PORTCO On The Hampton Roads Show

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On July 23rd, PORTCO was the featured audience segment on The Hampton Roads Show.  Co-host, Chris Reckling, interviewed Mark Wilson, President & CEO of PORTCO, as well as Kate Powell, Director of Fundraising & Grants of PORTCO, representing the organization.  Several PORTCO employees also participated in the segment.

Mark Wilson highlighted the mission of PORTCO and how the public can get involved.  He encouraged viewers to support PORTCO through monetary donations as well as the weekly car washes.  Kate shared the great news about PORTCO’s recently awarded grant.

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from KOVAR, PORTCO will soon be expanding services offered for skill training and employment avenues for people with disabilities.  Presently PORTCO helps to secure job opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the following fields:  janitorial and custodial services, personnel and general administrative support services, base operations support, facilities operations and maintenance, systems and network applications support services, hospital and clinic housekeeping and aseptic services, food services, HVAC water testing and treatment programs, grounds maintenance, consolidated support services, packaging and kitting, supply management and warehousing, and transportation and shuttle services.

The recently awarded grant will allow PORTCO to branch into new types of services such as:  horticultural, and shredding services.

The grant monies will also fund accessibility improvements to PORTCO’s facilities as well as the introduction of art and reading programs to provide a more holistic set of services for our clients.

Continue following the PORTCO story as details regarding these new services unfold.

Meet The PORTCO Team: Millet Fadoul – Employee Spotlight

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Millet Fadoul is an integral member on the PORTCO team.  His passion to help provide job opportunities for people with disabilities and see them succeed in their jobs has led him to several roles in the Hampton Roads community.  On the PORTCO team, Millet first worked to help provide job opportunities for people with disabilities.  By serving as the Director of Contracts, Mr. Fadoul supervises activities with PORTCO’s AbilityOne and independent contractors.  AbilityOne contracts are a critical chapter of the PORTCO story.  With roots back to 1938, the AbilityOne program offers the opportunity to award federal government contracts for goods and services to agencies that employ people with disabilities.  Across the country, this program has provided employment for thousands of people with disabilities for fair market value goods and services.  PORTCO has worked hard to earn many AbilityOne contracts both in Hampton Roads and across the U.S.

Presently, Millet is shifting from his role as Director of Contracts into a Program Specialist role.  In this new capacity, he will work to ensure greater success for the individuals with disabilities whom he has helped to provide employment opportunities.  Millet will create vocational training and support programs for both PORTCO employees and clients.  These training and support structures will further enhance the success of the employment partnership.

Millet’s passion for individuals with disabilities has not gone unnoticed.  Not only do we value his efforts on the PORTCO team, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) has also taken note.  Millet was recognized for his exemplary work and effort in employing high school students with disabilities to provide custodial services at the York County Beach during the summer.

After hours in the warm months you can find Millet hanging out with his family, and new puppy on the beach.  Once college football season starts you will find Millet cheering on his Ohio State Buckeyes.

Celebration Cake

PORTCO Hosts Employee Appreciation Cookout Celebration

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PORTCO celebrated our family of employees with an Employee Appreciation Cookout Celebration this summer.

The PORTCO community came together at our Portsmouth headquarters for a time of good eats, fun games, and great fellowship.

Keeping the celebration fun and lively, there was a spirit of carnival.  PORTCO employees stepped right up to the ticket booth and played traditional carnival games.  These games included the bean bag toss, and ball toss.

PORTCO Employees at Cookout

Our team of employees made special memories while munching on freshly popped popcorn and sugared funnel cake.  Speaking of eats, we fired up the grill and served hamburgers and hot dogs and sides.  A special thanks to our fine food sponsors for this event – Costco, and Central Meats & Almost Catered, who provided the good eats.

Outside, PORTCO employees also enjoyed a game of basketball and hula-hooping.  And of course, no celebration would be complete without cake and dancing!

Celebrating our warmest gratitude for our employees – thank you for making everyday fun and rewarding beyond measure.

Local Company Lends PORTCO a Helping Hand

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When Smith & Keene, a leading local family-owned heating and cooling, electric and plumbing, company, heard that PORTCO, was in need of replacing their much-aged heating and air conditioning system, they were eager to help.

PORTCO’S NEED

PORTCO’s office building had a HVAC system that was so old and in need of replacement that it was unable to cool the building.  In fact, in the heat of the summer temperatures within PORTCO’s building would reach upwards of 90-degrees.  On these scorching days employees had to work remotely.  Additionally, the aged heating and cooling system had leaks within the coils, causing additional infrastructure issues to ceiling tiles.

THE PARTNERSHIP

Smith & Keene is a significant business within the fabric of the Hampton Roads community.  A well-established local business in Hampton Roads since 1947, Smith & Keene has a heart for the local community.  With this passion for the local community, Smith & Keene was thrilled to use their expert HVAC installation skills to help PORTCO.  Smith & Keene rolled their sleeves up to help PORTCO by  installing a new heating and cooling system.

THE RESULTS

Not only was Smith & Keene able to save PORTCO on the installation of the new system, there were additional perks for the non-profit as well.  Over the course of the year, PORTCO will save an estimated $36,000 in utility bills.  Additionally PORTCO has completely eliminate their gas bill.  Gone, also, are the days of stressing over the damage caused by leaky coils.  The new system provides more efficiency for the non-profit with zoned thermostats.  Not only do these individual thermostats allow PORTCO employees to be more comfortable, they also allow the building to be heated and cooled with more control and more efficiency.

At the heart, Smith & Keene saw a need they could meet to support the Hampton Roads community and rolled their sleeves up to do just that.  As PORTCO’s President & CEO, Mark Wilson, states, “we judge a man’s character by how he helps another man of whom he needs nothing from and this is a perfect example of how Smith & Keene stepped forward and helped PORTCO.”

Supporting PORTCO Through The Car Wash Program

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Car Cleaning Image

The PORTCO car wash program is a great opportunity for many reasons.

By having your vehicle cleaned by the PORTCO team, you not only support the mission of PORTCO, you are also providing opportunities for employees to gain valuable skills.  These skills are not only avenues to earn more money, but also learning to work together as a team.  This program also facilities a connection point for PORTCO employees to be integrated in the community with non-disabled individuals.  While having skills for employment is the obvious benefit for PORTCO employees, just as important is the opportunity for employees to build social connections with the community.

This program is also a great way to support the PORTCO team with a perk to you – a clean vehicle!  Stop by our PORTCO offices in Portsmouth and have your vehicle washed by PORTCO employees.  You can find the PORTCO team ready to make your wheels shiny and clean every Wednesday from 9:00am to 11:30am at the PORTCO offices parking lot.  Car washes include interior and exterior cleaning of your vehicle.  While additional donations are welcome, general pricing is $8 for cars, $12 for vans, and $15 for buses.

Coming full-circle, the proceeds from the car wash program go back directly into the program to keep it running.

  • PORTCO Offices
  • 800 Loudon Avenue | Portsmouth VA
  • Wednesdays 9:00am – 11:30am

Pricing (additional donations welcome)

  • Cars $8
  • Vans $12
  • Buses $15

PORTCO is CIMS-Green Building Certified

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PORTCO, Inc. has successfully passed its Cleaning Industry Management Standard- Green Building assessment and is hereby awarded CIMS-GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION WITH HONORS.

CIMS-GB certification demonstrates that PORTCO, Inc. has undergone a comprehensive assessment by an independent, accredited CIMS-GB assessor and has successfully demonstrated a commitment to the delivery of environmentally preferable services that are designed to meet customer needs and expectations.

By implementing the CIMS-GB principles into the organization’s operations where requested, PORTCO, Inc. has established its capability to provide green cleaning services and assist customers in achieving points under the LEED-Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EBOM) Green Building Rating System.

Giving Back To The Community

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Everyone needs a purpose in life. PORTCO Inc. is making a difference by employing more than 140 people with disabilities in many different types of services.

Portco President and CEO Mark Wilson and Executive Vice President Belinda Daugherty joined Chris Reckling on The Hampton Roads Show to show how you can help make a difference in the community by donating and getting involved with Portco.

This segment of The Hampton Roads Show is sponsored by Portco Inc. This article originally aired on WAVY.com’s Hampton Roads Show on November 28, 2017.

CELEBRATING CHAMPIONS OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT

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(HAMPTON, Va.) — Six local employers’ efforts to hire more individuals with disabilities were recognized Oct. 4 by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Peninsula Worklink, SEVA Rapid Response and Peninsula Council for Workforce Development.

 

This year’s champions of disability employment include:

  • AAFES Dan Daniel Distribution Center, Newport News
  • Brevard Achievement Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis
  • Busch Gardens Williamsburg
  • Hampton VA Medical Center
  • Newport News Shipbuilding
  • PORTCO Inc., Portsmouth

 

Gov. Terry McAuliffe recognizes October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Virginia.

 

What Makes PORTCO Unique?

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What makes PORTCO unique from other similar organizations is that we are focused on providing employment opportunities to the full spectrum of the disabled population.  This gives us an edge of being a multi-faceted organization to meet the needs of individuals who would not otherwise be gainfully employed.

We also have internal measureable goals for each of our employees.  As a result,  we are not only providing our employees with employment, but also an environment to better themselves and learn new skills.  We would like to see a growth of skill sets prior to our employees being provided employment through PORTCO.

We are focused on crossing organizational and governmental boundaries to forge new relationships with the goal of creating more job opportunities to persons with disabilities.  We look to establish relationships with vocational organizations to the Wounded Warriors and Veteran Services.

Our national scope also allows us to carry on this plan to other areas of the country.  Our Board of Directors is passionate in helping and providing employment opportunities to people with disability.  This passion is evident in the support PORTCO receives in developing and pursuing opportunities throughout the country.

Accomodating People With Disabilities

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Accommodation for People with Disabilities

If you have a disability and would like an accommodation in order to apply for any open position with PORTCO, Inc.  Please email info@portco.org or call the Human Resources department at (757) 399-2444.

PORTCO, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer