THE STORY OF TEAM WOOFGANG & CO.
Chapter One: 2017-2019
Co-founders Kelly Maffei, Amy Stern and Kris Burbank formed FUTURES-CT, Inc. in 2017. The nonprofit officially changed its name to Team Woofgang & Co. in 2020. The co-founders envisioned a business model that would provide meaningful vocational training for transitioned adults with disabilities and increased community awareness of the need for local employment options among these individuals.
Kelly Maffei (Fairfield) currently serves as Team Woofgang & Co.’s Program & Retail Manager. An advocate for children with disabilities for over 20 years with a focus on prevention of social and physical isolation among those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Amy Stern (Black Rock) is the current President of the Board of Directors of Team Woofgang & Co. She has served as a guest speaker for the Fairfield Public School system on the subject of raising young adults with disabilities after high school.
Kris Burbank (Groton) currently coaches parents of individuals with disabilities through her company, Learn to Bloom Coaching. In addition to Team Woofgang & Co, Kris founded Fairfield’s Committee for People with Disabilities, Stamford’s Access4All Committee, and is a former member of the Abilis Board of Directors.
Kelly Maffei (Fairfield) currently serves as Team Woofgang & Co.’s Program & Retail Manager. An advocate for children with disabilities for over 20 years with a focus on prevention of social and physical isolation among those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Amy Stern (Black Rock) is the current President of the Board of Directors of Team Woofgang & Co. She has served as a guest speaker for the Fairfield Public School system on the subject of raising young adults with disabilities after high school.
Kris Burbank (Groton) currently coaches parents of individuals with disabilities through her company, Learn to Bloom Coaching. In addition to Team Woofgang & Co, Kris founded Fairfield’s Committee for People with Disabilities, Stamford’s Access4All Committee, and is a former member of the Abilis Board of Directors.
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Chapter Two: 2020-PresentExecutive Director Announced – In February 2021 the board of directors brought Amiee Turner onto the team as Executive Director. She was tasked to work closely with staff and the board to ensure the organization can continue to serve adults with disabilities as we emerge from the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, to oversee the completion and opening of Team Woofgang & Co.’s new production facility, expand ongoing fundraising/ development efforts, and to continued the evolution and expansion of Team Woofgang & Co.’s services, programs, and retail products.
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New Production Facility Opens – On May 5, 2021 Team Woofgang & Co officially opened their doors to the brand new production facility under strict COVID protocols. The “bakery” as it is sometimes called, is located at 2861 Fairfield Ave in the heart of the historic Black Rock District. Our opening and ribbon cutting garnered much attention from news organizations and the ribbon cutting was attended by local officials including Mayor Ganim, Board President Amy Stern, Executive Director Amiee Turner, many of our team members, volunteers, and board members.
Looking to the Future – Expansion and growth are what Team Woofgang & Co is focused on for the future. We are deep in the R & D process of introducing three new treat options with a goal of launching them in 2022. This expands our curriculum and adds new skills to our curriculum. We are equally excited to expand wholesale accounts which allow our team members to learn account servicing. All of this, as well as growing our board, increasing fundraising, and bringing in a steady flow of new team members makes us excited about our future!
Team Woofgang’s board of directors makes the decision to move the organization beyond it’s grass-roots, all-volunteer beginnings. While still relying upon an incredible group of volunteers, a staff is built with the addition of an Executive Director, grants writer, bookkeeper, program manager, and production manager. Having our own production facility/bakery was also in process when COVID hit, closing down all in-person operations. Showing tremendous agility, the team shifted to an at-home curriculum that managed to both produce and sell over 850 boxes of treats but also launched an on-line curriculum that engaged our team members and continued learning with 156 Zoom “huddles.” With an exceptional team of volunteers and paid staff as well as our own production facility now operational, Team Woofgang is well positioned for a very bright future.
Looking to the Future – Expansion and growth are what Team Woofgang & Co is focused on for the future. We are deep in the R & D process of introducing three new treat options with a goal of launching them in 2022. This expands our curriculum and adds new skills to our curriculum. We are equally excited to expand wholesale accounts which allow our team members to learn account servicing. All of this, as well as growing our board, increasing fundraising, and bringing in a steady flow of new team members makes us excited about our future!
Team Woofgang’s board of directors makes the decision to move the organization beyond it’s grass-roots, all-volunteer beginnings. While still relying upon an incredible group of volunteers, a staff is built with the addition of an Executive Director, grants writer, bookkeeper, program manager, and production manager. Having our own production facility/bakery was also in process when COVID hit, closing down all in-person operations. Showing tremendous agility, the team shifted to an at-home curriculum that managed to both produce and sell over 850 boxes of treats but also launched an on-line curriculum that engaged our team members and continued learning with 156 Zoom “huddles.” With an exceptional team of volunteers and paid staff as well as our own production facility now operational, Team Woofgang is well positioned for a very bright future.