Making sure everyone has an equal access to the workforce - and dignity of work - was emphasized Oct. 29 at a luncheon at The Ridge recreational complex in Laurens.
Celebrating its 80th Anniversary, the Disability Employment Awareness Month luncheon was a collaborative of School Districts 56 & 55, the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, and Vocational Rehabilitation. They combine efforts through an Interagency Committee.
“Everybody has value,” said guest speaker Alphonso Richard, a Clinton High graduate and member of two state championship football teams, a 1992 Clemson graduate and Tigers football player, former manager at the nuclear industry’s Savannah River, Hanford, and Tennessee Valley Authority, and now owner/operator of Chick-fil-A Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta.
This year’s celebration is themed “Celebrating Value and Talent, National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”
The Laurens County Council approved on Nov. 10 a proclamation of Disability Employment Awareness Month, saying in part that “individuals with disabilities are capable, contributing members of society and worthy of inclusion in the Laurens County workforce.”
On behalf of the Laurens County Disabilities & Special Needs Board, executive director Jason Tavenner accepted the proclamation from County Council Chairman Jeff Carroll.
At the Oct. 29 lunch, the Interagency Committee presented an acknowledgement to Carolyn Beasley Shortt, who is retiring as the District 55 transition coordinator, and presented the award named in her honor as a champion for disability workforce inclusion to Dr. Jody Penland, District 55’s superintendent.
Richard said, in business, you always want to recognize the value of people. He found Scripture that validates that view in Ephesians 2:10 that describes Christians as God’s workforce. “I went from the construction field to owning a Chick-fil-A and it was the hardest thing that I had ever done in my life,” he said, “because I went from working with folks that were 35, 40, 50 years old and I pretty much could say something and it would get done. Then I started working with 16 year olds, and you can’t just say it, there’s a little more work that comes along with that. So what I’ve had to learn is that leadership is as much about inspiration as it is relation. You can’t influence somebody that you’re not talking to, right?
“Communication is the lubrication for productivity. If you’re not talking, you’re really not working.”
Richard shared a personal story that in his business he set a routine of walking and talking to each employee - but the one day he didn’t, the entire staff thought he was mad at them all. He said bosses have to understand the importance of a simply concept - Management by Walking Around.
The value of work, Richard said, is emphasized in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10 - “If a man or woman does not work, they do not eat.”
The verse shows that “the work that we do is very important. Work influences culture, and we see here that there is a strong culture of work in this community.”
Richard reflected that during the COVID pandemic, Chick-fil-A kept its drive-throughs open, but closed its in-restaurant dining. “We were very efficient at moving those cars around but we lost the hospitality piece, because we weren’t engaging with people on a daily basis. We had people that came to work, they fried chicken, they did the things that we do in the restaurant and they got the orders out but they didn’t talk to people.”
Chick-fil-A corporate now has a big initiative called the Winning Hearts Every Day Strategy. Richard said it’s based on 3 things: great tasting food, fast and accurate service, and a welcoming environment. The company had to re-train for the past three years on the value of that personal touch, greeting people when they walk in, “not greeting them, makes the customer feel like they’re not valued,” he said.
“One thing I tell my employees all the time is ‘I need you to come to work with a great attitude.’ If you have a great attitude, the world will open its doors for you. I’ll promise you that.”
Bad attitudes disrupt the learning and the environment. “It starts with the people we employ,” Richard said. “You are so valauble to the business. ... Every day, we have the ability to dig a little deeper for that treasure that lies within all of us.”
This observance is in conjunction with the Office of Disability Employment Policy, United States Department of Labor. Penland was emcee for the Laurens County program. The meal blessing was by Byron Smith, business development specialist SC Voc Rehab; welcome by Mindy Carter, district transition coordinator, D55, and Ashton Sorrow, D55 student; National Anthem by the Laurens District 55 High Student Choir; acknowledgements by Penland and by Spectrum representatives (see article left); awards by Jason Tavenner and Tara Glenn, representing Laurens County Disabilities & Special Needs Board; speaker introduction by Chad Ulmer, area supervisor, SC Voc Rehab; door prizes by Spectrum, and closing by District 56 Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields.
The award presented to Dr. Penland is the Carolyn Beasley Shortt Award, and an article about Mrs. Shortt’s long and distinguished career with District 55 as Transition Coordinator is on The Chronicle’s website: MyClintonNews.com
SPECTRUM ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $25,000 DONATION
TO LAURENS COUNTY DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS
BOARD THROUGH SPECTRUM COMMUNITY CENTER ASSIST
Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board Kicks Off National
Disability Employment Awareness Month with Event and Check Presentation
GREENVILLE - Spectrum has announced Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board (LCDSNB) has received an additional $25,000 through Spectrum Community Center Assist (SCCA), the company’s $30 million philanthropic initiative to revitalize local community centers and invest in job training programs in underserved rural and urban neighborhoods where Spectrum operates.
Spectrum funding will support LCDSNB programs that provide residential, career prep and employment services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, head or spinal cord injuries.
A check presentation took place at a LCDSNB luncheon to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 11:30 a.m. at The Ridge at 301 Exchange Rd, Laurens.
“The long-term partnership we created with LCDSNB is making a real difference in the lives of local residents by giving them the skills, tools and updated facilities they need to improve their economic situation,” said Rahman Khan, Group Vice President, Community Impact for Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand of connectivity services. “Already thousands of people around the country have participated in SCCA in the neighborhoods we serve, and we look forward to working with LCDSNB to provide essential job training in a safe and revitalized space.”
The $25,000 donation is the fourth for LCDSNB through the Spectrum Community Center Assist program, bringing total Spectrum support for the organization to $165,000 over the past four years.
Spectrum’s partnership with LCDSNB began in December 2022 at the Cypress Campus, where Spectrum employees and community volunteers made repairs and other physical improvements to the facility. Spectrum donated 25 new laptops dedicated to the new training and technology room and provided its advanced 1 gigabit-per-second internet service for the life of the program.
“Spectrum’s partnership with our agency continues to play a key role in the employment services we provide,” said Jason Tavenner, Executive Director, LCDSNB. “The Spectrum Community Center Assist Funding has provided equipment, software, and personnel to further customize workforce skills and independence training. We are excited for the opportunity to continue growing and improving employment goals for those living with disabilities and special needs.”
Spectrum launched Spectrum Community Center Assist in 2021 and will invest $30 million to benefit 100 community centers and job training programs in underserved areas across the company’s 41-state footprint. At each location, Spectrum invests in the community center’s job training efforts with cash grants and in-kind contributions, improves physical classroom spaces, sponsors rebuilding events with volunteers to repair and enhance the physical buildings, and provides new equipment, including laptops and furniture.
CAROLYN BEASLEY SHORTT
School District 55
Laurens – Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) proudly presented Carolyn Beasley Shortt with a commemorative award for her many years of service in the district and the whole community of Laurens. Carolyn Beasley Shortt has dedicated her life to ensuring that students with disabilities are not only educated but also prepared to thrive in work and life beyond the school environment. Over the course of two decades as Transition Coordinator for Laurens County School District 55, she established a legacy of innovative programs, collaborative partnerships, and community engagement that transformed the transition landscape for countless students.
Mrs. Shortt was very surprised by the district’s recognition. She said, “I am extremely humbled, excited, and very much overwhelmed. I think this is the most special reward I could ever receive from the district. My family and I appreciate it. The award is all in the students’ honor and to God’s glory. I thank the agencies and districts for their collaboration and for making my work in transition services possible.”
Mrs. Shortt launched and maintained student-led enterprises in Laurens County School District 55— Raider Garden, Raider Joe Coffee, Raider Car Wash, Raider Accessories, Raider Readers, Raider Quilt, and Raider Creations— to provide practical work experiences. These ventures gave students job skills, confidence, independence, and pride in achievement.
Her leadership reached beyond the classroom. She fostered partnerships with the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, and other local industries and agencies, connecting students to real opportunities. She led initiatives such as the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES), the South Carolina Employability Credential, Project SEARCH, Victory SC, A Partnership for Student Success (SCVR), WorkKeys, and the Annual Disability Employment Awareness Luncheon, which united the community to celebrate inclusive employment.
Her impact has been recognized statewide through numerous honors, including multiple Richard M. Kuffel Excellence in Education Awards, the SC Division on Career Development and Transition Outstanding Program Award, and the SC Council for Exceptional Children Advocate of the Year Award. On October 20, 2025, Mrs. Short was recognized in Greenville as part of the Transition Hall of Fame, and on October 29th, she was also recognized at the Laurens Disability Employment Awareness Luncheon for her many years of service and contribution. These accolades and public recognitions reflect the deep respect she has earned from colleagues, students, and families alike.
Beyond her profession, Mrs. Shortt has dedicated herself to service. She has led in the South Carolina Morticians Association, served her church, and advocated for equity with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other organizations. Her focus has always been on young people—especially those needing vision, patience, and belief in their potential.
Carolyn Beasley Shortt embodies the mission of transition education. Her lifelong dedication, innovative programs, and tireless advocacy have opened doors for students who might otherwise have been left behind.
Michael Seymour, owner of Print-A-Matic & community advocate, stated, "It’s been a real privilege to work with Mrs. Shortt on so many projects over the years and to help bring some of her ideas to life. Her dedication and creativity have made a lasting impact—not only on her students, but on everyone who’s had the chance to collaborate with her. She has a gift for turning vision into action, and our community is better for it.”
LCSD 55 Human Resources Director Renee’ Madden shared, “We celebrate an extraordinary educator and leader whose years of service have left a lasting impact on countless students, families, and colleagues. As a school administrator and Director of Transition, she has devoted her career to helping students take confident steps toward their futures — guiding them with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering belief in their potential. Her leadership has inspired excellence, her heart has fostered hope, and her legacy will continue to shape our school community for generations to come. Congratulations on her well-earned retirement! May this next chapter bring Carolyn as much joy as she has given to others throughout your remarkable career.”
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