Correction Enterprises and Nash Community College have had a great relationship thanks to the school providing complimentary space and cooperation for an on-campus optical center.
On Thursday, Correction Enterprises presented the school with its first Platinum Partnership Award. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to support Correction Enterprises’ mission.
“We created this special award in appreciation for those who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to supporting NCCE’s vision to create a safer North Carolina through the changing of lives,” Correction Enterprises Director Karen Brown said. “We could not have picked a better first recipient of this award than Nash Community College.”
Correction Enterprises has operated an optical production facility manned by inmates at nearby Nash Correctional Institution since 1998. In 2008, Correction Enterprises opened its first optical fitting and sales center in Raleigh, followed by a second center at the Nash Correctional Institution administration building in January 2015 to serve customers in the eastern part of the state.
Last fall, the prison needed the optical location for prison staff expansion, according to Brown. Nash Community College, which has provided valuable vocational training classes to Nash CI inmates through the years to better prepare them for life after prison, provided on-campus space for the optical center this past January.
"The combination of these classes, the optical production facility and the on-campus optical center will have a long-term positive impact on inmates, our customers, and the safety of our communities,” said DPS Deputy Secretary Gwen Norville, who oversees Correction Enterprises.
Brown added, “We were grateful the college stepped up and agreed to provide space for the optical center. Since then, sales have increased substantially, and are projected to surpass 2016 calendar year sales by 20 percent.”
Nash Community College President Dr. Bill Carver said, “We’re pleased to be the first one to receive this award. We want to be an example to others that we’re all in this to help people.”
In fiscal year 2017, Correction Enterprises produced $4.4 million worth of glasses for the state’s Medicaid patients, state prison inmates, vocational rehabilitation clients, as well as state employees and retirees of state and local governments.
Editor's Note: Top photo from left to right, Karen Brown, director of Correction Enterprises; Dr. Bill Carver, president of Nash Community College; Gwen Norville, Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary.
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