Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Industries of the Blind history
Industries of the Blind company history timeline
The law, known as the Wagner-O’Day Act, was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 25, 1938, and required federal government agencies to purchase certain products manufactured by people who are blind.
NIB was incorporated in the state of New York on August 10, 1938, to serve as the central nonprofit agency responsible for allocating government orders.
1962 – A few decades later, in 1962, IOB, Inc. entered into its first one million dollar contract.
1965 – The story of the pen began in 1965 when the General Services Administration (GSA) wrote a 16-page federal specifications document for a retractable ballpoint pen with a replaceable ink cartridge.
After receiving a shipment of 13 million defective ballpoint pens from the original supplier in 1967, then-GSA Commissioner Heinz Abersfeller sought a new supplier and offered NIB the opportunity to produce the pens.
1968 – On April 20, 1968, the SKILCRAFT United States Government Pen was added to the federal procurement list, making it available to federal purchasers through the AbilityOne® Program.
1971 – The Javits–Wagner–O’Day Act expanded the law, requiring specified supplies and services come from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.
Seeking help from private citizens, the New Jersey Commission for the Blind, and National Industries for the Blind, he was able to launch Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc. as a private, not-for-profit agency on September 14, 1981.
1983 – 50th Anniversary of Industries of the Blind
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Richard Oliver’s career at Industries of the Blind began in 1995.
2000 – IOB secures a distribution contract for springs, which is still active today.
2006 – AbilityOne becomes the new name of the Javits-Wagner O’Day Program as determined by congress.
2009 – IOB leadership and the team introduced new manufacturing methods and equipment that dramatically boosted output while reducing errors.
2010 – IOB picks up a new distribution contract for wire, chain, rope, and cables.
2013 – IOB celebrated our 80th year of providing rewarding work for people who are blind, and quality products to all kinds of organizations.
Bestwork has adopted the universally recognized best practices of Lean Manufacturing and ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Dean came to IOB in 2015 when he learned there was a need for a manager at IOB’s Distribution Center.
Joshua Gould, President and CEO of Industries of the Blind, has been with IOB since 2017 and has been thrilled to be part of an amazing team and a company with such an incredible Mission.
John Richtarik has been with IOB since 2018.
Victor joined IOB in July 2019 after having worked as CFO for various private companies for over 20 years.
2019 – The planning and building of the coffee shop begins.
Rate Industries of the Blind's efforts to communicate its history to employees.
Industries of the Blind jobs
Do you work at Industries of the Blind?
Is Industries of the Blind's vision a big part of strategic planning?
Industries of the Blind history FAQs
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Industries of the Blind, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Industries of the Blind. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Industries of the Blind. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Industries of the Blind. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Industries of the Blind and its employees or that of Zippia.
Industries of the Blind may also be known as or be related to INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC, Industries Of The Blind, Industries Of The Blind, Greensboro, Industries Of The Blind, Incorporated, Industries of the Blind and Industries of the Blind, Inc.