January 14, 2009
NSTAR Customer Service Representative Timothy Vernon is being honored today at the Massachusetts Statehouse for his award-winning essay about the positive impact
braille has made on his life. Vernon will be recognized by Perkins School for the Blind along with two other award recipients during ceremonies to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille.
“Braille has given me tremendous independence throughout my life and I’m thrilled to be recognized with this award,” said Timothy Vernon. “Fluency in braille has been particularly important in my work at NSTAR and folks have been very accommodating in providing me with the resources I need. From day one, my colleagues have gone out of their way to include me as part of the team.”
“Tim is a great asset to NSTAR and exemplifies what a customer service representative should be,” said Tony Simas, Director of NSTAR’s Customer Interaction Center. “He is extremely customer-focused and is sensitive to the needs of our diverse customer population."
Perkins School for the Blind of Watertown, Mass., the nation's first school for the visually impaired, is one of several organizations marking the Jan. 4, 1809, birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille alphabet used by blind and visually impaired persons the world over.
"Dozens of essay contest entries were received from braille readers from age 8 to 88," said Kim Charlson, Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library Director. "The three award winners are young adults completing their education or beginning their working careers. They truly exemplify what braille literacy can provide to people who are blind – knowledge, self-esteem, independence and empowerment."
NSTAR is the largest Massachusetts-based, investor-owned electric and gas utility. The company transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including more than one million electric customers in 81 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.
