Sam Anderson
Synopsis
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sam Anderson, discharged with a physical disability, transformed his life through the VA Incentive Therapy Program and employment with PRIDE Industries via the AbilityOne® Program. Now a crew leader at Little Rock Air Force Base, Anderson's remarkable progress and leadership have not only led to personal achievements, like buying a home, but also inspired the recruitment of other veterans with disabilities to PRIDE Industries.
The Full Story
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sam Anderson of PRIDE Industries in Little Rock, AR is an inspiring example of how the partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and NISH (now SourceAmerica) transforms lives.
Anderson was discharged from the Marine Corps with a physical disability and was in the ranks of the unemployed. A combination of immense personal determination to change, support from the VA Incentive Therapy Program of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, and employment on an AbilityOne Program contract at PRIDE Industries helped make his American dream come true.
After reaching out to the VA Incentive Therapy Program for help, Anderson was later recruited by PRIDE Industries to perform grounds maintenance at Little Rock Air Force Base. “Sam’s growth has been phenomenal,” proclaimed Anderson’s supervisor, PRIDE Industries Project Manager Glenn Rogers. “He showed up here wide-eyed wanting to make a change in his life. We gave him a number of growing responsibilities and he handled all the challenges that emerged. He is a ‘poster child’ for what PRIDE Industries does.”
As crew leader, Anderson directs a five-man team, performing operations such as lawn mowing, mechanical weed removal, pest control, and fertilization. Also, he is responsible for preparing necessary documents and reports as well as maintaining equipment service and usage logs, Anderson says what he loves most about his job is the hands-on work, camaraderie of his co-workers, producing top quality results, and hearing compliments from the government customer.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of all by Anderson was the purchase of a home with a one-acre-sized lot in March 2008. Anderson now bicycles to work when the weather permits because the home is located less than two miles from the base.
Today, Anderson’s accomplishments are helping others in need. Rogers always tells Anderson’s story when recruiting veterans with disabilities to work at PRIDE industries—including nine veterans hired during the first quarter of 2008.
