“The Lighthouse mission is very important to me. I am proof of how this organization can help a person grow at and away from work.”
Dustin Bradfordwas born in a small suburb of Seattle in July 1988. As a child, Dustin was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition known as Stargardt’s disease; an inherited trait affecting the central field of vision and color perception. Growing up, Dustin struggled in public school and quickly fell behind his classmates. After learning about the Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, WA, Dustin decided to become a student. Within a few years, his confidence and grades improved greatly. Dustin was able to return to public school and graduated with his class in Spokane, Washington, where his family had moved.
Dustin started his career at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. in 2009, working on the production floor at our Spokane facility. Through the years, he has continuously been a dynamic team player and leader. In 2016, Dustin was promoted to Senior Wallboard Set-Up Specialist, and he is going “to continue to take advantage of all the Lighthouse has to offer, not only to better myself but the company as well.”
With his Lean Manufacturing White Belt certification, Dustin has helped streamline wallboard production. He has also played an integral part in replacing old tools with new parts for individuals who are blind, and spearheaded the installation and use of talking barcode scanners. Dustin’s work ethic has not gone unnoticed, he was elected by his peers as the 2017 Raymond. W. Haman Direct Employee of the Year recipient. He will compete nationally for the prestigious Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award at the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) conference. He says, “the Lighthouse mission is very important to me. I am proof of how this organization can help a person grow at and away from work.”
