Eric Woitas: Doing It All with a Smile

By Anne Elizabeth Clark

Eric Woitas’ employment journey hasn’t always been easy. After an unexpected layoff at a previous job, Eric was worried he would not be able to continue working and bettering his professional skills. However, almost two years ago, the naval base in Pensacola hired him and gave him a chance.

Nowadays, Eric works three days a week doing housekeeping duties at the naval base. Paul Smith, his supervisor at work, said that Eric “has been a blessing and a joy to work with.” Paul described Eric as being dependable and prompt and noted how he never misses work. “He is always excited to work, whether it’s sweeping, mopping, or anything else we might need him to do. He does everything with a smile!”

Donna Corey, Eric’s job coach, echoed the same sentiments. “Eric has definitely become more social at work, and he’s always asking about his job performance,” said Corey. She said he often asks about how he’s doing to make sure his performance is the best it can be.

Eric leads a very independent life, living on his own and keeping busy outside of work. Nevertheless, he remains close to his mother, Carolyn. She said that Eric “always has a good day at work, no matter what.” Eric’s optimism is infectious and improves the moods of everyone around him. Carolyn said Eric would love more responsibilities at work and loves proving how hard he can work and how dedicated he is.

Eric doesn’t spend all his time at work, though. He loves living on his own and spends his free time shopping, bowling, and watching movies and videos. His favorite thing to watch is The Waltons. When asked about his job at the naval base, Eric said, “I like the people I work with a lot,” and that his favorite part of his job is the fact that he gets to help the military every day!

Through supported employment with APD, stories like Eric’s are possible and individuals can continue to learn and grow in their communities. Eric is flourishing at his job, and everyone is very proud of him for seizing this opportunity and achieving such a high level of success!

Eric leads a very independent life, living on his own and keeping busy outside of work.