Good Cause Helps With Marathon Training

With help from his fiancé, Kathy Wagner, Vogel has been training by running 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons.

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

Running a marathon is a huge challenge to undertake, but as Sean Vogel of Huntington proves, anything is possible when you have a cause that you are passionate about to motivate you.

The New York City Marathon is approaching, and Vogel has been hard at work training for the race and raising money for his charity, United Way of Long Island. He will be running the 26.2 mile race for the first time on Monday, Nov. 4.

“The distance is more than I’ve ever done, but I’m confident in my ability,” Vogel said. “From a guy who four years ago, never run, smoked a pack and half of cigarettes a day, and I weighed almost 400 pounds. I quit smoking and dropped a ton of weight, so every year my goal has gotten a little bit tougher.”

For last four years, Vogel has been on a journey of dedication. After being shocked by the number on the scale, Vogel went to his sister for help. She had a friend put together a workout and diet plan for him to follow.

Vogel began walking around the neighborhood, progressed to jogging and in time has run 5ks, 10ks and half marathons. Now, he will be taking on his biggest race yet, running for Team Mission United and the 120,000 veterans and military families in Nassau and Suffolk that the organization supports.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be doing this on behalf of the United Way,” Vogel said.

The program assists veterans with many services, like employment readiness, emergency financial assistance, case management support and housing.

“Honoring our veterans and doing everything we can for them is major part of my life,” Vogel said. “I specifically look to go out and do everything I can do support that.”

As a charity partner of the New York City marathon, United Way’s team of four runners are tasked at raising $15,000, with each runner encouraged to raise $3,000. Vogel feels confident he will be able to raise his share with the help of his co-workers at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Many have donated and help spread the word about his cause.

Sean Vogel of Huntington will be taking on the 26.2 mile course of the NYC Marathon on Nov. 4.

“I’m lucky enough that I work in a place like Enterprise, where we all work together, it’s all about teamwork,” Vogel said. “I’m friends with a lot of these people outside of work and we support each other. When you’re passionate about something, everyone around you rallies around and comes together and help you anyway they can.”

Vogel became involved with the United Way through Enterprise, which encourages employees to support the charity through charitable acts and financial giving. He has been the leader of the employee giving campaign and has helped sort donations for the United Way.

“Enterprise is extremely proud to be sponsoring a Team Mission United runner for the second time,” said Henry Hong, Regional Vice President at Enterprise Holdings. “Sean is a dedicated employee, and we know that he will bring that drive and passion to helping raise awareness for the struggles that veterans on Long Island face each day.”

His devotion to the United Way of Long Island comes from his close connection to veteran causes and the charity’s outreach helping those on Long Island.

“When I look for races, I try to find races that benefit veterans specifically,” Vogel said. “My grandfathers were in WWII, my sister and brother-in-law both went to the Naval Academy and I went to SUNY Maritime. I love to give back and support veterans, doing my part to ensure they are being taken care of. I run to support those who maybe are unable to run themselves, or just need the support of their community.”

To prepare for the marathon, Vogel has been running many races that support the armed forces. He recently ran the Army 10 Mile Race in Washington, D.C. and has completed around 50 races just on Long Island, but none as long as the marathon.

“It’s challenging, you look at it and think 26.2 miles is longer than my drive to work,” Vogel said. “It’s an intimidating number but you know I am confident in my abilities of how far I’ve come and what I can do, that I will be able to do it.”

Vogel has been running and cross training in the gym with his fiancé Kathy Wagner, who ran the NYC Marathon two years ago for Team Mission United. As an experienced marathon runner, she has been guiding and motivating him.

“On days when you go, ‘Oh my god, I just ran 10 miles and I’m exhausted, how am I gonna do another 16.2?’ She does for me what I did for her,” Vogel said. “She tells me, ‘You’re gonna be fine, relax. You’re gonna be okay, you got this. This is just training.’”

With a cause to motivate him and streets lined with people cheering him on, Vogel is looking forward to completing his first marathon for the United Way.

“Everybody has their own reasons for doing anything, but as long as you’re passionate about it, you can be successful,” Vogel said. “You can do anything and this is coming from a guy who was 400 pounds and was smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, who can now run an eight minute mile. Set your mind to a goal and you will accomplish it, but it won’t come overnight.”

Autistic Worker Earns Employer Award

Joseph Penzel, right, and his father, Fred, at a fundraising figure skating event.

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com 

Huntington resident Joseph Penzel is a symbol of hard work and perseverance at his job. He has not allowed autism to stop him from being a productive worker and is now being recognized for his exceptional work ethic.

Since the 26-year-old began working at Spectrum Designs Foundation six years ago, Joseph has proven himself to be a major asset of their team, with the ability to effectively operate any of the machines in the 7,000 square foot plant. After being nominated by the company, he won the William B. Joslin Outstanding Performance Award from New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. He will be presented the award by state senator, Elaine Phillips on Oct. 30 at a reception at Spectrum Designs.

“He is an outstanding example of what special people are capable of when given the right opportunities,” his father, Fred Penzel said.

After graduating from HuntingtonHigh School in 2013, Joseph was in search of an employer who would hire someone with special needs. He found his autism was a roadblock.

After reading an article in a disabilities publication about Spectrum Designs Foundation, a Port Washington company that employs workers with disabilities, Joseph’s father reached out.

The business works on fabric printing and embroidery, creating custom apparel for companies like Uber and Facebook. At work, Joseph is “quasi-supervisor in his own right,” helping to train others on the machines when they come in.

“At his job, Joe is really one of the employees who can work independently. They find him a job and tell him what do and he just goes and does it,” Fred said. “He doesn’t need anyone supervising him or standing over him. He will stay with that job, and get it done. In fact, if he finishes, he will go and look for more work for himself somewhere else.”

Joseph is very independent and takes care of his own belongings, makes his own food, and does his own laundry. He enjoys taking photographs and working on the computer.

“Joe speaks through his actions more than his words,” his father said, noting when Joseph went to his interview at Spectrum, instead of going to the interview he went right to a table where he saw others working.

“When he saw what they were doing, he started to do it and put himself to work without anybody telling him anything,” his father said. “He saw work that needed to be done and he got busy.”

With an his eye for precision, Joseph has demonstrated that he can put in the same hard work any employee could. Many misconceptions exist about those with autism, but Spectrum recognizes people with disabilities can still be exceptional workers. Along with Spectrum Designs Foundation, they have Spectrum Suds, a boutique laundry facility and Spectrum Bakes, where they bake granola bars and sell them to businesses.

“It’s just not good for them to sit at home and have nothing to do, no place to go. It’s not very stimulating, it doesn’t help them to improve, advance, or grow in any way,” Fred said. “It’s as important for them to work as it is for anyone else. For their sense of self-respect and self-image, their ability to be productive is important.”

Along with receiving the William B. Joslin Outstanding Performance Award, Joseph has won gold medals at the Special Olympics as a figure skater, and numerous medals and ribbons from horseback riding. He also enjoys ice hockey and baseball.

His father said Joseph has remarkable hand-eye coordination, evidenced by his success in these sports.

“We hope that he will inspire other families to encourage their special person to take part in different sports and other activities, where before they might have thought that they weren’t capable but they really are if you just give them a chance,” Fred said.

“They’re capable people… They’re capable of learning and doing productive work,” his father said. “They have a contribution to make.”

Former Councilwoman To Lead Habitat

Former Huntington Councilwoman Tracey Edwards has been named executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

Former Town Board member Tracey Edwards, who last year gave up her seat in an unsuccessful bid to become Huntington Supervisor, has been named executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.

Edwards, who retired from Verizon as regional president for Long Island and upstate New York, was a town councilwoman from 2013-2017. She is also regional director of Long Island NAACP.

“Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk is a perfect fit for me because of my passion for helping the community and passion for providing housing for families in Suffolk county,” Edwards said. “This is absolutely where I belong.”

“Mrs. Edwards epitomizes the sense of community activism that we value at Habitat Suffolk,” said Raymond Homburger, chairman of Habitat Suffolk’s board of directors. “Through her career and volunteerism, she has improved the lives of those she has served, and we know her fresh perspective and enthusiasm will be an asset to our organization.”

Habitat for Humanity is a national organization that builds homes for low incomes families in the U.S. and internationally. Edwards’ team is in charge of helping families in Suffolk county achieve home ownership. As a Huntington native, Edwards feels she understands her community’s needs.

“What better way than to have someone who is from Long Island, serve Long Island,” Edwards said.

In her position as executive director, Edwards is in charge of recruiting volunteers and sponsorship opportunities that will further the organization’s projects. Since all the home building is volunteer, they are crucial in completing a home. Anyone can walk in and start volunteering. Students can complete community service hours through building or businesses can form a team of volunteers that doubles as a team building exercise.

“I have to make sure we are growing the organization,” Edwards said. “So that we are providing more and more homes for low income families… I’m the biggest cheerleader for the team.”

During her time as a councilwoman, Edwards supported and co-sponsored affordable housing legislation that requires new developments devote 20 percent of occupancy to affordable housing.

“I understand from my role as councilwoman, the needs for the community,” Edwards said. “Long Island is viewed as a place of wealth but we have a lot of struggling families that do not have a place to live or they are unable to have a home of their own. Those experiences that I’ve been afforded makes me clearly understand that there is a need there for low income safe housing that can uplift not only the family, but the community as well.”

Habitat for Humanity bases eligibility on income, which helps keep families on Long Island.

“If we don’t take steps to provide affordable housing then people are going to leave Long Island. And no one should have to relocate, we should be able to provide housing opportunities at every level,” Edwards said.

In her first week as Executive Director, Edwards visited the eight homes Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk is currently working on. Some will be ready next month, while others have just begun. Edwards feels confident she will be able to bring in more volunteers for the organization from all walks of life.

“I want to recruit volunteers from everybody,” Edwards said. “We have a wonderful community on Long Island. One thing about Long Islanders is that when the need arises and you ask, they are more than willing to step up and help,” Edwards said.

Interested in volunteering for Habitat construction projects? Contact Edwards through habitatsuffolk.org.