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Tyrone Tibbs Success Story

Tyrone Tibbs

(Photo to right) Tyrone Tibbs has been with Modell’s Sporting Goods Store for 10 years, longer than most sales associates and many managers.

If you’re in the market for athletic gear provided with great customer service and speed, then you might consider visiting Modell’s in northeast D.C. There you are likely to be greeted by one of the friendliest sales associates you may ever encounter. Tyrone Tibbs has been with the sporting goods store for 10 years, outlasting most retail sales associates and many managers. His main section is the shoe department, but he does whatever needs to be done to ensure that the store remains in good order and that customers are served quickly and properly.

Tyrone is part of the supported employment program offered at Capitol Hill Supportive Services (CHSS). Supported employment helps people with disabilities develop marketable, transferrable job skills that will create pathways to self-sufficiency and full community integration. Tyrone works four hours per day, four days a week. Job coaches check-in with him and store managers periodically just to make sure things are going well. With the store longer than any other associate, there’s not much Tyrone doesn’t know or cannot handle. In addition to helping customers find the right shoe in the right size, he maintains the stockroom, places sensors on shoes, and assists managers in processing delivery trucks—unloading, unpacking, and tagging new merchandise and replenishing shelves and racks as needed.

Assistant Store Manager Tiffany Smith remembers meeting Tyrone when she first started with the retailer in the late ‘90s. She has worked in various Modell’s locations throughout the metropolitan area over the years and was pleasantly surprised to return to the Hechinger mall store in October 2016 to find Tyrone still there. Smith is quick to note that Tyrone’s customer service skills are better than most employees. “He has a great attitude, is very independent, and understands what we do and how it should be done quite well.” Both Smith and Tyrone conceded that some customers can be a bit trying at times, but Tyrone has found a way to handle them too. “I help as much as I can, and stay as nice as possible, but I don’t take any disrespect. Sometimes, you just have to walk away.”

Tyrone, 33, was raised by his grandmother, Ann Tibbs, who assumed custody of him and his sister at a young age. She described her grandson as loveable and, with a slight laugh, as ‘something else.’ “He loves people and is willing to help anybody in any way he can.” As she matures, Ms. Tibbs hopes that when she’s no longer around that people will continue to treat Tyrone, and all people with disabilities well. Tyrone concurred. “I want people to treat me as they would like to be treated. It doesn’t matter if I have a disability or not—I can do it.” Smith’s confidence in Tyrone is high. She encourages employers to look beyond the
disability and give people a chance. “They may perform better than others.”

DDA Service Coordinator Fatima Samura supports Mr. Tibbs.