West Bay works

Carol Bruins and Torbot

Posted 2/5/15

Carol Bruins knows what it takes to be a valued employee. Working since high school, she has held a variety of positions and has gained a great deal of experience. Currently, she works three jobs, …

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West Bay works

Carol Bruins and Torbot

Posted

Carol Bruins knows what it takes to be a valued employee. Working since high school, she has held a variety of positions and has gained a great deal of experience. Currently, she works three jobs, and her favorite is Torbot.

At Torbot, what has remained constant is Carol’s approach, which her coworkers have noted makes her a reliable team member. When asked, Carol said good work is about two things, “trying your hardest and communicating with your co-workers.”

If you visit the Torbot office in Cranston on Wednesday mornings, you will see Carol’s diligent effort on display. She is in charge of packaging and labeling samples of the many varied medical supplies, which the company sells. These samples are given out at conferences and sent to prospective clients and are key to the company’s growth. As Lisa Blanchette, Carol’s supervisor and sales manager at Torbot, noted, “Carol is an integral part of my team. She is a great fit and, upon joining us, she quickly became a part of the Torbot family.”

Carol learned of the opportunity through West Bay Residential Services’ supported employment program. Lisa, whose son works as a direct support professional, reached out to West Bay job coach Deb Duke letting her know that Torbot was looking for an individual to assemble the samples. Deb arranged for Carol and Lisa to meet, and Lisa immediately recognized Carol would be a great match for the position.

“Carol is very good at her job. Her willingness to learn and dedication to her position has made her a proficient member of our team.”

Carol attributes her success to the support offered by the staff at West Bay. “West Bay has been very supportive, helping me find my job and learning my responsibilities.”

The supports offered by West Bay aid individuals in both identifying work opportunities and preparing them to succeed in those roles. Participants meet for a weekly Job Club to update the group about happenings at work and to share insights for success.

As Deb Duke explained, “At Job Club, we share what’s going on at work. Individuals often bring their work issues to the group and we solve them together. We also share tips for finding jobs.”

As a regularly employed member of the group, Carol is glad to help others.

Speaking to Carol about her job, it is clear that one of her many strengths is that she has a very positive attitude. Speaking about her work, Carol smiled, often mentioning that her favorite part of the job was her co-workers. “The Torbot team is really friendly and makes me feel like part of the team.”

The feeling was mutual, with staff members having only nice things to say of their experience working with Carol. Lisa encapsulated the shared feeling, observing that “Torbot values the diversity of our workforce as an asset. We foster a culture of inclusivity because we know it makes for a happier, more productive workplace.”

  

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