Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: By Mary Murray

         On an unusually balmy afternoon, Andre Lyons used his quiet charm, sense of humor and deep affection for the mission of Goodwill to inspire a group of students at Fort LeBoeuf High School to follow in his footsteps at the Summit Towne store.

         Andre led a group of six students, grades 9 to 12, in the first tour of what promises to become a staple for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Following the two -and-one-half hour event, the students gave Andre a thumbs up for showing them all facets of the Summit operation. Many excitedly told Andre that they liked the hands-on experience they received.

       Andre, Job Coach and Employment Specialist, began his tour by sharing the history of Goodwill, discussing the job responsibilities of team members and stressing the importance of teamwork needed to accomplish the store’s operational goals. Accompanying him on the tour was new employee, Angela Murosky, an instructor in Workforce Development.

Later, students shared in writing their own definition of teamwork with such phrases as, “Teamwork is a greater thing than being alone on a team,” and “One person doesn’t make a team. More is what makes a team.”

         

        Following the writing exercise, Andre took the students outside to the front of the store and began to methodically explain the donation process, starting with the donation boxes. Stepping back inside the store, students met Katrina and learned about the Attended Donation Center and the customer service required to provide donation receipts and carry in boxes for donors.

          

    Next stop was Textiles, at which Andre explained the value of teamwork needed between production employees Tasha and Tia to sort, tag, and hang the clothes properly on the racks for eventual merchandise fulfillment in the store. He explained that the team checks each other. “If one misses something, the other will catch it,” he told the students, adding that if items are not properly hung on the racks it can create “tension” between co-workers in the warehouse and retail floor.