Vines, Senior Director of Customer and Channel Management and Justin Morgan, Vice President of Retail Operations, represented Envision, showcasing products like our trash bags, military award binders, SKILCRAFT markers and more.  

To learn more about Envision Industries, visit this link. 
To learn more about the 1% utilization goal, visit this link.