Joe Murphy  0:10  
Welcome to Networks for Training and Development's Employment for All podcast. I am your host, Joe Murphy. This podcast is dedicated to real work and real pay for all citizens. Today's guest is Nancy Jo Geise of Networks for Training and Development. We're also joined by Nancy Jo's mom, Mrs. Geise and her job coach, Crystal. Hey Nancy, how are you?

Nancy Jo Geise  0:36  
Yeah. 

Joe Murphy  0:38  
So Nancy - what do you do at Networks?

Nancy Jo Geise  0:43  
Mostly I work from my home office scanning evaluation and sign in sheets into Networks' database. I also enter data from training evaluations and generate the training evaluation summaries. I've also started conducting research to develop resource listings. With help from my job coach I have begun to host the community body clinic we hold monthly. Occasionally I help with trainings either in person or via video phone connection. I use a speaking app on my iPad for my voice in group settings and on the phone.

Joe Murphy  1:20  
Cool. How long have you worked for Networks? 

Nancy Jo Geise  1:24  
I have worked for Networks for almost 11 years.

Joe Murphy  1:27  
So have you always done the same thing at Networks?

Nancy Jo Geise  1:31  
No.

Joe Murphy  1:33  
No? Sorry to go off script a little bit but you brought up some questions for me. Have you always worked at home?

Nancy Jo Geise  1:41  
No.

Joe Murphy  1:43  
 Where else have you worked for Networks?

Nancy Jo Geise  1:49  
I used to work at Sunbury office.

Joe Murphy  1:52  
Yeah, so you worked at our Sunbury office prior to us closing that and now you work from home.

Nancy Jo Geise  1:59  
Yeah.

Joe Murphy  2:01  
You mentioned you sometimes do some training. What are some trainings you've done or been a part of?

Nancy Jo Geise  2:08  
I was part of the employment trainings and Everyday Lives, also trainings about assistive technology.

Joe Murphy  2:15  
So I guess this is this is a question for both Nancy, you and Crystal. What brought you to Networks? Why did you think Networks for Training and Development would be a place for you to work when you guys were job developing?

Crystal Shepperson  2:28  
Well, Nancy Jo, didn't you participate in a radio...? 

Nancy Jo Geise  2:35  
Yes. 

Crystal Shepperson  2:36  
So, Jessica Stover, her supervisor had done a radio piece. And she had met up with Nancy Jo, through ((background: wait, what we were involved in?)). She'd come out to one of the day programs that Nancy Jo was participating and I'd met her that way and had invited her to come out to be a part of the presentation that she was giving as part of the radio station. So Nancy came out and, and I had actually heard the, the the radio piece and, and I thought, boy, this is a really good match for Nancy Jo. She has past prior experience working in an office setting. And you know, maybe there's a place for her there. When we first met with Jessica, there was already somebody in that position. So the timing just wasn't right. However, you know, the more we continued to look around and we weren't finding jobs, the more time had gone by and then before we knew it, we, you know, we kept coming back to Jessica and it just so happened that the position opened up. And it just seemed to be a you know, sometimes things just happen at the right time for the right reason. 

Mrs. Geise  3:53  
Actually, Jessica approached Nancy and I when we were at a training she was giving. And it was kind of out of the blue, but because it had been so long since she put in her application. So because her application was on file, she was there at the right time and, and Jessica offered her the job. 

Nancy Jo Geise  4:16  
Mm hmm.

Joe Murphy  4:18  
That's typical Networks. So Crystal, what is your role in Nancy's life?

Crystal Shepperson  4:26  
So my role with Nancy has really drastically changed over the 11 years. When I first started with Nancy, it was a lot of hands on. It was supporting her through a tremendous amount of very scary things. You know, Nancy was pushed to do things that were really beyond what she was used to, you know. Working in an office - at times by herself, doing things that you had never done before, learning a lot of new things. Traveling, being exposed to experiences and you know, being exposed to environments that were just beyond anything that she had ever done before. So it was anywhere from teaching her things, to being an emotional support for her, to helping her with her communication devices, to just helping her understand something with her computer, to some IT things. Really anything from the computer to any other device. So it really has you know, significantly changed now to maybe some of IT things and then if there is something new that is being taught to her, that I'm - I'm stepping in to teach her those new things. Nancy's very independent, and she's really grown and matured a lot in 11 years. And she's been challenged. Sometimes we all get challenged and it can, it can get us to our breaking point at moments. But she's always managed to push past that and and do well, and I'm so super proud of her. And, you know, really I am that background support for her. And I step up when I see that she's overwhelmed.

Joe Murphy  6:29  
That's awesome.

Mrs. Geise,  how did you feel when Nancy first started working?

MRs. Geise  6:35  
Well, I was... always, always wanted her to work, find something. But I wasn't sure what that might be. And her first job, I believe, was my husband's family founded Furmano Foods and they had a job in the office. At that point they were trying to enter a lot of paperwork from the sales department into the computer. And what she had to do was look at it and decide which category it belonged in, and then put a computer code on it so it can be scanned in the computer and organized. And when they showed me what she was doing, I wasn't sure I could do the job. Well with it - it was a challenge, she met it, and I was comfortable with her working there because it's family business. People knew her and would talk to her, but she didn't feel comfortable because she was the only person there was without any kind of disability. Well, that depends how you define disability. But anyway, that's another story.

Mrs. Geise  7:49  
But her being dependent on devices for communication was a barrier to other things they might have offered her. And they tried to find a job. She even spent a couple of days in the warehouse, which that was a little scary. That wasn't her bag. So, that kind of ended. And then it was at least two years. 

Nancy Jo Geise  8:17  
Hmm. 

Mrs. Geise  8:19  
She worked with Crystal and they put her application in all over the place and I was pleased that Crystal and you know, she didn't just do it for Nancy. She involved Nancy in the process and tried a lot of different things. But persistence paid off. And then she got the job at Networks and that one stuck obviously.

Joe Murphy  8:52  
But when Nancy first started at Networks, any trepidation?

Mrs. Geise  8:57  
Ah, yes, as Crystal said, she was in the office by yourself. The office was not in the greatest neighborhood. It was an apartment that they were using for an office. And I, I took her to work every morning then she did ride a van home. But I was a little concerned those mornings that I had to drop her off all by herself. But over time, I realized that the neighbors in, around the office were watching out for her. And that made me feel much better. But yes, a lot of prayer to leave her there.

Joe Murphy  9:43  
Thanks.

So - Nancy, Crystal, Mrs. Geise - anything you want to add or, or think that's important for others to know of why employment is a right for people?

Mrs. Geise  9:55  
I always felt that everybody needs something to do.

Nancy Jo Geise  9:59  
Yeah.

Mrs. Geise:
Between her volunteering through her day program, getting out in the community and through of course Networks, and I think she had time in that day program before she started with Networks. I think that all worked together. And um... but I have learned a lot of things about her. She has exceeded my expectations. And I've learned that she's very social. She's not afraid of being in front of the group. In many ways, she's a born leader, and I'm really proud of her, but that - we wouldn't have learned all that if she didn't have a job that challenged her.

Joe Murphy  10:44  
So this is a podcast so the listeners don't realize - I'm sitting here shaking my head, like emphatically, with everything Mrs. Geise is saying about her daughter. It's awesome to do this, be on this side of the mic and interviewing a co-worker or friend and someone I got to know over the past few years and Mrs Geise, you - you're even underselling what she is. She's awesome.

Nancy Jo Geise  11:08  
Yeah.

Joe Murphy  11:13  
Crystal, anything anything in closing?

Crystal Shepperson  11:16  
Well, from my perspective, certainly working for an employment agency myself, you know, everybody certainly has the right to work. Everyone has the right to participate and give back to their community in whatever form or fashion they wish to do that. I would love for more employers to get on board and be able to see that and find some, some way to want to participate in that. You know, there's a lot of people out there with with abilities beyond what they would - what maybe you can see within the first glance. 

Nancy Jo Geise  11:55  
Yeah.

Crystal Shepperson  11:55  
You know, if people looked at Nancy Jo, they might think that she doesn't have that much to give and, and certainly she has proven beyond a shadow of the doubt that she has a lot to give. And there are so many other people out there that have that same ability and you know, just give them a chance and I think that they can prove to you that they have a lot to give and then there's all they want is some self worth. 

Nancy Jo Geise  12:23  
Yeah

Joe Murphy  12:26  
Nancy, final word's yours.

Nancy Jo Geise  12:30  
Everyone can work.

Joe Murphy  12:33  
I think that's a perfect way to end. So in closing, if anybody wants to get ahold of Nancy Jo Geise, you can reach Nancy at nancyjo@networksfortraining.org. I'm your host Joe Murphy with Networks for Training and Development. You can reach me at joem@networksfortraining.org. If you know of anybody or if you are a person who would like to share your employment success story with us, please get a hold of me and I'll be happy to record an episode of this. Until next time, thank you very much! 

Crystal Shepperson  13:14  
Thank you.

Jessica Stover  13:17  
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