THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508250170
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Dusting the furniture might not seem like a big deal to the average housekeeper.
But Cindy Branton has to keep gleaming surfaces on a full inventory of desk tops, dining room tables and other wood furnishings displayed at M.M. Crockin Furniture Co.
However, on Wednesday morning, kitchen duty was the first order of business for the award-winning custodian.
Hands submerged in suds, Branton scrubbed the half dozen or so coffee mugs, cups and utensils left in the sink by employees of the Downtown furniture store.
Donning a pink floral smock to protect her clothes, Branton rinsed and chatted about the chores that were yet to come: drying and stacking the mugs in the cupboard, cleaning out the sink, emptying the trash cans and wiping down the counters.
Before leaving the employee lounge area, Branton has to be sure that no task is left undone, she said, so she ``won't have to come back to it later.'' After all, with 35,000 square feet of floors to vacuum and displays to dust, this housekeeper doesn't have time to backtrack.
``I don't get it all done in one day,'' Branton acknowledged, ``but I can finish it another day if I don't.''
Recently, the 34-year-old was named ``Employee of the Quarter'' by SHOP (Supportive Habilitative Occupational Program), an arm of the Portsmouth Community Services Board that finds jobs for the developmentally disabled.
Branton was selected for the honor based on her work performance, her overall motivation and attitude, her attendance and her progress on the job, said Roy Zarate, an employment specialist who serves as Branton's job coach.
``She's very conscientious,'' said Zarate. ``Plus she has a very good memory - better than most people. If she cannot complete a job, she remembers that she needs to get back to it.''
Branton started work for the furniture company in March of 1994. During the first few weeks of Branton's on-the-job training, Zarate worked right beside her.
``It was like I had two employees for the price of one,'' recalled Frank Brown, office manager at Crockin's.
Three days a week, Branton leaves her Briarwood home about 8 a.m. to catch a bus downtown. Her day at Crockin begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.
``She comes to work and goes right to work,'' said Brown. ``She knows where she's left off and what to do next. . . She's always conscious of doing a good job.''
Prior to working at Crockin's, Branton did custodial-type work at Portside - cleaning tables, sweeping up and emptying trash cans.
``Some days it was so hot out there,'' she said. ``I had to carry my own ice water with me.''
But the air-conditioned comfort of Crockin's isn't the only perk Branton relishes about her current job.
``I like the people best,'' she said. ``It's a nice place to work.''
Name: Cynthia Leigh Branton
Nickname: Cindy
Neighborhood: Briarwood
Number of years in Portsmouth: 34
Birthplace: Maryview Hospital
Birthdate: March 12, 1961
Occupation: Housekeeper, M.M. Crockin through independent work program of Portsmouth Community Services
What job other than your own would you like? None. Happy where I am.
Marital status: Single
Children: None
Fondest childhood memory: Riding my bike to High's for ice cream with my best friend Kendra
Biggest accomplishment: Becoming an independent worker
Perfect way to spend the day: At the mall
I can't resist: Chocolate
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Lobscouser
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Portside
If you had one wish for Portsmouth, what would it be? A safer city
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The people ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Cindy Branton
by CNB