Sat Feb 11 2012
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Frankfort Face: George Stokes
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As manager of Executive Snacks, George Stokes arrives at the Capital Plaza Tower early - around 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday - to fix coffee and hot breakfast items, tidy shelves and check coolers.
It's a familiar routine for many store managers. So what makes George different?
He's blind.
George, 63, was born visually impaired, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming a successful vending businessman and one of the most recognizable faces at the tower.
"I try to have everything up and running by the time the customers come in," he said.
Customers begin rolling into Executive Snacks by the basement escalators by 7 a.m. Then there's the breakfast rush until 9 a.m.
The second rush comes after 11 a.m. - lunchtime.
Each day there is a lunch special - from coney dogs to chicken salad to chili. The menu includes soups and sandwiches, but changes depending on the season.
Usually George sells out of hot lunch items.
There are microwaves, refrigerators, bun warmers and a George Foreman Grill. There are candy, cigarettes and pantyhose for sale.
A friend of George's decorated the store by adorning the walls with CDs, records and miniature musical instruments. There's a framed photo of George playing guitar behind the counter.
All in a day's work
George estimates he serves hundreds daily. But the amount of people who come in has diminished because of retirements, transfers and fewer working in the building.
"When I first came here it was a lot busier than it is now," he said. "Like all other occupations, everything's way down."
Executive Snacks only deals in cash. George has a coin dispenser attached to his belt to easily dole out change. Most purchases are around a dollar.
There's an ATM in the building. In the past George looked into accepting credit cards but because of the low amounts of spending, he nixed it.
"I checked it out and it's just not feasible," he said.
He has a contraption that reads bills so he knows what currency he's handling.
The business of vending
At the end of each day George compiles the books for sales; at the end of each month he does a report.
George has worked at the tower since 2001 when he transferred from a vending location at a technical school in Owensboro. He's been in the vending business for 35 years.
"I'm totally responsible for what comes in, what goes out and prices," he said.
His salary is determined by how well he does at predicting what those at the tower - mainly state workers - will buy.
Music is also the key to Executive Snacks and George's success.
He said he pumps peppy music from the 1960s and 1970s through speakers at the shop and many people can't resist the urge to dance or sing along.
"People love the music," he said. "People come down just to have fun."
Becoming a top seller
George was born in Laurel County but grew up in Mount Vernon.
His condition is genetic. Three of George's sisters have similar vision problems, although he has two sisters with normal eyesight.
As a child he had what he describes as "good travel vision" and could participate in activities like bicycle riding.
He attended Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville for first through 12th grades.
In his early 20s, he participated in some medical studies. George thinks the research is what caused him to totally lose light perception.
When he graduated high school he became a piano tuner. But then hard economic times forced many families to put piano tuning on the backburner, which forced George out of work.
He tried to get jobs at banks or in management, but things just weren't working out. He would get an interview but never hired.
That's when he entered a vending program set up by the state specifically to help blind people.
"The reason it was developed is because blind people couldn't find employment," George said. "I was looking for a profession to supplement my piano tuning.
"Like any other business you start at the bottom and work your way up," he said.
Now he's in charge of Stokes Vending.
An array of devices
He has lots of devices - a travel aid that vibrates when a body is in front of it, a pocket slate to write notes in Braille, talking cell phone, talking wristwatch, talking computer and a Braille 'N Speak where he can tap buttons in Braille to get information such as phone numbers.
"I have all kinds of devices that assist me," he said.
One of the tools he uses most frequently is a prescription reader "Scrip Talk " that allows him to know which medication he is taking. It's funded and provided through En-Vision America.
George is the only one at Capital Pharmacy and Medical Supply that uses the machine right now, he said. He consulted pharmacist Mac Bray several months ago about getting one to help visually impaired customers, from the blind to elderly who have trouble seeing small print on medication bottles.
Mac said the device aids patients by giving them the ability to manage medication through a talking label.
"If we have a patient who needs service we enter them in the Scrip Talk program computer. We hand produce the radio frequency identity tag we put on the bottle," Mac said.
"It's a real effective way for a patient to hear what their prescription says."
The machine - which can be used at the pharmacy for no extra charge and requires only that patients have a reader - gives the name of the medication as well as dosage information out loud.
George first learned of the machine at a convention for blind. The device has been at Capital Pharmacy since November.
"We contacted them (En-Vision America) then we purchased the program to produce identification frequency tags and started using it," Mac said. "We figured it's something we could do to help (patients)."
Away from the tower
Outside of vending George - who lives on his own in a house in South Frankfort - is a member of the Frankfort Optimists Club, Bridgeport Christian Church, a volunteer with the Red Cross and Bluegrass Theater Guild soundman, he still does piano tuning and is a member of the National Federation for the Blind's state board.
He has two adult children, a son and a daughter, as well as two grandchildren.
Spending time with Ranelle Mackey, his close friend who drives him where he needs to go, is also on George's priority list.
Ranelle said George is an amazing man.
"We hang out quite often," Ranelle said. "George is absolutely awesome. You would never know he had vision problems."
"He can truly do anything he puts his mind to."
George encourages anyone with a disability to be determined.
"The only advice I would give someone is don't give up," he said. "Don't take no for an answer."
He said part of his success is not sinking into self-pity for the things he can't do.
"I probably am a more fortunate person than a lot of people I know," George said. "I don't feel sorry for myself."
"Frankfort Faces" is a series that highlights people from within the Frankfort and Franklin County community. Each feature follows one of the city's most unique personalities and includes a story, photos and video, which can be found by clicking the TV icon attached to the story online at state-journal.com.
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