Allied's third annual employment recognition awards
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Joining together to congratulate Sebastian "Busty" Raffa, center, on his 40 years of employment at The Resource Center are, from left, William Haenggi, a member of the Board of Directors; Gregg Bender, Director of Business Operations; Michael Metzger, Board President; Michael Volk, Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; Amy Drozdziel, Assistant Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; and Executive Director Paul Cesana. |
Allied Industries, TRC's employment and manufacturing division, took time recently to recognize long-serving workers.
Allied's third annual employment recognition awards were presented at events in Dunkirk (January 18) and Jamestown (January 24). Recognized were workers with disabling conditions who, during 2011, completed milestone years of employment either at the Work Centers or on the Environmental Services cleaning crews.
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Pictured at the Jamestown event are, from left, seated, Jennifer Yost, Frances Schroder, Jennifer Wolnick, Deborah Smith, Busty Raffa, and Ginger DeStevens; and, standing, Gregg Bender, Director of Business Operations; Paul Cesana, Executive Director; Carl Pillittieri, Craig Eccles, Christopher Riel, Bobby Udell, Mike Volk, Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; Elizabeth Ribaudo, Amy Drozdziel, Assistant Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; Alex Hines, Susan Wright, Sue Brisley, Denise Chagnon, and Christina Wilcox. |
Gregg Bender, Director of Business Operations, spoke for everyone at The Resource Center when he congratulated the employees.
"It's exciting for us to honor everybody for all of your hard work and dedication," Gregg said. "We're very happy for the work that all of you guys do. We appreciate that. You guys deserve to give yourselves a hand."
A number of family members were on hand to share in their loved ones' big day. As each individual's name was called, he or she came forward to accept congratulations from TRC's Administration. Each employee received a monogrammed flashlight and a jeweled lapel pin in the shape of TRC's triangle logo.
The longest-working employee was Sebastian "Busty" Raffa, who has worked in Jamestown for more than 40 years. Busty, who is 80 years old, was overheard saying that he plans to keep working until he is 100.
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Posing together at the Dunkirk event are, from left, front row, Darrell Colgrove, Justin Tallchief, Josie Klee, Leo Wisniewski, and Linda Stevens; and, back row, Paul Cesana, Executive Director; John Pawlak, Joe Gugino, Amy Drozdziel, Assistant Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; Patrick Walker, Administrator for Subcontracting and Environmental Services; Mike Volk, Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; and Russ Beyer, Production Coordinator at the Dunkirk Work Center. |
After the employees had received their awards and photos had been taken, people enjoyed refreshments, including decorated cakes made specifically for the awards ceremonies. As they enjoyed the refreshments, employees chatted with their families and fellow TRC staff, admiring their awards.
The Jamestown celebration was held in the cafeteria of the Michael J. Raymond Center on Jones & Gifford Avenue. The awardees were as follows:
40 Years
Sebastian Raffa
20 Years
Denise Chagnon
Randall Ericson
Frances Schroder
15 Years
Brenda Braswell
Virginia DeStevens
Donna Seekings
Bobby Udell
Susan Wright
Jennifer Yost
10 Years
Craig Eccles
Philip Murvine
Carl Pillittieri
Deborah Smith
Jennifer Wolnick
5 Years
Harry Brightman
Sue Brisley
Jesse Cervantez
Alex Hines
Kay Miller
Elizabeth Ribaudo
Christopher Riel
Jerry Ryno
Jeffrey VanDurmen
Justin Wickland
Christina Wilcox
The Dunkirk event was held in the Mary Andrews Center on East Chestnut Street. The Dunkirk awardees were as follows:
30 Years
Joe Gugino
Roy Homokay
20 Years
Leo Wisniewski
15 Years
John Pawlak
10 Years
Justin Tallchief
Donald Winslow
5 Years
Darrell Colgrove
Josephine Klee
Linda Stevens
Longina Sheffield