Here at Work Now Hawaii (WNH), we take pride in having a special family employed with us: The Ishikis! They wear their heart on their sleeves in whatever they do at WNH. The Ishikis are composed of Cheryl, with her twin sons, Kurt and Seth. Collectively, this family joined our team in 2019 and consistently demonstrates a hardworking ethic throughout their workdays, driven by a determination to succeed.
Their story began in Las Vegas as Cheryl wanted to support her boys in the best way she could, being a stay-at-home mom. She played a helpful hand by reinforcing the skills she had learned from service providers (PT, OT, SLP) to teach her boys the proper life skills. Soon after, all three decided to head to Honolulu as Cheryl started a job with the Department of Education. There, she worked as an educational assistant for 17 years, cultivating all she gained from having two children with disabilities and instilling it in others. Cheryl nurtured any way she could and made sure that they were well supported, especially when they transitioned into adulthood.
Both brothers found themselves at WNH in 2019 as custodians before Kurt advanced to a Supply Specialist today, where he delivers supplies across various sites and assists with operations. Kurt enjoys the opportunity to quickly lend a hand to others daily in a supportive environment, where he makes sure that each of our contracted locations has what they need to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and upkeep. After starting this job, Kurt maintained his work schedule effectively and made judgment calls depending on the situation. He prioritized his tasks each week and got down to business.
One coworker, Josh, mentioned that "...his attention to detail and thoroughness provide a consistent level of delivery that our clients and partners have come to appreciate, and without him, we wouldn't have been able to build the reputation we maintain today. We are grateful to work with Kurt, and he continuously inspires us."
Josh remembered a time when WNH began the Ability One contract at our Fort Shafter site as Kurt led the team, which included two coworkers in the deaf community. "Kurt's consistency provided us the stability our organization and the team he supported needed as we started the new contract. His contributions were pivotal to our success in launching the contract," Josh explained. Looking ahead, Kurt is striving to keep a good work-life rhythm between his duties at WNH and his involvement in the Special Olympics while also playing in a small band.
Seth continues to work with a pure heart as a custodian at our various contracted sites. His daily tasks include cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash, checking supplies, and occasionally wiping down counters or glass.
Seth learned work skills, like time management, the proper use of safety equipment, and conducting himself professionally with others.
He is also grateful for the extra income he earns, pointing out that his custodian job gives purpose to his everyday life through learning new things and coming across new people. With this, Seth has the opportunity to be successful each day here at WNH! On the side, Seth keeps up with the latest Marvel superhero movies, participates in Special Olympics with his brother, and serves in his local church.
While her sons were grown and found themselves with fulfilling jobs, Cheryl honestly wasn't ready to throw in the towel and just retire. Ultimately, she decided to embark on a new adventure in a new line of work at WNH, continuing to support people with disabilities! Initially, she filled in custodial services for our AB1 contract when we needed extra coverage. However, after some time, we saw her potential to grow within the company and promoted her to a supervisor position in one of our state contracts. Each day brings her joy as she oversees individuals with disabilities' work skills growing toward potential competitive employment possibilities, along with doing some weight-bearing exercises as a built-in bonus. Our clients view her as a motherly figure simply because of her sweet, calming voice, which encourages them to take direction from her.
Cheryl has been with our company for only a year, but she serves as a noble example for her coworkers, relating to her work ethic. Stefani, a fellow coworker, thought back to a time when she jumped in unannounced, "I was heading to the airport for my flight, and my Uber would not arrive on time, causing me to miss my flight. Cheryl happened to be finished with her shift and jumped at the opportunity to take me to the airport. I was so grateful for her compassion to serve and coming to my rescue.” Fellow coworkers echoed Stefani's points about Cheryl's selfless nature. Grace pointed out that she "consistently goes above and beyond in her work, always willing to support anyone in need. She readily assists with coverage and takes on additional tasks without hesitation."
Further, Grace highlighted that "her impact as a role model is evident not only in the workplace but also in her family structure. Cheryl's dedication to her job is such a joy to witness as she is rarely seen without a smile during her shifts.”
Needless to say, the Iskiki family takes pride in what they do here at WNH each day, while we empower individuals with disabilities to succeed in the workplace. Both Kurt and Seth represent dependability in our workforce; they are positive and hungry to learn. The twin brothers offered some words of encouragement to anyone who might be nervous about starting a job, just as their younger selves had gone through the job-seeking process before. "Just do it as best you can. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. You got this!" said Kurt. Seth pointed out that it is perfectly normal to be nervous at first, but you must adapt each working day to be successful and reach your goals. Further, Cheryl brings an altruistic and steadfast spirit to our team, serving others. She stewards individuals with disabilities in achieving financial independence and building stronger self-confidence. As you can say, family is everything, and it's a bond that can have a profound effect on others around them. Our team undoubtingly feels this way based on working with the Iskiki throughout the years and hopefully, many years to come!