McCoy honored for supporting disabled workers in state program 

By Rob Schuette, Triad Staff

       A program at Fort McCoy that employs personnel who are considered legally blind has been recognized by the state of Wisconsin as a successful Business Enterprise Program (BEP) that is worthy of statewide attention, said Charlene Dwyer.

Charlene Dwyer (left) presents Fort McCoy Installation Commander Col. Danny G.  Nobles with a plaque honoring the installation for its support of a state program. (Photo by Anita Johnson)

      Dwyer, the division administrator for the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, presented an award to Installation Commander Col. Danny G. Nobles at Fort McCoy Jan. 27. The award was the first one the state had ever given out in the BEP category, she said.

      "We are honoring Fort McCoy because of Colonel Nobles' leadership, vision and creating a successful work environment for these personnel," Dwyer said. "We hope others could replicate the program that has been created here."

      The plaque presented to Nobles states the installation staff is being honored in recognition of its leadership in making Fort McCoy's food service a workplace that values the contributions of all of Wisconsin's citizens. The contractor, Blackstone, which provides the service through an agreement with the installation, also was honored.

      The Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services to people with disabilities to help them gain, maintain or advance in employment. About 20,000 people per year are helped in this program. The BEP includes cafeteria, coffee shop, snack bar, vending machine and newsstand operations, with sites being on federal, state and municipal properties.

      Nobles said being a good neighbor both inside and outside the gate was one of the three philosophies he has emphasized since becoming Fort McCoy installation commander. The other two points are underpinning readiness and promoting good environmental stewardship.

      "Everyone may not be perfect," Nobles said. "But doing this (food service program) brings us all together, and everybody can contribute to a team."

      Dwyer said the food service business at Fort McCoy can be challenging because of the sometimes intermittent or temporary needs of dining facilities to support mobilizing or demobilizing troops.

      Sally Zenchenko of the BEP said the food service staff had been very good about providing the needed support, often receiving little advanced notice.

      "Colonel Nobles was key in making this happen," she said. "This has to work at every level (to be successful), and it is."

      Kristin Rolling, the communications director of the DVR, said the BEP program has been in place since 1936 with the passage of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The vocational rehabilitation program (a federal initiative) began in 1916 and was reorganized in 1918 to better serve disabled veterans returning from World War I.