The transition from working life to retirement is a big life event. When that time was approaching for Jack Cone he decided to take advantage of a program offered by his employer.
Jack worked for 35 years for Intel Corporation with an emphasis in lithography and a specialty in optics. He decided to take advantage of a Fellowship Program offered by Intel. Employees apply for the fellowship prior to retirement. When approved they use their skills upon retirement to help a non-profit for up to a year, receiving a stipend from Intel.
Jack was researching non-profits and came across Midwest Food Bank. He is fulfilling his fellowship at MFB Arizona and will be focusing on streamlining the volunteer process from inquiry, sign-up, scheduling, event set-up, volunteer training and project completion.
Jack is married and has three children and six grandchildren. His family vacation to Hawaii for his daughter's wedding is a favorite trip and memory for Jack.
"They are what make me try to be a better person," says Jack. "I love spending time with my wife and children in any way that I can."
He has volunteered in several ways. He especially enjoyed coaching his son in AAU basketball and competing across the US against the best talent. He has also volunteered with his wife to teach job skills and life skills to students with special needs.
"Jack's background in project management and data analysis will be a tremendous help in looking at the volunteer management process from a different perspective," says Merilee Baptiste, Executive Director of MFB Arizona.
His work life and family life have been full as he enters retirement and completes his fellowship at MFB. If you have an opportunity to meet Jack, be sure to ask about a job he had early in his life when he worked for an oil exploration company loading dynamite into holes to collect data.