The Resource Center

This week our “Employee Spotlight” shines on Caroline Santee, the Employee of the Month in our Employment and Community-Based Services. Caroline, who recently was promoted to Job Coach, was chosen for the award for the ways in which she supported people in her prior role as a Community Coach. She succeeded in encouraging one person to express himself in detail, rather than giving one-word replies, and he has shown steady improvement. Caroline also successfully advocated for people who are gaining work experience at a soup kitchen to have the opportunity to serve food, rather than just bus tables and perform back-room tasks. The workers have thoroughly enjoyed this new task. A co-worker praised the ways in which Caroline interacts with the people she supports: “She consistently offers them genuine respect, skills and patience. She meets them right where they are and is in tune with them.” Caroline is pictured with Michael Sandquist, Community Services Manager. Congratulations, Caroline, and thanks for supporting people in meaningful ways! #TRCFamily #TeamTRC #HeroesWorkHere #MakingADifference #MoreThanWork

We recently held our 40th Employee Service Recognition event to honor staff and Board members who achieved milestone years of service with The Resource Center during 2024. Our longest-serving employees were Cynthia Miller (45 years) and Kathy Constantino (40 years). Cindy and Kathy are each pictured with Rhonda Howard, Director of Human Resources, receiving gifts of appreciation that were made by artists in our KeyBank Art House at Edgewater. Please join us in congratulating Cindy, Kathy and all of the other honorees and thanking them for their dedication and commitment to our mission and the people we support. Combined, the 141 employees and Board members we honored have been with us for more than 2,000 years! To see the full list of honorees, visit https://lnkd.in/evNyC9wb. #TRCfamily #makingadifference #HeroesWorkHere

Please join us in congratulating Britnie Barmore! Britnie recently was honored as the recipient of our 2024 Norma J. Smith Award for excellence in providing support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Britnie is a Self-Determination Assistant who supports people with developmental disabilities in leading fulfilling lives. Britnie forms close bonds with the people she supports. She takes them into the community to complete tasks or errands, or just to go out for coffee. Britnie has supported people through major developments in their lives. She has helped people connect with long-lost family members and arranged emotional reunions. Britnie took a couple to New York City so the wife could visit her mother’s grave for the first time. A few years later, she helped the couple take their final vacation before the wife became ill and passed away. She has helped a man use his assistive communication device so he can share his life story, and she has supported him to be able to vote. A co-worker described Britnie as someone who advocates fiercely for each person she supports. She ensures that people receive the medical attention they need. When a person experiences a problem, Britnie will support them in sorting it out, and she won’t stop until the issue is resolved. The award was created in memory of the late Norma Smith, a former TRC employee. Norma, who worked for us from 1983-91, brought happiness, a sense of security and a commitment to community integration to the people living in our homes. The Norma J. Smith Award is one of our major honors and is presented annually to an employee who works in a Residential or Day Services setting. Britnie is pictured receiving her award from Mark Constantino, Director of Site-Based Services. Looking on are, from left, Melissa Rasmussen, a longtime TRC employee who is Norma Smith’s daughter; Denise Jones, Chief Executive Officer; Kelly Dimitri, Chief Operating Officer; and Dr. Dawn Columbare, Vice Chair of our Board of Directors. Congratulations, Britnie – your award is well-deserved, and we’re so grateful for your commitment to supporting people to enjoy fulfilling lives!

Please join us in congratulating Nancy Scott! Nancy was chosen to receive our Allied Industries Employee of the Year Award for 2024. Nancy was honored for the high quality of her work as a Production Lead at our Jamestown manufacturing plant. She plays an important role on our production team and is a big reason for the successes we have realized in our packing department, where we build first-aid kits and perform other types of assemblies for the federal government. Nancy has the respect and admiration of her peers and management. She is reliable, efficient and knowledgeable about everything in her department. Nancy leads by example, with a can-do attitude, and she is always looking for ways to improve the department. She is friendly and easy to approach. Nancy’s a team player, she is always helpful and she’s the go-to person for her co-workers and management when issues arise. She’s pictured holding her award while posing with, from left, Kelly Dimitri, Chief Operating Officer; Denise Jones, Chief Executive Officer; Dan Micek, Production Superintendent; Dr. Dawn Columbare, Vice Chair of our Board of Directors; Ashley Winship, Director of Business Operations; and Nick Bell, Director of Allied Production Operations. Congratulations, Nancy, and thanks for being an excellent team member who performs her work at a high level!

Let’s have a round of applause for Joan Niles Scalise, who received our Joseph Trusso Jr. Employee of the Year Award for 2024! Joan was selected for the award because of the tremendous way she performed her job as Assistant Director of Finance. Managers agency-wide appreciated Joan’s patience and kindness in assisting them to develop their annual departmental budgets, and she has a knack for effectively explaining financial matters in ways non-financial people can understand. Joan also is extremely dedicated to TRC and its mission, and she understands the importance of her work in Finance and how it relates to the supports The Resource Center provides to people. Our Employee of the Year Award is named for the late Joe Trusso, who served on our Board of Directors for 38 years. Joe was a strong advocate of people with disabilities and our staff. Coincidentally, the day Joan received her award was also her last day as a TRC employee, as she retired after more than 37 years with us. Lots of people attended Joan’s retirement party to reminisce and to wish her luck as she enters the next phase of her life. Joan’s been honored multiple times over the years. She received our Agency-Wide Staff Appreciation Award for the support she provides to staff at budget time. She’s also been recognized for resolving a payroll crisis; identifying a theft before losses were material; and assisting in an inventory reconciliation process. She also has received praise for her work with state auditors from OPWDD, sharing skills and knowledge with new Finance staff and supporting our leadership team. Joan is shown holding her award with, from left, longtime TRC employees Resa Rosen-Murray and Donna Trusso, who are relatives of Joe Trusso; Denise Jones, Chief Executive Officer; and Kelly Dimitri, Chief Operating Officer. In the other photo, Joan poses with her husband, Larry, and their daughters, Alex and Sammy, at her retirement party. Congratulations, Joan, on your well-deserved award and your well-deserved retirement. We will miss you!

This week we shine our Employee Spotlight on Jessica Niles, who was named Employee of the Month in our Intellectual & Developmental Disability Services. Jes was honored for her efforts in supporting a man to overcome his anxiety disorder and visit his parents for Christmas. Staff first worked with the man to get him to be able to make trips into the community, and then they decided to get him to the point that he could visit family. The family hired an external agency to assist with the trip. Jes organized team meetings, worked one on one with staff and the individual, and prepared all for the visit. She worked with the family and the agency to develop, practice and implement a plan that allowed the man to successfully travel two-and-a-half hours to his family’s home, visit with them for four days and return. Congratulations, Jes, and thanks for making it possible for this man to enjoy the holidays with family! #TRCFamily #TeamTRC #HeroesWorkHere #MakingADifference #MoreThanWork #CelebratingWorkers

We’re proud and excited to share the news that Rhonda Howard, our Director of Human Resources, was honored by Buffalo Business First with an IDEA Award for her efforts in advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives at The Resource Center. We’re grateful to Phillips Lytle LLP for recognizing Rhonda’s accomplishments and nominating her for the award. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eQ95Vg37

Please help us welcome these newly hired employees who joined our TRC family this week. We would also like to welcome back these former employees who have returned to The Resource Center: Cloe Lister, Kaitlin Webber, and John Baker! If you would like to explore a career with The Resource Center, please visit our job board at www.trc.careers! Make a Difference. Every day. #TRCStrong #heroes #makingadifference

Use your caring hands ?? and healing heart ?? to directly impact the health and welfare of those we serve and make a difference! The Resource Center is currently hiring Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and General Practice Nurses (GPNs) to join our growing TEAM in Northern and Southern CHQ County! ???????? Apply here >>> https://lnkd.in/ek8MeehH and earn up to $28.50 per hour with shift differential options*! ?????? *Includes up to $5.00 per shift differential (Hours between 5:00 pm – 6:59 am M-F and all hours Saturday and Sunday) - Select Locations Only! #nurses #nursing #Team #teamwork #health #makingadifference #jobseekers #job #jobsearch #jobopportunity #dogood #careeropportunities #CareerGrowth #careerdevelopment #careers #CareerOpportunity #HeroesWorkHere #TeamTRC #TRCfamily #healthcareheroes #healthcare

Please help us welcome these newly hired employees who joined our TRC family this week. We would also like to welcome back these former employees who have returned to The Resource Center: Abigayle McCallum, Elias Feliciano-Torres, and Keirstin Haight-Ormsby! If you would like to explore a career with The Resource Center, please visit our job board at www.trc.careers! Make a Difference. Every day. #TRCStrong #heroes #makingadifference