« Seeking the right amount of sound in the fury of combat | Main | Business promotes sign language »
March 9, 2006
Hearing-impaired program director nearing retirement
Carol Moyer is a great communicator. She's been communicating with people for much of her life, from working as a customer representative for cellular phone and cable television companies to a receptionist in a doctor's office. But those odd jobs weren't where she made an impact.
For the past 12 years, Moyer has made her impression communicating with people who are hard of hearing, as the executive director for the Hearing Impaired Persons of Charlotte County. The nonprofit organization is designed to promote assistance, understanding and cooperation for the deaf and hard-of-hearing residents. The years went fast.
"I don't think I ever really thought about it," said Moyer, 64. "When I first started, it was a part-time thing, but the more I worked I understood what needed to be done."
The time has come for Moyer to pass the baton of leadership. Moyer will retire at the end of March, something she's nervous about.
"Half of me is looking forward to it," Moyer said. "And the other half hates the idea because I love this job. I'm wondering if I am going to have enough to do."
Pencil in her replacement, Kim Gaut. Since 2001, Gaut has been the education and interpreter coordinator with HIP. This is an opportunity Gaut is relishing.
"I'm excited about it," Gaut said. "The next few years will be exciting."
The pressure of doing well?
"Any new person feels the pressure to perform well," Gaut said in reference to being Moyer's successor. "We're becoming bigger and we're expanding our services. So we will continue going in the same forward direction that we've been going."
HIP is building a new 4,000-square-foot building off Sandhill Boulevard, where the current headquarters is located. Moyer was the catalyst behind this operation.
"(Moyer) has really been a major force in the progress of HIP," said Ron Ferguson, who serves on HIP's board of directors and is a facilitator of sign-language classes for the organization. "She's been instrumental in getting help from United Way and other organization. She's been on the ball."
The new building will open sometime in the coming months, long after Moyer has given up her post. Moyer said that's the one thing she's sad about.
"I'll never have a chance to occupy the executive director's office in the new building," Moyer said. "That really bothers me. It's killing me."
For more information about HIP, contact (941) 743-8347.
By Ryan Boyd
http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/030906/tp9ch4.htm?date=030906&story=tp9ch4.htm
Posted by 4HL on March 9, 2006 8:24 PM
Send this article to a friend