From First Stitch to Leadership: Elizabeth Starin's Journey of Growth at Peckham
Background
When Elizabeth Starin joined Peckham's Charlotte, Mich., manufacturing facility, she had no sewing experience and no expectation that the job would shape the next decade of her life. What she did have was determination and a willingness to learn. Originally from Michigan, Starin brought a quiet resilience shaped by her experience managing depression. Peckham's culture of opportunity gave her the structure, support, and encouragement she needed to grow. She embraced it fully, completing 168 classes and steadily building the confidence that would fuel her career.
"If I'm giving 100% for where I’m at, I'm proud," said Starin.
Organizational impact
Starin's impact is visible across multiple Peckham locations. She began on an AbilityOne® contract sewing military garments, quickly advancing to team lead and trainer. Her approach was patient, methodical, and grounded in quality. After training in Lansing, Mich., she returned to Charlotte to teach new garment techniques and used her video editing skills to create short training modules that improved consistency on military contracts.
Her leadership extended to Flint, Mich., where she trained staff and helped the team earn Patagonia's stitching approval, a milestone that strengthened Peckham's reputation for technical excellence. When she returned to the Green Jacket line, an AbilityOne contract with the Defense Logistics Agency, she advanced to Level Four Master Craftsman, collaborating with design teams, developing training tools, and even working with mechanics to better understand production equipment.
Customer impact
Starin's transition into supervision reflects both her initiative and the strength of Peckham's vocational support model. Encouraged by her vocational services specialist, she stepped into her first supervisory role leading the laundry team. She then expanded her scope, overseeing three departments (shipping, receiving, and assembly) within Peckham's Organizational Clothing Individual Equipment (OCIE) operations.
Today, she serves as receiving supervisor and forklift trainer in Peckham's 3PL division. She has unified previously siloed groups, implemented an electronic filing system that streamlined operations, and built processes that will support long term efficiency. Her leadership is grounded in clarity, accountability, and a genuine investment in her team's success. term efficiency. Her leadership is grounded in clarity, accountability, and a genuine investment in her team's success.
Starin's journey from entry-level AbilityOne sewer to supervisor embodies Peckham’s mission of unlocking potential for people with disabilities, showing how AbilityOne contracts can launch individuals into leadership roles and beyond.
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