Last week, Gov. Perdue recognized “National Volunteer Week" and every week she recognizes the importance of creating jobs in North Carolina. So last week I welcomed the chance to work on both volunteerism and workforce development.
I had the pleasure of volunteering at Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Inc. (HVO) in Waynesville, Haywood County. HVO is a remarkable manufacturing facility providing hundreds of quality jobs for a diverse population. Many of those employed at HVO are workers with disabilities.
Wendy Cagle, Regional Director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center at Western Carolina University, joined me as George Marshall, president of HVO, gave us a preliminary tour and then put us to work.
I had two work assignments. First, I assisted Loretta Ewart in tagging the surgical non-woven drapes. Second, I followed Tim Coleman’s lead in processing labels.
The employees, clients and management at HVO work diligently and responsibly. The company is successful on many levels, and it was a privilege for me to represent the Governor as a volunteer there that day.
Juleigh Sitton, George Marshall, Wendy Cagle
Juleigh Sitton and Tim Coleman
Loretta Ewart and Juleigh Sitton