CLI Incorporated

P.O. Box 508

Norwalk, Ohio 44857

CLIsupports.com

419-706-5137

Week of April 22, 2024

Meet Firelands Local's

James Johnson!

James was hired to lead Firelands Local LLC 4 years ago when CLI began in earnest to spin off our business-to-business services to at least an arms-length from CLI's social mission. James started in his current job the year leading up to the pandemic, so he's had quite the learning curve as he adapted to CLI's unique structure and then struggled with the rest of us to simply keep the doors open and the lights on for the past 4+ years.

James says that his favorite part about his job is seeing the smiles on the client faces. His interests when he's not at work are hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandkids. He says that if he weren't heading up Firelands Local LLC right now, he'd be doing something in retail right now.

Like so many of CLI and Firelands Local staff-- this is way more than just a job to James. He's here because he believes in our shared purpose and because he cares deeply about our clientele. We're glad that he's chosen to be on our team!

John's usual--

Little known fact, James Johnson (senior) and I were at the same high school in Youngstown, Ohio for a few years in the early 1980's (yeah, I'm 2 years older than James, but we're both that old). We hadn't stayed in touch and I didn't realize the connection until of our later interviews. Small world. James' was hired to be the first General Manager of Firelands Local LLC (FL) in 2019 when CLI formally moved to separate our client services functions from our business-to-business services that offer direct employment opportunities to individuals with DD. CLI is a non-profit social service agency whose role is to provide the full spectrum of direct supports-- from competitive community employment to therapeutic day services. FL, though wholly owned by CLI, functions independently as a for profit business specializing in secure document destructions, small business recycling, subcontracted labor, and various job-shop tasks. This has allowed both entities to specialize and focus. Prior to this formal separation, it was common for CLI management (me) to rationalize sometimes using job-shop resources to subsidize CLI operations, or worse sometime using social service staff time to ensure completion of a time-sensitive production task. Now, the two entities are separate, and we invoice each other if one entity does something on behalf of the other. It's also allowed James to grow Firelands Local's businesses. This has been really important post-covid. I think that with any luck the Fiscal Year 2025 will be the best yet for our business-to-business operations. This is a win for CLI because FL's success means financial returns on CLI's investment in the enterprise, but also for FL's employees with developmental disabilities who benefit from cash bonuses and new opportunities.

The next Transitional Youth Bowling event is this Friday evening, April 26, at Kenilee Lanes. Please pass the word on to any kids still in high school and their parents.

CLI's summer cornhole series is coming up. There will be 3 tournaments again this year with a chance to win a cash payout for each tournament + an overall series prize. We'll have the flyer ready for next week's newsletter.

Have a great week!

John

It might not have been possible often enough so far this spring-- but a couple lucky ladies found a moment to enjoy the rare sunshine uptown Norwalk this past week!

Thanks to the DODD ADS Quality Pilot Grant, CLI has a whole fresh new curriculum around technology and social media training-- including a lending library of 5G iPads that people enrolled in these classes can sign out and take home! Tell Haven in you want to learn more.

CLI hosted it's first Transitional Youth Bowling Party of 2024 at Kenilee Lanes last week on Friday, March 22nd. It was a good turnout and a fun time. CLI's next FREE

Transitional Youth Event will be on Friday, April 26th.

It's boatwrap season & time for some training on Firelands Local Recycling's new compactor truck!

This should be a big, big year for boatwrap collection as this new truck will dramatically increase productivity per driver hour.

Firelands Local LLC

James Johnson james@firelandslocal.com

419-921-6400

CLI's Good Works Cafe offers a

free community lunch every Friday afternoon

at the Norwalk Reservoir Clubhouse

With the generous support of OHGO, a noble food pantry based in Sandusky, we continue to provide free community meals every Friday.

Most weeks 50-90% of the food we prepare is donated by OHGO.  Thank you so much for partnering with us to provide community meals and skill building for our clients!

60+ meals served each week

& 74 served last week!

Question of the week



Q: Does CLI really let people take 5G iPads with internet access home? How do I do that?

A: Yes! This is part of CLI's new curriculum as part of the DODD ADS Quality Pilot Grant. One of our new courses is all about using technology-- and you can't learn without the proper tools. This iPad lending library is FREE as long as someone has been determined to be able to use this equipment (and the internet) independently-- AND their ISP team supports this use. IPads are available evenings and weekends, but must be returned to CLI no later than 9am on the next open day. We're still working out how to make sure that we get them back on time-- there might be a deposit and late fees-- but otherwise these are free for class participants to use.

Video(s) of the Week: