Please use this list as a guide for our November 23 and 24, 2023 hours in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
For questions or additional information please call our front desk team at 757-858-8011 or email them at Info@egglestonservices.org
Thank You!
Press Contact: Kristen Ricks, Director of Marketing
757-858-8011 | ricks.kristen@egglestonservices.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | November 16th, 2023 | Norfolk, Virginia
After 35 years at the helm, our CEO Paul J. Atkinson, Sr. will retire on December 31, 2023. Throughout his years of steadfast leadership, Paul has been a true servant leader and guided Eggleston through several evolutions. While the departure of Paul will be felt by all who interacted with Eggleston over his 35 years, he has outlined a strategic transition that will allow his successor, President and Chief Operating Officer Harrison Misewicz, to confidently step into the role of CEO.
Paul has been on a path to make a positive impact on the world since his college days. While studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, he worked at the Richmond Cerebral Palsy Center as a special education teacher’s aide to financially support himself through school. When he joined Eggleston as the Executive Director in 1991, he inherited an annual revenue budget of less than $500,000 while serving 125 people with disabilities. Today, Eggleston provides services for over 1,700 individuals with an annual revenue budget of over $30 million of which 70% is allocated to wages and benefits to Eggleston employees with a priority of hiring individuals with disabilities.
Eggleston Board Chair, Jennifer Anders, sums up Paul’s relationship with Eggleston perfectly: “for 35 years, the name Paul Atkinson has been synonymous with the mission and vision of Eggleston. We are forever indebted to his tireless effort to help those with differing abilities get the services they need and provide them with meaningful employment.”
Paul’s focus on promoting awareness for Eggleston and advocating for those with disabilities led him to several leadership roles on a national level. His national board service includes being the Chair of SourceAmerica for several years, former president of the National Council of Work Centers, former president of vaACCSES, as well as appointments by Governors to serve and lead State-level boards and Commissions. His character and work ethic are known in tandem with his immense capacity for empathy and kindness. When remarking on the importance of kindness, Paul shared “never underestimate your kind words on another person. You don’t know what your words will do to another person.”
As the chapter of Paul’s tenure with Eggleston ends, we are ecstatic to embrace the future and continue forging ahead with Harrison Misewicz leading the way. As President and COO of Eggleston since 2022, Harrison shares he is “grateful for the opportunity to serve.” Harrison is a native of Washington D.C. who relocated to Hampton Roads to assume the position of COO. His daily responsibilities included oversight of all programs, implementation of strategic development goals that are set by the Board, management of customer relationships, oversight of employee actions, and operational compliance with local, state, and national regulations. His call to serve others started early in life with obtaining his Eagle Scout designation at age 14. Harrison attended the University of Minnesota for his BA in Communication Studies with a Minor in Political Science, and he later obtained his JD from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Since graduating law school, he has dedicated his life to the service of individuals with significant disabilities. Harrison has worked for both a Central Nonprofit Agency in AbilityOne and a large Nonprofit Agency that is affiliated with that network.
Approaching the final month and a half of Paul’s time with Eggleston, we look back at his 35 years of service with fond memories and a profound appreciation for his leadership, wit, compassion, and intellect. We would also like to encourage Eggleston friends, supporters, volunteers, and the general public to be on the lookout for a “Meet Our Leadership Team” event later in January to hear from Harrison on the vision for the future of Eggleston. Stay connected by signing up for our newsletter at egglestonservices.org and following us on social media.
To hear more from Paul and Harrison on the transition and what is going on at Eggleston listen to our recent WNIS Ask The Expert show using the links below.
September 29, 2023
Dear Eggleston Community,
As I’m sure you’ve heard, on October 1st, if Congress has not come to a funding agreement, the federal government will shut down. Federal employees and contractors deemed “non-essential” will be unable to report to work until Congress can chart a path forward. Because much of the work we do at Eggleston operates under federal contracts, a shutdown would have major implications for our organization.
While a government shutdown is an outcome nobody at Eggleston wants, our team has nonetheless been monitoring the situation closely and preparing for this unfortunate eventuality. Our executive team has been working diligently to minimize the impact on the individuals with disabilities we employ and to share with Congress what those impacts would be. Hopefully our efforts will help prevent a shutdown or, if one is inevitable, to make it as short and painless as possible.
Eggleston is prepared for whatever October 1st might bring. If a shutdown occurs, there’s no way for us to prevent all disruption to our daily lives, but we are ready to deploy safeguards to make sure Eggleston’s employees will not face any new financial hardship for the foreseeable future.
We also recognize that employment is not just about financial security – friendship, routine, and even self-respect and identity are important benefits all people can receive through their jobs. Changes at work can therefore affect emotional wellness and mental health. So our ask of you is simple: whether you work for Eggleston or care about someone who does, please look out for each other. Pick up the phone and stay in touch. See a movie, grab a bite, or visit the Garden Center. Do everything you can to stay mentally and physically active and to retain a sense of normalcy. Be present and be patient.
These times are uncertain, but Eggleston’s commitment to the individuals with disabilities we serve is not. We will continue to advocate for our community both at home in Hampton Roads and in Washington as well. As ever, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I’ve always said my favorite part of this job is getting to chat with all the wonderful people in this community, and that’s still true today. Eggleston is here for you.
Sincerely,
Harrison Misewicz
President
Eggleston
Growing up, Akilah Cooper didn’t always have a lot of examples of strong women wanting and doing more, but she knew she didn’t like what was happening in the world and that she wanted to help make a positive change. She started working towards her degree in Social Work at Norfolk State University in 2013 but had to put her education on hold in 2014 after the birth of her son. She knew she still wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, so she joined Eggleston as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the Portsmouth Laundry facility in 2016. At Eggleston, Akilah had the opportunity to see real people doing good things for individuals with disabilities and she saw strong women who weren’t afraid to strive for positions of authority where they could make an even larger impact. At Eggleston, she was inspired. So, after the birth of her daughter in 2017, Akilah decided to go back to school and finish her degree.
By this time, Akilah had fallen in love with the operational work of commercial laundry and realized she was good at it. She recognized that while operations are traditionally a man’s world, this field needs the nurturing nature of women. Akilah shared how her team is made up of individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities as well as those with substance abuse and emotional needs, but she strives to work with each employee to help them reach their full potential and learn new life and career skills. So, while she continued to take on more responsibilities at Eggleston’s Portsmouth laundry facility, she transferred her credits to Strayer University and began to work on her associate degree in business.
With the ongoing support of her team and her family Akilah has recently completed her associate degree in business. But she is not done yet. She said she is only 9 courses away from completing her bachelor’s degree and then she has her sights set on a master’s degree.
When asked about her motivation for this degree, she talked about how she wanted to do this for herself to prove that she could do more; however, throughout the process she realized this experience influenced more than just her. Her children watched her determination and work ethic as she kept studying even when she was tired, and it has encouraged them to work harder on their own schoolwork. Her employees gave her encouragement and strength to keep going when life tried to get in the way. Akilah has also used this experience to encourage her team to strive for their own personal goals stating “Education is power. Keep studying. Keep going. It’s worth it on the other side”.
Congratulations Akilah on your academic achievement and we hope you have a great time at your graduation on December 10th.
Through the summer internship program, local high school and college students were able to work as paid interns directly supporting the individuals Eggleston serves. Internships at Eggleston give students the chance to expand their ideas regarding options for pursuing higher education or a career. Here are some testimonials about their experience this year:
I have been working for Eggleston as a Direct Support Professional at one of the day programs during my school breaks and helped at the residential programs during the school year. I just know that every day I come to work it’s going to be a great day whether we are playing games, doing crafts, or going on outings every day is different. I try hard to connect personally with each of the individuals and get to know what they like. It makes my day to help others have a great day and they always make me laugh.
This has been a great work experience for me and has taught me patience and essential life skills like managing my time and having responsibilities where others depend on me. I hope to use some of the skills I learned at Eggleston in the future. I plan to study robotics engineering to build prosthetics to help people. If I had to give advice to future interns and DSP’s, I would say “It might be scary at first, but you will have a great time. Take your time and have fun.”
Zaire, 11th gradeI was looking for an internship that would allow me to help people and my family recommended I look at Eggleston. What I didn’t expect was how much fun it would be. I got to play games and pool with the individuals, help them with art and activities, and go out outings with them. I also learned a lot of skills like using proper sanitization to keep everyone safe and healthy and how to work with different personalities.
My advice to future interns is “To have an open mind set and think positive. Everyone is really nice you just put your best foot forward. It’s a great work environment.”
Phillips, 12th gradeFuture Educational Field of Study: Psychology with a focus in Autism Therapy
This is my second summer interning with Eggleston, and I love it because it gives me real world experiences. It’s not just a starter job, it has real career options. I love bonding with the staff and the individuals, getting to know them and helping them live their lives to the fullest.
This experience had helped me to grow up, branch out, and not take things for granted. It has broadened my horizons, learned more about individuality, and prepared me for college and after college. I would tell future interns and DSP’s to “Treat everyone on the same level. Their disability doesn’t define them. Take the time to really get to know them, not just on the surface. Don’t let your frustrations get to you.”
Lily, 12th gradeFuture Educational Field of Study: Undecided
I really enjoy getting to know and helping the staff and individuals, which is why I came back for a second summer. This experience has helped me make connections and imparted priceless knowledge and real-world experiences. Making an impact to actively help others has helped me put aside my own ego. I leave work feeling fulfilled and happy with what I did.
My advice to future interns is “be flexible and don’t have expectations. Every day is different so just go with the flow. Treat each person as an individual and watch how they grow and learn.
Isabella, a junior at James Madison UniversityDuring my college breaks, I come home and work as a Direct Support Professional.
My experience at Eggleston is something I feel very deeply about. I have been around for years now volunteering at events and working at various sites. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities provided here, and I am even more grateful for the people I get to work with. While I may be their staff, they are my family, my home, and my heart. They make the good days sweeter and the hard days easier. They have shown me unconditional love, and I try my hardest every day to make it known that I love and care for them just as much. The memories made here are some of the most valuable ones I have, and I am truly thankful for that; this summer especially has been one of the best. My group at Civitan gifted me a calendar planner to “Count down the days until I come home,” and it brought me to tears. I hope they know that I’ve already started the countdown for my return because I am just as sad to leave them, but also so excited for our future. And while this is supposed to be focused on me and my work, I would rather share about the people who are the root of Eggleston. I would like to thank all of the managers, mentors, and fellow DSPs that work so hard to make Eggleston a loving and inviting space; without the foundation provided by those frontline workers, Eggleston would not be as magical. You are appreciated more than you know. Thank you.
On Wednesday, 08/02/2023, representatives from Eggleston, Robert Williams, Jeff Hoel, and Paul Atkinson, Jr., volunteered with Operation Blessing. This volunteerism involved meal kit preparation for distribution in disaster relief operations. The trio from Eggleston worked alongside five other volunteers to unpackage and sort bulk dry goods.
Jeff saw this as an opportunity to share his passion for Eggleston’s mission with the Operation Blessing staff and the other volunteers, remarking, “Even though we were helping them, they were learning about us.” Robert shared this sentiment, saying, “I got to meet some new friends. Everyone was friendly. I told them all that I was a brand ambassador for Eggleston.”
Volunteering is not only a way for Eggleston to engage with our neighbors but also demonstrate our capabilities. Robert spoke to this idea, stating, “I like to volunteer to show that I can do any kind of work in the community.” I can vouch for the impressive effort. The team efficiently dispatched with the duties and, after a tour of the warehouse, ended the engagement ahead of schedule.
As Jeff summarized it, “Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time.” We believe that Eggleston’s values are best demonstrated through action. Inclusive stewardship, such as volunteerism, is a demonstration of the shared organizational values. Stewardship is best demonstrated by the collaborative effort to care for the people, places, and things closest to home, in this region, and in the global community. This is Eggleston at our best. Thank you to Jeff, Robert, and Paul for demonstrating what right looks like.
Teslyn “Tes” Savage came to Eggleston as an intern in September of 2019. She was finishing an associate degree and planning to continue Human Resources and logistics work she began during her 14-year service the U.S. Army. However, once she started working with the members of Beacon House, she realized her career path was about to take a major turn. Tes explains she had always been passionate about helping people and thought Human Resources was a great way to serve others. But on day two of her internship, she realized her true calling was social work.
Tes was hired in November 2019 as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) providing community coaching and community engagement services to members of Beacon House. When Beacon House temporarily closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19 impact, Tes transferred to Anna House. She shared how she is always looking for learning opportunities and supporting individuals in a residential setting provided her a great opportunity to learn new skills and ways to support individuals with disabilities. Tes returned to Beacon House when it reopened later that year, but then she was equipped to apply her new skills with the members.
Knowing that Social Work was her true calling, Tes took some time to go back to school to begin working on her degree in Social Work. Since her return to Beacon House in September 2021, she has served as the Maintenance Unit Coordinator, the Communications Unit Coordinator, and the Beacon House Program Administrator & Employment Specialist where she was instrumental in updating the structure and policies to make duties more accessible for members and staff. Recently, Tes was promoted to the Beacon House Program Manager and is excited to see members continue to excel and for the Clubhouse to grow. “I love seeing people lead lives that are fulfilling and of their choosing, not what others want. I want this to be a safe space where members can be seen, heard, and feel important because they are,” said Tes.
When Tes isn’t working at Beacon House, she loves dancing and having fun with her son Brian, her dog, and her family and friends.
The Special Olympics World Games bring together people with and without disabilities from all over the world to unite around a common goal of sports and comradery. This year, the Special Olympic World Games were held in Berlin, Germany from June 17th – 25th. This event hosted more than 7,000 Special Olympic athletes and Unified partners from approximately 190 countries to compete in 26 sports.
Eggleston is proud to announce our very own, Trasean Singletary, represented the United States in several track events. Trasean competed in three events: the 4×400 meter relay, the 5000 meters where he won BRONZE with a time of 21:31.68, and the 3000 meters where he won GOLD with a time of 12:18.10.
Before he left for Germany, Trasean talked about his love for running. He said he started running as a teenager as a way to burn calories and stay fit and healthy for his friends and family. Trasean shared how his mom’s support and encouragement “to never give up” have been a big motivator for him. He trains seven days a week and runs everywhere including to and from work at Eggleston, which is a 4.7-mile trip each way. When asked what it is about running that you love Trasean said “You have to keep moving forward, put the past and negative stuff behind you. Running helps me keep moving forward.”
In addition to being an amazing runner, Trasean has also been a valued member of our Norfolk Laundry staff for more than 10 years. He brings the same level of hard work and determination to his job as he does to his running, and it shows. “Trasean is a great worker. He is hard-working, reliable, productive, and knowledgeable on all of the different jobs within the laundry.” shared Bob Anders, Norfolk Production Manager.
Congratulations Trasean on your success at the Special Olympic World Games and thank you for being a shining example of Excellence in Action!
To learn more about Trasean, check out his story on Wavy News 10.
