TRC holds annual Employee Service Recognition Luncheon

Presenting the Trainer of the Year Award to Don Traynor, second from left, are, from left, Virginia Vath, The Resource Center’s assistant executive director for staff training and quality assurance/quality improvement; Michele Albaugh, assistant director of staff training; and Paul Cesana, executive director.

The year was 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded from the sky, with millions watching the event live on TV.  The Chernobyl Nuclear Power station exploded.  The cost of a gallon of gas was 89 cents.  The Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl.  "Platoon" took home the Oscar for Best Picture at the Academy Awards,  And The Resource Center began a time-honored tradition of recognizing employee excellence.

With a combined total of more than 50 years of experience at The Resource Center, Diane Cornell, Donald Traynor and Karen Williamson have been making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities for a long time.  Their dedication was recognized when they walked away with top honors at TRC’s 26th annual Employee Service Recognition Luncheon.

The event, held January 18 in the Conference Center at the administrative office building on Dunham Avenue in Celoron, honored employees who, during 2010, achieved milestone years of service with TRC.  In addition to presenting service awards, TRC also gave out its top employee honors.

Karen, who has worked for TRC since 1989, received the Joseph Trusso Jr. Award as the Employee of the Year.  As an Activity Leader in the Day Habilitation Program on Hazeltine Avenue in Jamestown, she supports individuals with severe developmental disabilities in enjoying life by providing opportunities to learn and maintain skills; to participate and develop relationships in the community; and to identify and attain valued outcomes.

From left, Jane Young, Resa Rosen-Murray and Marcella Olmstead were honored for completing 30 years of employment with The Resource Center.

Karen was selected the Employee of the Year because she is dependable, dedicated and responsible; makes sure safety comes first; is willing to step in and assist anyone who needs it; is a great leader and role model; and would not ask anyone to do something she would not be willing to do herself.

The Employee of the Year Award is named in honor of Joseph Trusso Jr., who served on TRC's board of directors from 1967 to 2005.  Joe was on hand to help present the award.

Karen Williamson, left, and Diane Cornell hold the trophies they received for being named the recipients of the Joseph Trusso Jr. Award and the Norma J. Smith Award, respectively.

Diane, who has worked for TRC since 1996, received the Norma J. Smith Award for excellence in providing direct support to people with developmental disabilities.  Diane has a full-time job as an Activity Leader in the “Alternatives” Day Habilitation Program on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown.  She also is a substitute worker in TRC’s residential division, and it was her efforts in that role that led to her selection as the Employee of the Year.

Diane has devoted a great deal of time to improving the life of a woman with autism who lives in one of the homes at the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue in Jamestown.  Maintaining a positive attitude, Diane has utilized a variety of approaches to find the combination that is most effective in helping the woman achieve her goals.  Thanks to Diane’s efforts, the woman has learned to communicate her desires and has been able to enjoy many new experiences.

The award is named in honor of the late Norma Smith, who worked for TRC from 1983 to 1991.  Her daughters, Melissa Rasmussen and Sherri Eccles, work for TRC and were on hand to help present the award.

Don, a Staff Development Specialist who has worked for TRC since 1993, was selected as the Trainer of the Year because of his enthusiasm and passion; the high level of expectation he holds for himself and those employees he trains; his ability to make repetitive training fresh and interesting; and his penchant for persuading others to want to do their best and make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

This marked the first time that the Trainer of the Year Award was presented during the Employee Service Recognition Luncheon.

In addition to those three awards, 168 employees and members of the board of directors were honored for their years of service to The Resource Center.  Three people who have reached 30 years with the agency were the longest-serving employees recognized at this year's event: Marcella Olmstead, Activity Leader; Resa Rosen-Murray, Activity Leader; and Jane Young, Site Supervisor.  Each of these employees received a gift card to a store of his or her choosing and a jewel-inlaid lapel pin in the shape of TRC's logo.

Recognized for 25 years of service were Terry Brandow, Cook; Lori Carlson, Assistant Director of Residential Services; Don Christner, Director of Support Operations and Property Management; Wayne Hotelling, Board member; Neil Magnuson, Maintenance Specialist; Stephen Riczker, Director of Clinical Services; and Donna Trusso, Rehabilitation Services Administrator.  Each of these employees received a gift card and a lapel pin.

Twenty-one people were honored for reaching 20 years with the agency: Ronnie Carlson, Facilities Maintenance Manager; Simon Dodge, Community Living Skills Instructor (CLSI); Daniel Farnham, Direct Support Professional (DSP); William Haenggi, Board member; Carla Hall, Medical Aide; Brenda Jabczynski, Employment Specialist; Sally Jaquith, Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMHC); Denise Jones, Associate Executive Director; Patricia Mead, Habilitation Specialist; Diane Nordstrom, DSP; Linda Olson, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN); Joyce Peterson, Treatment Coordinator; Anne Piazza, LMHC; Nicolette Riczker, Director of Compensation and Benefits; Nancy Shorteridge, DSP; Barry Simmons Sr., Mechanic; Shelly Swan, Residence Manager; Janice Vogt, Social Worker; Barbara Wheeler, Service Coordinator; Doug Wiggers, Residence Manager; and Harold Wurster, Environmental Services Coordinator.  Each of these employees received a gift card and a lapel pin.

Recognized for completing 15 years with TRC were Maureen Anderson, Speech Pathologist; Steve Bulich, Assistant Director of Residential Services; Robin Kestler, Activity Leader; Bethanne Landy, Driver; Bruce McQuilkin, DSP; Michael Smallman, Residence Manager; Patrick Smallman, Maintenance Specialist; Suzette Smith, Finance Manager; Art Volk, Work Center Counselor; and Jacqueline Wiggers, Medication Technician.  Each of these employees received a desk clock and a lapel pin.

Honored for serving 10 years with TRC were Kimberly Baxter, Housekeeper; Todd Becker, Service Coordination Supervisor (SCS); Nicole Brown, Support Operations Assistant; Melissa Cardone, DSP; Peter Carlson, Transportation Aide; Geraldine Dahlin, DSP; Elaine Eddy, Third-Shift Supervisor (TSS); Janet Freeman, LPN; Richard Glasier, Environmental Services Aide; Linda Gray, DSP; Michael Guarino, Applied Behavioral Science Specialist; Jessica Holmes, Supported Living Specialist Manager; Gregory Hyatt, Maintenance Specialist; Joelle Iucalano, DSP; Deanna Johnson, DSP; Tess Kerzner, Children’s Services Coordinator; Christopher Koons, Production Supervisor; Fred Lee, TSS; Carol Lorenc, Board member; Susan Mead, Supported Living Specialist (SLS); Rhonda Meuker, Residence Manager; Frank Pekarski, Driver; Rischell Pratt, Receptionist; Ann Marie Race, DSP; Melody Rawson, LPN; Tammy Russell, Activity Leader; Melinda Schrecongost, Allied Health Assistant; Daniel Schroder, CLSI; Scott Sherlock, Personal Computer/Local Area Network coordinator; Cheryl Sieminski, Driver; Frank Szablewski, Environmental Services Supervisor; April Wallace, Service Coordinator; Jennifer Whitmore, Administrative Secretary; Deborah Williams, DSP; Autumn Wilson, Program Manager; Matthew Zampogna, TSS; and Julie Zanghi, Activity Leader.  Each of these employees received a jewel-inlaid key chain or necklace.

Those recognized for five years of service were Burt Anderson, Driver; Vanessa Barone, Behavior Support Professional (BSP); Heather Becker, Occupational Therapist; Audrey Briggs, DSP; Lucille Brooks, Director of Fiscal Services; Randy Brown, Board member; Amy Buccola, DSP; Beverly Butts, Supervising Nurse; Christy Carlson, DSP; Michael Connor, Social Worker; Kathleen Cornelius, DSP; Brenda Crandall, CLSI; Heather Cronk, Recreation Specialist; Natasha Cruz, DSP; Judith Darling, Cook; Debbie Day, Patient Registrar; Amy DiDomenico, Medical Aide; Shirley Dietz, DSP; Kelly Edwards, DSP Trainee; Janice Fosberg, RN; Heather Garcia, Assistant Residence Manager (ARM); Barbara Garvey, Administrative Assistant; Judy Gilbert, DSP; Jennifer Grandinetti, DSP; Janet Graves, DSP; Megan Grice-Rohlin, DSP; Brittany Gullotti, Behavior Technician; Doreen Haight, Site Supervisor; Joyce Harris, Materials Planner; Tara Hicks, DSP; Kathy Howard, Payroll Clerk; Lacey Hyde, DSP; Allison Issler, ARM; Brenda Jakiela-Wilcox, LPN; Deborah Jose, DSP; Rashonda Leeper, ARM; Stephanie Levoie-Beatty, Activity Leader; Sandra Lindberg, SLS; Brooke Long, DSP; Michael Long, Production Planner; Jason Lutgen, BSP; Dawn MacNeil, LPN; Casandra Marino, DSP; Patricia Martines, Secretary; Althea Maxwell, Habilitation Skills Instructor; Susan McMurdy, SLS; Andres Melendez, BSP; Karla Mesler, Activity Leader; Michael Metzger, Board member; Elizabeth Michael, Activity Leader; Paula Morello, DSP; James Nary, Family Care Home Liaison; Shawna Norrod, DSP; Jenna Olson, Dental Assistant; Deborah O’Neil, BSP; Jennifer Pacheco, DSP; Megan Pisarcik, DSP; Sherry Richards, Housekeeper; Sheila Sanders, Dental Hygienist (DH); Dawn Sell, CLSI; Tina Sitterley, DSP; James Sittnick, DSP; Erica Skinner, DSP; Jeri Sprague, SCS; Sheila St. John, DSP; Deborah Staples, DH; Mary Stenstrom, Housekeeper; Andrew Stevens, DSP; Robert Sweet, LPN; Robert Szczepinski, Driver; Kayla Tedone, Service Coordinator; Angela Thomas, Activity Leader; Craig Thomas, DSP; Cynthia Todaro, Purchasing Agent; Gerald Vinciguerra, Applications Administrator; Nichole Washer, DSP; William Weilacher, Transportation Aide; Marcia Wells, LPN; Joshua Whitford, BSP; and Douglas Winship, Production Planner.  Each of these employees received a lapel pin.

Carol Svensen-Smith, director of personnel administration, served as the mistress of ceremonies for the event.  She noted that the staff and board members being honored at the event had a combined 1,605 years of experience at TRC.

The Rev. Timothy Hoyer, who is a TRC committee member, gave the invocation.  Janelle Krueger was the Sign Language Interpreter.  Jane Young photographed the event.  Remarks were made by Michael Metzger, the president of TRC’s board of directors, and Executive Director Paul Cesana.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank you for your hard work, time, passion, and compassion that make The Resource Center what it is,” Metzger said.

Cesana noted that TRC staff always is busy working to improve the lives of people with disabilities and that the Service Recognition Luncheon is an annual opportunity to take time to let employees know how important they are.  He added that the length of time employees have spent with the agency establishes the foundation on which TRC operates and says a lot about the employees’ character.

“It’s really a great testament to what you’re doing on behalf of people,” Cesana said.  “Thanks so much for doing it.  Congratulations for the milestone that you’ve achieved.”