Kind regards,
Janet O'Brien
Jan Lawrence Fat Cat Embroidery Buena Park, CA
I appreciate and Thank you for providing your time and effort to the NBM Show Seminars. This is something that is not done lightly, it is not something done out of the want for compenstantion but is something done out of heart! As I told you my story began in 2006 with a new job in the field of Embroidery. I interviewed for the position and with my past history I was hired by North Carolina Correction Enterprises. This position I soon found out was the beginning of Embroidery within the State of North Carolina. Up to this point I had been a Correctional Officer and a Sergeant under the Division of Prisons for the past 10 years and was directly involved in the day to day conserns of custody and security within the institution.
Upon being hired by Correction Enterprises under the Direction of Ms. Karen Brown by the Director of Sewing Operations Mr. B.P. Tailor I was informed that I was to incorporate and bring Embroidery into Operation at our facility. This was a new operation, there were no benchmarks nor were there any directions. Additionally my experience was only as a career military retiree with years of sewing experience and computer building and software use experience.
From this perspective I began a period of intense searching for information on Embroidery. This was done almost entirely on the internet as local businesses involved in Embroidery were reluctant to provide information or ideas.
I cannot remember the exact search peramaters that I had used but the name “Helen Hart Momsen” was displayed. Naturally, I clicked on this name.
“From this point, My Attitudes, My Ideas, My Life was Totally Changed.” That evening I came in the door to our home and my Wife Mary looked at me and asked if I was feeling OK. I told her that I was feeling like I had never felt before except for my first rescue while I was a member of the United States Coast Guard. I had just spent 10+ years working custody within the Institution, stress was at an all time high and I was entertaining a job offer overseas. I told her that with this new position there was no way we were leaving and I was in for the long count.
Today, I finally had the pleasure to meet Ms. Momsen and inform her briefly as to my situation and history. It may seem trivial to most but I have attempted to bring this moment into my commitment to the training that I bring to the inmates that are hired to work in the Apprenticeship Program in Digital Design and Embroidery in the North Carolina Department of Correction at Pasquotank Specialty Sewing under the management of Mr. Michael P. McIntyre. My commitment is to the residents of the State of North Carolina to provide meaningful work experience for inmates, provide quality goods and services to tax-supported agencies at a savings to the taxpayers. In doing this we provide a form of rehabilitation for inmates that will be returning to society. Those inmates that have been involved in this program/endavour are much more able to cope with changes, they have shown a new self and are aware that they can provide for themselves and others. They feel that they now have a chance and along with that chance they have a Skill that they themselves are passionate about. If I may quote one inmate, he was looking at his 48th birthday coming up, he stated, “Mr. K, I want to thank you and Mr. McIntyre, I now have confidence that I have a skill and the ability to work with others that I can provide for myself when I am released. I may not find a job right away but I have confidence that I can make it. “
With what I learned from a google search and getting the Momsen name and links from that day have completely changed my life, I have a Passion for what I do and will continue learning and passing on information that I aquire. My only hope is that I am able to succeed with at least one inmate released back into society and that I am a good steward for the State of North Carolina.
I would like to say Thank You Hellen, Your information IS being passed on!
Bob K.
Tom Roseland 1635 Sea Shell Drive Merritt Island, Florida 32952 Website: www.usscusk.com Email: tom.roseland@earthlink.net
Please add me to your email list.
ermadesper@verizon.net
Jan Riner
