As Yavapai Exceptional Industries Celebrates 50 Years, New Executive Director Plans to Honor Previous Director’s Legacy
By Audri Baker • Photo by Trisha Shaffer
Yavapai Exceptional Industries (YEI!) is a remarkable company. A non-profit agency that helps local adults with developmental disabilities and provides them with support for job training, volunteer placement, and employment, its staff has grown from 12 to 45.
Not only does YEI! help many people, but it has also earned respect throughout the community. YEI! has won many accredited awards by the National Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
Longtime Executive Director Brad Newman had a stroke in June 2022 and Bill Loughney, who has worked at YEI! since 2002, stepped into the role immediately, becoming “official” in the capacity this past March.
Bill has plenty of experience when it comes to this organization and what it takes to run it.
This January, YEI! is celebrating 50 years, which Bill called “a testament to Brad’s passion and vision regarding our movement, and to the people of Yavapai County for their willingness to support us both financially and by providing us with the work necessary to employ and train our wonderful clients.”
He also said that YEI!’s biggest accomplishment in the past 50 years is that it now has three production facilities and four mortgage-free family hosted homes, thanks to donations from the local community.
YEI! is planning an anniversary celebration for January 20 and at the time of this writing, team members are still fine tuning the details for a celebration of such a significant milestone.
Bill said he and the “wonderful team of forty-five staff and 139 YEI-HOO’s” plan on carrying on Brad’s legacy as they continue to heed his advice every day: “Make money and have fun” and “Each one, teach one” are just two examples of lessons Brad instilled in his previous employees’ daily lives. Bill hopes to continue to use Brad’s voice and image on their radio and TV ads for as long as they can.
Bill said Brad is currently doing well and loving the location of his skilled nursing facility and all it has to offer. His recovery will be a long haul, but he is working hard.
Learn more about Brad’s recovery and how to help at https://www.gofundme.com/f/brad-newmanbrad-the-dad
For more information on YEI!, visit www.yeiworks.com or call 928.445.0991.