Author Archives: Jacob Dreyer

Kim Koellner, Regional Director of Vocational and Day Services

Following a comprehensive search process, Christian Opportunity Center promoted longtime employee Kim Koellner to Regional Director of Vocational and Day Services after an 11-year stint as Program Manager in Oskaloosa.

Koellner joined COC in 1987 as a Residential Advisor in an Intermediate Care Facility. She transferred to Oskaloosa in 1989 and began working as a Work Skills Supervisor, a position she held for 12 years. In 2001, Koellner was promoted to Associate Manager before being moving into the Program Manager role in 2004.

Koellner began her new duties in November.

“I am most looking forward to being able to provide the highest quality of services for the individuals we support and to always demonstrate to others COC’s mission,” Koellner said.

COC’s mission is to integrate Christian values in teaching skills for life.

Founded in 1969, COC provides residential and vocational support and services to nearly 300 people with disabilities in Dallas, Mahaska, Marion, Polk and Warren counties. For more information visit https://christianopportunity.org/ or connect with Christian Opportunity Center on Facebook and IowaCOC on Twitter.

(left to right) Travis Eisenbarth, Haley Kowzan, Ellie Howard, Alice Lickteig and Josie Lickteig presented COC Executive Director Rod Braun with a check on behalf of the Pella Knights of Columbus

The Pella Knights of Columbus took a unique approach to this year’s campaign for persons with intellectual disabilities, creating a fundraising competition between local Pella students’ teams and groups, resulting in the group’s largest donation ever to Christian Opportunity Center.

Members of the Pella Lady Dutch girls’ soccer team presented COC Executive Director Rod Braun with a check for $5,413.30.

Joe Lickteig’s two daughters play soccer and decided to enlist the help of their teammates to raise funds for this year’s campaign. But the girls’ soccer team took it one step further, making a friendly wager with the football team.

If the girls’ soccer team raised more money, Coach Brian Huddle would wear a pink soccer jersey for the presentation photo. If the football team raised more, Joe would wear football gear and take on Austin Schulte in a tackling drill.

Word of the competition spread through the school, resulting in seven teams and clubs volunteering to help with the campaign.

Girls’ soccer won the bet by raising $576.65, topping the football team’s total of $465.10. Cross country raised $431.48, while Technology Student Association (TSA) raised $143. Band raised $117.58, followed by volleyball’s $106 and boys’ soccer’s $65.85.

Thanks to an annual trophy and added interest from teams and groups, excitement is already building for next year’s campaign.

The campaign ran the final full week of August and was coordinated by Art Halstead, Travis Eisenbarth and Mike Linde, who managed 50 Knights, friends and families for seven days, resulting in 200 volunteer hours.

Since 1999, Pella Knights of Columbus donations total more than $45,000 in support of COC. Its 2014 donation of $4,275 was the largest prior to Wednesday’s presentation. Last year, Pella Knights of Columbus were in the top 3% for dollars raised per Knight.

The Pella Knights of Columbus are part of the larger Iowa Knights of Columbus, whose tagline is “Go Make a Difference!” For more information visit http://iowakofc.org/ or connect with Pella Knights of Columbus #12334 on Facebook.

Founded in 1969, COC provides residential and vocational support and services to 250 people with disabilities in Marion, Mahaska, Warren and Polk counties. For more information visit https://christianopportunity.org/ or connect with Christian Opportunity Center on Facebook and IowaCOC on Twitter.

COC Executive Director Rod Braun (left) with former Executive Director Bruce Nikkel (middle) and first Executive Director Harold Eiten (right) in front of the Eiten Entrance

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) dedicated its new entrance in honor of its first Executive Director Harold Eiten with a brief ceremony and time of fellowship on Thursday.

COC Executive Director Rod Braun opened the ceremony with an introduction, presentation of plaque, and prayer. Harold shared his memories of COC and expressed his gratitude for the honor. Former Executive Director Bruce Nikkel closed the ceremony by quoting Harvey De Jager, former CEO of Hope Haven of Rock Valley. Harvey dedicated COC’s first building by saying: “The future of COC is as bright as the promises of God.”

In January of 1969, Harold visited Pella to meet with community leaders and parents about a job directing a special education program. Because the federal government had not yet mandated special education services in public schools, the program was to be fully funded by donations.

Six months later, Harold, his wife and six children journeyed from Michigan to Iowa on faith in a vision cast by local leaders and with no guarantee that the dream would become a reality. But by late summer, the program was up and running.

Harold served as Executive Director until 1973.

Some of Harold’s favorite memories include: COC Volunteer Corps who gathered 2,048 S&H Green Stamp books to purchase COC’s first van for transporting students; local families who served as Family Life Homes for students; and generous support from the local community that led to continued support of the mission of COC.

Harold’s passion and vision for COC set the stage for decades of successful supports and services for people with disabilities.

Founded in 1969, COC provides residential, vocational and spiritual supports and services to nearly 300 people with disabilities in Dallas, Marion, Mahaska, Warren and Polk counties. For more information visit https://christianopportunity.org/ or connect with Christian Opportunity Center on Facebook.

Volunteer Tony Pearson (left) and COC person supported Mike Cossolotto (right) at Mike’s exhibit at the Joan Kuyper Farver Art Gallery in the Pella Community Center

A picture is worth a thousand words, and for Christian Opportunity Center person supported Mike Cossolotto, those words tell an incredible story.

Mike is nonverbal, but for the past year and with the help of volunteer Tony Pearson, he has been telling his story through painting. On Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, Mike shared his story through his art show at the Joan Kuyper Farver Art Gallery inside the Pella Community Center.

Tony, a history major and 2014 graduate of Central College, presented the idea of painting to Mike after volunteering at COC through Central’s Service Learning course. Cheri Doane, Director of Community Based Learning, challenged Tony to do something different.

“I was scared and uncomfortable,” said Tony. “But Cheri said she wanted me to go to COC, so I did what she asked and that’s how it all started.”

The two settled on painting after Tony spotted Mike’s fluid hand movement. Mike’s motion was not all that surprising, as his mother is also an artist. But the seemingly insignificant semicircle completely changed Tony’s perspective.

“I no longer saw his disability,” Tony said. “It changed everything about how I work with him and how I approach a person with a disability.”

With the help of Tony and COC staff, Mike has completed 25-30 works of art using many different strategies, including: painting with a special glove, painting with the wheels on his wheelchair and painting using stencils.

But of all the paintings, one has special meaning. Mike indicated that his mom was to have his very first painting. It was featured on the back of the biography cards and booklets at the art show. In addition to Mike’s first work, Tony was impressed by another painting, an abstract that portrays a person riding a bicycle.

“It wasn’t just a bicycle,” Tony said. “Mike’s legs were on either side and there were handlebars. That was a special painting and Mike created it. It was pretty emotional for me.”

Mike discovered an untapped talent due to the efforts Central’s community based learning program and Matthew Kelly’s art courses, COC’s staff and volunteer opportunities, Tony’s commitment and the response of the Pella community.

And Mike provided the vision.

“This is good for our community,” said Tony. “Without Central College, COC, Mike, and the Pella community, this wouldn’t have been possible. I can’t thank everyone enough.”

Mike’s art will be on display through Oct. 15, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.

Founded in 1969, COC provides residential, vocational and spiritual supports and services to nearly 300 people with disabilities in Dallas, Marion, Mahaska, Warren and Polk counties. For more information visit https://christianopportunity.org/ or connect with Christian Opportunity Center on Facebook.

Sharon Rook-Wisse celebrated 30 years at COC with a July reception

Christian Opportunity Center payroll administrator Sharon Rook-Wisse reflected on her 30 years with the organization…in her own words.

When I was hired at COC, the Executive Director did the job interviews. I was working in the nursing home wing of the Pella Community Hospital and told a co-worker that I wanted to do something different. She suggested I apply at COC. I went to COC after one of my shifts (still in my nursing uniform) and spoke to Office Coordinator Doris Nibbelink and asked if I could fill out an application. After I filled it out, I gave it back to Doris and she asked if I had a minute; she wanted to show someone my application. A couple of minutes later, I was greeted by Executive Director Art Ruiter and he interviewed me on the spot (the hiring process has changed a lot since then). My starting wage in 1985 was $4.00 an hour. In the 80’s, we called the homes “cottages” and people supported were called “clients.” To this day, there are still people in Pella that refer to the people supported as clients.

I started at COC on July 30th, 1985, in what was called the RCF/MR (Residential Care Facility for people with Mentally Retardation) as a med-aide supervisor. It is now the North Broadway ICF/ID houses and administrative offices.

During the spring of 1986, I started working in what is now Department 1 (back then it was called Work Activity Center-1) as an instructional assistant. Staff members in that department are now called work skills supervisors. One of my duties was taking care of two guinea pigs named George and Sidney in the Green Room. We also had two outdoor cats named CoCo and Patches. One of my favorite memories was watching a pretend game show on film from Heartland AEA with the people supported called “The Good Life” and another film series called “Circles” (to this day, if someone is standing too close to me, I tell them: “You are in my purple private circle.”).  I worked in Department 1 until August of 1999, most of that time I worked in a room called the “Blue Room,” which is now Executive Director Rod Braun and Associate Director John Eilers’ offices. My happiest memories are of the people supported that I worked with in the Blue Room.

During that time, I also worked early morning shifts at the Broadway ICF. I also subbed in what was called the B-CSLA Apartments (15 people living in one- and two-bedroom apartments with shared kitchens), which is now East and West Broadway HCBS. I also worked one summer in a two-bed HCBS apartment that COC had on Main St.

In August of 1999, I transferred to the front office as an office assistant and later as an office coordinator. My duties consisted of setting up job interviews, updating the vehicle schedule, processing people supported payrolls, setting up/taking down items for “Rustic Amenities” with people supported, providing tours with potential applicants for services, admission coordinator duties, and many other duties as assigned tasks.

In August of 2006, I transferred to the finance department which is where I have been for almost nine years. I process staff and people supported payrolls. 

One of the main reasons that I have enjoyed being at COC for 30 years is working in a Christ-centered environment and being able to share my faith with others.

When I transferred to the finance department, a dear friend and former co-worker gave me a plaque which still hangs on the wall in my office today…

She believed
she could
so she did.

That has been my motto over the years, believing in myself and not being afraid to try something new. I have worn many “hats” at COC and have enjoyed serving others. I can’t imagine working anywhere else.