Entrepreneur Makes Commitment To Center For Head Injury Services    St. Louis Small Business Monthly    October 2003    Rebecca Herwick, owner of Global Products International, has been recognized for, and is passionate about, her involvement with the Center for Head Injury Services, an organization that provides rehabilitation and employment opportunities for people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Herwick was introduced to the organization three years ago after her friend, Doug Watkins, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident. Watkins broke every bone on the left side of his face, suffered brain damage and was left in a coma after the accident. Doctors told Herwick he wouldn't survive. Herwick searched for help for Watkins, and she found it with the Center. Fortunately, Watkins defied the odds and survived the crash. Today, while not as intellectual as he once was, he works and even drives. The experience opened Berwick's eyes, and she began hiring a number of clients from the Center. "There is a community out there of people who are handicapped and disabled, and they are really a marketable commodity," she said. "Working is an important part of the recovery process in helping these individuals get a new life after a brain injury." Hiring the Center's clients just isn't a charitable gesture. Herwick said the company has financially benefited from the employees. "This works for me because it’s beneficial to my company and my staff." Said Herwick: "It's (hiring disabled) the right thing to do. Since we got involved, I can't tell you how my life has changed."

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