On June 28th, our very own president, Kenya Freeman, was invited to be in-studio to talk about the mission and work of Workwell Industries. Check out the video on WHAS11’s website here.

Claudia Coffey, reporter for WHAS11’s Great Day Live morning show, visited Workwell Industries to learn more about what we do here. Louisville, Ky.

They recorded two segments which will also air when Workwell Industries is a sponsor on WHAS11. View all segments on their website here.

LOUISVILLE, KY: Workwell Industries, a nonprofit which hires individuals with barriers to employment, is pleased to announce that Kenya Freeman has been named as President and Chief Executive Officer. Freeman’s appointment follows his stint as Interim President/CEO after the retirement of Phil Berry. 

Freeman has more than 25 years of diverse operational experiences involving transportation and logistics, inventory control, order kitting, and fulfillment and distribution. He has served at Workwell since 2017 as director and general manager. 

“Kenya is the right choice for leading Workwell into the future,” said Thomas Wobbe, Workwell’s chairman of the board. “His heart for our community and mission is strong, and his extensive experience prepares him to extraordinarily serve our staff and our clients.”  

“I was born and raised in Louisville, so it is a dream come true to be the new leader of this community-based organization,” said Freeman. “For the last four years, being the director and general manager, Workwell has held a special place in my heart. Now, as Workwell’s president and CEO, I will continue with the same passion and energy that has contributed to our success so far.” 

In his earlier role, Freeman led Workwell to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness through bringing industry-renowned organization systems to the nonprofit’s warehouse setup. Not only did this increase speed and quality for clients, but it also allowed Workwell’s staff to gain even more transferable job-training skills. Freeman embodies the mission of Workwell to assist those who have barriers to employment. Workers on the production floor say he always takes the time to encourage their strengths and provide opportunities for growth and development.  

“It is very rewarding and humbling for me to have an occupation that has positive impacts within the lives of so many in this community,” said Freeman. 

Before joining Workwell, Freeman had been responsible for operations at FedEx. He then worked in warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment in Louisville before coming to Workwell as Director of Operations (2017) and General Manager (2020). He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with honors from Sullivan University.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Date: May 4, 2021 

LOUISVILLE, KY: After almost two decades of service to Workwell Industries, the nonprofit organization’s President and CEO, Phil Berry, is retiring May 31.  

“For nearly 20 years, Phil has served our community with great passion and dedication to help others overcome barriers to employment,” said Thomas Wobbe, Workwell Board Chairman. “Through his selfless hard work, Phil has improved the lives of countless individuals, and for that, all of us at Workwell are extremely grateful.” 

During Berry’s career at Workwell, he guided the organization through numerous changes, including a rebranding in 2016 to develop the Workwell name and brand of today. A champion for Workwell’s mission, he was dedicated to providing meaningful work and job training for those facing barriers to employment. Under his leadership, Workwell improved Foreign Trade Zone status, increased capital, and expanded warehousing capabilities, all of which provided greater service for client partners and even more specialized job training opportunities for employees.  

Berry has been working closely with the board of directors to develop a leadership transition plan to ensure the continued success, mission, growth, and quality service of Workwell Industries. Kenya Freeman, is currently Interim President at Workwell, and after a search in the coming months, the Board of Directors will name the new President and CEO of Workwell. Phil Berry will stay on as President Emeritus with a position on the Board to support the transition. 

“Under Phil’s leadership, Workwell Industries pulled through some of its most challenging days,” said Freeman. “The community has benefited from his hard work and efforts, and he has led Workwell to a prosperous future for its employees.”   

LOUISVILLE, KY: Workwell Industries announces the installment of Thomas Wobbe as chairman of its board of directors. Wobbe has been a member of the board since 2010 and succeeds Mike Taylor in service as chairman.

Wobbe brings a wealth of leadership experience in the insurance industry, where he is the director of major accounts for The Underwriters Group. He is passionate about Workwell’s mission of creating jobs for people with barriers to employment.

 “Steady employment and hard work are foundational to success,” he said. “To be a part of an organization whose mission is so crucial to human success, that’s exciting.”

Wobbe first became involved in Workwell during a volunteer event 15 years ago. Now he looks forward to leading the board in its efforts to grow the nonprofit organization and increase its clients, customers and reach.

“Workwell is something of a hidden gem in the city of Louisville,” Wobbe said. “It provides a tremendous service to our community. We need to grow this service so we can keep people working, so they can enjoy success and have dignity in the pride of their work.”

CEO Phil Berry is pleased to announce the promotion of Kenya Freeman to General Manager. Kenya has years of professional experience with the best-known names in the logistics industry, but when he first arrived at Workwell in 2017, he found a diverse and positive environment unlike any he had ever seen. During his service as Director of Operations, he used his talents to increase organizational efficiency and develop the members of his team. Thanks to the unique mission of Workwell, Kenya works directly to help people overcome obstacles and better themselves, whether they envision learning job skills to use elsewhere, or advancing their careers at Workwell over time. 

In his new, expanded role, Kenya takes joy in creating an environment where workers of all backgrounds can learn and grow. This includes folks with criminal records, people with disabilities, refugees, and others with barriers to typical employment. 

Helping people move forward

“Sometimes people are embarrassed by their past, but Workwell gives them a place to get back into the workforce without being judged,” he said. “Our leadership understands that people are trying to get back on their feet, and we are here to help them positively move forward. The past is in the past.” 

In many ways, Kenya sees Workwell as a teaching warehouse, where he leads his team in learning to implement best practices to meet deadlines and finish quality jobs on time, every time. He brings professional structure and personal care to his work, teaching skills to help employees work consistently and confidently. Unlike many places in the corporate world, Workwell’s facilities are all manual – without flashy automation that can raise overhead costs and take away jobs. While this was a change for Kenya, he finds it works well for his team of all abilities, and it does not stop Workwell from doing great work to fulfill customers’ high demands and needs. 

“Here, you see workers coexisting, understanding roles, and contributing, even with a blend of different walks of life and different skill sets,” Kenya explained. “Whether people grow their career here over a number of years, or they use the skills they learn here as a steppingstone to another occupation, we’re here to support and encourage them.”