Wanganui Enterprises' human resources consultant Vanessa Blignaut says she is bi-polar, but she does not have a disability.
The distinction, she says, is that she is "living with it." Wanganui Enterprises manager Gary Mitchell simply describes her as a godsend.
Changes at Wanganui Enterprises, involving new staff and the restructuring of the business, had meant a lot of extra work, he said.
"But for Vanessa, we wouldn't be where we are today."
Mrs Blignaut, from Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Kwazulu Natal, before settling in Wanganui, has been on contract to Wanganui Enterprises since October last year. The contract finishes at the end of July, and she and Mr Mitchell regret that.
"It's very sad; she's become one of the family here," he said.
Mrs Blignaut said she loved working at Wanganui Enterprises. "This is one of the best places I have worked," she said. "There are no politics."
And work in which she had been involved had been a team effort.
In her role as a consultant Mrs Blignaut has assisted with Wanganui Enterprises' strategic plan and has developed a code of conduct, an employment agreement and a work skill assessment for individuals.
The work skill assessment focused on "what they can offer in industry rather than their disability," she said. The assessment assisted with Wanganui Enterprises' production.
"We got to know quite a lot about the individuals." Mrs Blignaut is hopeful that Wanganui people will continue to support Wanganui Enterprises.
"Wanganui Enterprises is supporting some of the sometimes forgotten people of Wanganui, but the most special people."
PICTURED: In the dog box... In fact, these dog kennels have been big sellers for Wanganui Enterprises. Extending a paw yesterday were human resources consultant Vanessa Blignaut (left) and manager Gary Mitchell. Mr Mitchell said that when Wanganui Enterprises shifted from Purnell House to its present location, in London St, in 1995, the firm had produced 380 kennels in its first year. This year, at April 30, the total number of kennels produced was 9220. "We will reach 10,000 by the middle of November." Wanganui Enterprises services the North Island with the kennels.
Enterprising Vanessa a godsend
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