<<< Home
About CEI
VoV
| Jump
to a section on this page: |
Mission Statement
| The mission of Creative Enterprises is to assist individuals with disabilities and others with barriers to employment in maximizing their potential. |
Values
CEI's values were developed with input from our staff, those served in our programs, and our board of directors in the Spring of 2009. These values are a reflection of what we believe to be most important to our accomplish our mission.
| Those
we serve come first The person-centered focus is on our participants, their needs, safety, and growth toward their hopes and dreams. Our staff strives to be proactive and creative in helping participants reach goals, to be patient and compassionate in all situations, and to help participants maximize their potential to enjoy a life filled with opportunities. |
| Respect for all persons All persons are shown the same respect, regardless of their ability or disability. This is achieved through communicating in an effective and honest manner with staff and clients, recognizing the advantages of diversity, and showing loyalty to the organization. |
| Choose your attitude An atmosphere of praise and positive reinforcement leads to success, inspiration, personal productivity and increased self-esteem for clients and staff alike. |
| Provide excellence in service Selecting, hiring and training quality staff of high moral character and integrity, producing quality products for business partners, with an exemplary work ethic by both staff and clients, and a team approach coupled with individual accountability by every staff member for the well-being and success of each participant. |
History of Creative Enterprises
The first step was taken in 1976 when Mental Health Services rented the space next to their offices and established a workshop using their existing staff. At that time, the vision for the future was to incorporate the workshop as a private, not-for-profit corporation and contract with that corporation to provide work evaluation and work adjustment services to people with disabilities. It was further decided that an attempt would be made to interest the local office of Rehabilitation Services in a joint sponsorship of the facility. A commitment for support was received from Rehabilitation Services, which laid the groundwork for a landmark situation of cooperative effort between Rehabilitation Services and the GRN Community Service Board.
The next step involved soliciting political support. A local state senator was contacted and convinced of the importance of a vocational training program to the community. His efforts were directed toward acquiring an appropriation from the State Legislature to cover the cost of constructing a building to house the program. At the same time the county donated a parcel of land for the building site. State Senator Steve Reynolds worked to secure funding for construction of the building through the state legislature. Through the process of incorporation, a committee of that organization was given the responsibility of soliciting community leaders to serve as members of the initial Board of Directors. This Board of Directors, under the direction of a local attorney who was serving as a member, undertook the task of drafting the articles of incorporation and the by-laws and applying for incorporation with the Secretary of State's office.
On January 8, 1979, three years from the birth of the idea, the workshop became GRN Creative Enterprises, Inc. At that point, there were 11 people enrolled in the program and the Community Service Board referred them all. That formative organization has now been in its "new" building since 1980 and serves many individuals in two primary locations. Day habilitation to meet the needs of persons for whom work is not a current priority has been added to the array of services, and the focus of services has moved to community integration. The current funding structure is made up of contracts with the Community Service Board, Vocational Rehabilitation, private funding, and fundraising as well as contracts with industry generating support for the costs associated with production used as a training tool.
In March of 1996, CEI added a Horticulture Program to provide therapeutic, occupational and vocational benefits. Our clients experience the miracle of growing wonderful creations from seeds. With their intervention, these seeds grow into beautiful plants and with our intervention our clients grow into productive people. The CEI horticulture program has a curriculum that can assist in teaching the essentials to hold down competitive employment in a related field. The CEI horticulture program offers supportive employment and training for people whose full potential can only be reached in a structured setting.
In
September of 1996, a Day
Habilitation Program was established to provide services to individuals
who
have barriers to employment so severe that employment is not an
immediate
goal. The program
was implemented to
include activity therapy, self help skills, survival techniques in
emergency
situations, current events, art, music, exercise, community awareness,
and
activities of daily living. The
program
began with 4 full time MRWP (Mental Retardation Waiver Program)
Medicaid Waiver
slots and 28 part time Grant-in-Aid recipients.
In January, 2003, our new Day Habilitation building
celebrated
its grand opening and currently serves 21 full time clients through the
Medicaid Waiver Program, Grant-in-Aid and private agencies on a daily
basis. An expansion
to this building
provided by grant funding in 2007 will serve as a locale for large
group
interactions, and as a way to encourage members of the community to
understand
and support the services that CEI provides.
In 2001, CEI became a licensed animal shelter in order to provide pet therapy to people with disabilities and in nursing homes. Our clients go into the community as a class and provide the therapy to others. We have a variety of animals so that people interested in working with animals can gain experience.
In 2009, CEI's main campus expanded with the acquisition of an adjacent building from Gwinnett County. Since 2010, this building has been home to the Creative Enterprises Thrift Store. The main campus grew even more in December, 2010 with the purchase of the former Red Cross building, which now hosts classes as the Education Building.
Board of
Directors
A
volunteer board of directors governs Creative Enterprises.
The board meets on
the
third monday of every month at 5:30pm in the Day Hab building located
at 795
Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville. There are no
meetings in July
or December. Board meetings are open for parents, caregivers,
and
other stakeholders to attend and provide input. To obtain a
copy
of minutes from the most recent meeting, please contact Gardner Armsby.
If you wish to contact a member of our board, simply click on
their name below to reach them by email.
Current Board MembershipAllen Carroll - ChairmanJoy Williams - Treasurer Mike Nelson - Secretary Leigh McIntosh - Executive Director Alpha Jo Smith - Parent Representative W. Chris Green Jamey Mathis Reid Laurens Terry Britt Vernon Mclean Rick Stepp |
Staff
With a low rate of turnover and a long history of exceptional service delivery, our staff members are well trained and dedicated to helping the people we serve. We are a drug free workplace, and all new hires undergo thorough background checks, which include FBI and GBI fingerprint record investigations. Driving records are also obtained, and all employees receive defensive driving training. All employees are CPR and First Aid certified and we provide ongoing training to ensure that our staff members are always improving their skills. Please visit our Staff page for a directory of our current staff.
Facilities
Main Campus |
Day Habilitation Building |