Long term employees honored

When the committee charged with selecting the recipient of TRC’s 2007 Employee of the Year Award couldn't choose between the top two nominees, there was only one thing to do.

Give the award to both of them.

Barney Davis and Sam Lucariello shared the top honor when they each were given the Joseph Trusso Jr. Employee of the Year Award at TRC's 23rd annual Employee Service Recognition Luncheon, held January 15 at the Radisson in Jamestown.

A total of 146 people were honored at the event, which pays tribute to employees and Board of Directors members who, during the previous calendar year, completed milestone years of service with the agency. Also presented at the luncheon are the Trusso Award and the Norma J. Smith Award for excellence in Residential direct support.

Barney, who has worked for the agency since 1987, manages TRC’s home on Englewood Avenue in Jamestown. Five men live in the home, and Barney is a father figure and role model to them. Described as kind, caring and funny, Barney has enhanced the residents' independence. On his free time, he provides support to two former TRC service recipients.





Barney Davis, right, holds his Employee of the Year honor while posing with TRC Executive Director Paul Cesana, left, and the award's namesake, Joe Trusso.






Sam is TRC’s Driving Instructor, and since he began working for TRC in 1984 he has taught hundreds of people with disabling conditions how to drive — and thus become more independent. He assists people through the permit process, then provides intense, one-on-one, behind-the-wheel instruction. In addition to teaching persons with disabilities to drive, Sam has been involved with TRC's staff training, helping to ensure that employees are safe drivers.






The other Employee of the Year, Sam Lucariello, stands with Paul and Joe.








The Employee of the Year Award is named in honor of Joe Trusso, the recently retired Chautauqua County legislator who served on TRC’s Board of Directors for 38 years. Joe was on hand at the luncheon to present the awards to Barney and Sam, and he reminded the audience, "We help each other out. We're a family."

The Norma J. Smith Award is given to a non-supervisory employee who has excelled in providing direct support to individuals living in a TRC residence.

This year's recipient, Julianne Olson, is a Community Living Skills Instructor in the B-4 home at the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue in Jamestown.
Julie, who has worked for TRC since March 2005, was chosen because of her diligence and upbeat attitude. She is always willing to help with a task, and she will stick with it until the job is finished.


Julianne Olson, left, who received the Norma J. Smith Award, poses with Melissa Rasmussen, one of Norma's daughters.



In citing Julie's positive attitude, one person noted, "One day you may find Julie singing to a favorite song while she works, and the next she is playing the electric piano for our consumers. Staff as well as our consumers respect Julie, and she knows how to tactfully deal with even the most difficult of situations."
The award is named after the late Norma Smith, who worked at TRC from 1983 to 1991.

The longest-serving staff members at this year’s Employee Service Recognition Luncheon were Virginia Beacom and Carmen Wilks Taylor, who were honored for 30 years of service.

Ginny, Industrial Quality Assurance Specialist, started as a Floor Supervisor and has been at the Jamestown Work Center her entire TRC career.

"It's been fun, it's been real, but last month was really not fun," Ginny joked, referring to the fact that Allied Industries, TRC's manufacturing and employment division, had to put in lots of extra hours in December in order to meet delivery requirements on some contracts for the federal government.

Carmen, TRC's Dietary Supervisor, started out as a Nutritionist. In accepting her award, Carmen told the audience that while one of the greatest events of her life was when she became a U.S. citizen, "Thirty years ago, I became a part of The Resource Center team, and that to me was a greater honor."

Recognized for 25 years of service were:
Kathy Field, Executive Administrative Assistant
MaryJo Hamilton, Quality Assurance Verification Coordinator
Kae Lachiusa-Kent, Residence Manager (RM)
Kay Patch, Community Living Skills Instructor (CLSI)
Leda Peterson, Day Services Supervisor
Kathy Peterson-VanHorn, Habilitation Specialist (HS)
Penny Roberts, Housekeeping Supervisor
Karen Thayer, Registered Nurse/Health Educator
Trudy VanDette, RM
Dan Vogan, Quality Assurance/Staff Development Coordinator
Patricia Wunder, Community Living Specialist (CLS)

Besides Barney, those honored for 20 years of service were:
Elaine Adams, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Michele Albaugh, Assistant Director for Clinical Services in the Residential Division; Kathleen Andrews, Work Center Counselor
Jeff Beightol, Materials Manager
Lisa Covey, Habilitation Skills Technician
Sandra Davis, HS
Gloria Eaton, CLS
Mary Ginley, Residence Coordinator (RC)
Kim Greco, Manager of the Intermediate Care Facility Program
Debbra Grossman, Cook
Richard Grover, Mental Health Clinician
Madeline Haskins, Administrative Assistant
Sheila Hyde, Habilitation Skills Instructor (HSI)
Gary Lawson, Driver
Sharon Lawson, RM
Stephen Lindquist, Director of Information Systems
Patricia Miller, LPN
Delores Mitchell, RM
Midge Peterson, HIS
Kitty Pope, HS
James Prince, Crisis Team Worker (CTW)
Melissa Rasmussen, Job Coach (JC)
Joan Scalise, Finance Manager
Wendy Stimson, CLSI
Michael Zebracki, Maintenance Specialist

Those completing 15 years of service were:
Dennis Bergmann, Social Worker
Heather Courtney, RC
Lori D’Angelo, Logistics Manager
Elizabeth Kennedy, Day Services Supervisor
Linda Knight, RM
Donna Lee, Driver
Ruth Loman, HIS
Mary Magliaro, RM
Lisa Mattoon, Assistant RM
Robert Moon, HIS
Michelle Rizzardi, Service Coordinator (SC)
David Steed, CLS
Cheryl Thompson, HIS
Sue Woods, Cost Accountant
Carol Yaggie, Dietitian.

Recognized for 10 years of service were:
Laurie Berry, CLS
Tamella Blackwell, LPN
Tammi Blodien, HS
Linda Carlson, Administrative Assistant
Dennis Carpenter, Internal Auditor
Susan Colvenback, Medical Aide
Edith DeJesus, CLS
William Dorman, Industrial Specialist
Catherine Ensminger, Administrative Assistant
Lawrence Feeney, Physical Therapy Assistant
Judy Frank, CLS
Harry Glatz, Board member
Jerome Kubera, Shipping/Receiving Coordinator
Michael Luce, JC
Mickey McAvoy, LPN Site Supervisor
Pamela Mintzer, HS
Laurie Moretti, CLS
Valerie Propheter, Patient Registrar
Beth Ray, Vocational Skills Instructor
Gail Ring, Driver
Randi Saddler, CLS
John M. Smith, Environmental Services Aide
Tracy Swan, CLS
Richard Tuzzo, Telecommunications Coordinator
Kristen Zampogna, CLSI.

Honored for five years of service were:
Paul Arntz, Production Coordinator
Jennifer Bartkowiak, Dental Hygienist
Shauna Bielawski, SC
Doug Brown, Production Supervisor
Sharron Burak, Nurse Manager (NM)
Doug Calhoun, Micro-Imaging Assistant
Shyra Camacho, CLS
Rosemarie Carlson, CLS
Jamie Ceci, Housekeeper
Ginger Colburn, CLS
Jeremi Collins, CLS
Tara Crassi, Occupational Therapist
Alice DeSanto, Administrative Secretary
Anna Dubej-Phillips, Secretary
Jennifer Edwards, HIS
Trevor Ellis, SC
Peggy Elofson, NM
Linda Ernewein, Driver
Sara Fink, CLS
Mazie Furlow, Cook
Deborah Glover, CLS
Stephen Hauck, Job Developer
Julie Hewitt, Attorney
Thomi Holt, CLS
Anna Houser, CLS
Dr. Saquib Ibrahim, Medical Director
Kelly Jacobs, CLS
Shawn Kane, CLS
Dr. Mumtaz Karimi, Physician
Donna Knopsnider, CLS
Maria Kuschel-Ruiz, Therapy Aide
Melinda Larson, CLS
Deborah Long, Cook
Jennifer Magee, Housekeeper
Danielle Mattews, CLS
Wanda McBride, Clinical Team Aide
Brandi Mercado, Medical Aide (MA)
Michele Merwin, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Shirley Minard, CLS
Shawn Mitchell, Maintenance Specialist
Kathryn Moore, RN
Christin Mueller, CLS
Diana Nidiffer, Accounts Receivable Clerk
Richard Olrogg, Case Manager
Jennifer Olson, CLS
Patricia Organ, Supervising RN
Susan Peelman, CLS
Raymond Pryce, Driver
Carl Pusbach, Transportation Aide
Melissa Ramsey, Patient Registrar
Luanne Ray, CLS
Amy Schulz, SC
Vicki Smith, CLS
Tanya Spoon, MA
Laura Suber, LPN
Ian Sumnar, CTW
Kelly Swanson, HIS
Laura Taylor, RM
Jennifer Volk, Supervising Ph armacist
Dr. John Vona, Dentist
Autumn Walters, CLS
Sheila Weber, CLS
Alan Woodlee, Applied Behavioral Science Specialist.

The event was held at the Radisson in Jamestown. Carol Svensen-Smith, TRC’s Director of Personnel Administration, was the mistress of ceremonies, and she noted that the staff and Board members being recognized have a combined 1,650 years with TRC.

The invocation was given by the Reverend Timothy Hoyer, who is a TRC Board Committee member. Remarks were made by Executive Director Paul Cesana and Carol Lorenc, Board President.

Paul, noting that 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of TRC's founding, highlighted some of the agency's historical achievements, then reminded the staff, "You really have been part of this history and this tremendous experience of supporting individuals with disabilities."

Carol Lorenc said, "This is an amazing organization. It is an extraordinary effort every hour, every day, to meet the needs of the people we serve. Everyone plays his or her role diligently."

From left: Executive Director Paul Cesana; 30-year employees Carmen Taylor and Ginny Beacom; Board President Carol Lorenc.

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