Samuelson Career Achievement Award Presented by National Industries for the Blind

October 8, 2010; Cincinnati, Ohio – National Industries for the Blind (NIB) honored Kenneth Fountain, Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, as the 2010 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award winner during an awards banquet at the “AbilityOne: People Make it Happen” Annual Training Conference hosted by NIB and the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB) in Cincinnati.

The Samuelson Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates career advancement at an NIB associated agency or in the private sector. The award was named for the late Milton J. Samuelson, who championed upward mobility and placement programs for people who are blind.

Fountain was selected from a national pool of candidates nominated by NIB associated agencies for the Samuelson award. He is manages the Base Supply Center store at the U.S. Department of Treasury in Washington, D.C., operated by Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind (WSIFB) of North Carolina.

Fountain, who is blind, was instrumental in increasing sales by 83 percent to $420,600 the first year – higher than any other WSIFB location.

His career experience at two other NIB associated agencies includes employment in production and vending sales at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland and serving as base supply center associate at Virginia Industries for the Blind.

“We are pleased to honor Kenneth Fountain with the Samuelson Award,” said Kevin A. Lynch, NIB president and CEO. “He has demonstrated an ability to adapt and continually learn new skills to provide excellent service for his government customers, implement and achieve fiscal results, while also overcoming personal challenges.”

About National Industries for the Blind (NIB)
NIB’s (www.NIB.org) mission is to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. NIB and 89 associated agencies serve as the largest employer for people who are blind by the sale of SKILCRAFT® products and services through the AbilityOne Program.