Jane Young and Tracey Johnson have received The Resource Center’s top employee honors for 2017.

Young received the Joseph Trusso Jr. Employee of the Year Award for excelling in her job as Nursing Office Assistant. Mark Morton, Assistant Executive Director for Employee Relations, described Jane as being a “wonderful asset” in that role.

“She is willing to take on any task requested of her and will do this to the best of her ability. She has a great understanding of the organization and is extremely mindful of all financial costs, as she orders a great amount of supplies,” Mark said.

“Jane has developed relationships with outside vendors, direct support professional staff, all nursing staff, and pharmacies within her role. She is extremely professional and courteous. She is action oriented and addresses challenges as opportunities with perseverance, and completes projects and goals successfully on time.”

Mark said that in addition to her job duties, Jane serves as the photographer for many of the events, activities and functions that occur at The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc.

“Jane truly serves as the eyes of TRC and Filing the Gap, in the sense she and her camera can be seen throughout TRC and at most events,” he said.

Jane has worked at The Resource Center since 1980. She spent the bulk of her career working with people with disabilities employed through TRC’s manufacturing division before moving into the nursing office assistant role in 2015. She relishes her time at The Resource Center.

“I have had the privilege and honor to work at TRC for 37 years and have always felt that TRC is `my TRC’ and have taken an ownership view of what was going on,” Jane said. “I am so grateful that we have opportunities available in which we can give back to TRC and the people we support. But what really happens is that we are the ones that become enriched by having known the wonderful individuals in our TRC family. We can only hope that we will have made a difference in that person’s life.”

The Employee of the Year Award is named in honor of Joe Trusso, a former Chautauqua County Legislator who served on TRC’s Board of Directors for 38 years. Executive Director Denise Jones and R. Michael Goldman, Board President, presented the award to Jane.

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The Resource Center’s other major employee honor is the Norma J. Smith Award. It is presented to a non-supervisory staff member who has excelled in providing direct support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The award was given to Tracey, who has worked for TRC since 2001.

She was selected for the honor based on her work as a Medical Aide, a position she held for 13 years before recently becoming Office Assistant and Scheduler for the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services Division. In her role as Medical Aide, Tracey was responsible for taking people to their medical appointments and following up to ensure all orders and plans were implemented.

“She is a true advocate for all our individuals. She consistently demonstrates care and concern for each individual. She is an outspoken advocate for their rights and care,” said Nancy Knee, a Nurse who nominated Tracey for the award. “Her documentation and attention to detail is always impeccable. I have had the privilege of working with Tracey, and to say I rely on her is an understatement. I truly believe my job would be 100 percent more difficult without Tracey.”

Stefanie Gifford, the Manager at one of the homes where Tracey worked, praised her as well. “She goes above and beyond her job description on a daily basis. She consistently makes sure that the best interests of the people we support are put first. Tracey is well known throughout the agency, and no matter where she is she takes time to stop and talk to each resident that knows her,” Stefanie said.

“Tracey also encourages all the residents in the decision-making process. She makes them aware of the options that are available to them and what the outcomes of each decision could be, and allows them to choose.”

Tracey said she enjoys working for The Resource Center and values the relationships she has developed over the years with the people who TRC supports.

The award was created in memory of the late Norma Smith, who worked for The Resource Center from 1983 to 1991. Norma’s daughters Sherri Eccles and Melissa Rasmussen, who also work for TRC, were on hand to help present the award to Tracey.

Both awards were presented at TRC’s annual Employee Service Recognition Luncheon, held recently at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club.

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By Mark Stevens

Chances are that if someone has been hired as a direct care worker at The Resource Center within the last eight months, he or she has encountered Nancy Barr.

Nancy is a self-advocate who has been receiving supports from TRC for several decades. Last spring, she was hired to serve on the panel that interviews potential new employees.

“I just love meeting new people all the time. It is nice work,” said Nancy.

Every Tuesday from 9:oo until noon, The Resource Center conducts job interviews in its Conference Center on Dunham Avenue. Nancy is there each week, meeting people who are applying to be direct care workers in TRC’s homes or day programs. Some interviewees have scheduled appointments, while others just walk in. Members of the interview team pair up, so there are two people per applicant. One person does the interviewing, while the other takes notes.

“We feel that enables the team to make better hiring decisions,” said Lisa Melquist, Recruitment Coordinator, “and they can bounce their thoughts off one another.”

“The team interviews seem to work well, so that we have two perspectives on the individual that we are interviewing,” said Kathy Constantino, Site Supervisor Trainer who is a member of the interview panel. “It makes the process move along smoother.”

For Nancy, part of that process involves coming up with a set of questions that she reviews with her interviewing partner. She also assists with follow-up paperwork and tries to greet every applicant as he or she walks through the door.

“She’s very outgoing. She’s not bashful or shy,” said Lisa. “And she was very interested in doing it, so we’ve just enjoyed having her as well.”

Having Nancy on board is part of TRC’s strategy of including people with disabilities in the hiring process.

“It’s really easy for a hiring manager to say, `I really like that person,’ but this is a person who’s going to be serving the individuals we serve,” said Lisa. “We want the opinion and the ideas of someone who lives within the homes as to whether or not that person would be a good candidate.”

“You just never know who’s going to come in,” said Nancy. “So I just say, `Nancy, give it your best shot.’”

Nancy said she also enjoys getting to know the other interviewers as well engaging the applicants – applicants, Lisa said, who could ultimately be supporting Nancy in the future.

“What’s better than to have the person that you’re going to be serving interview you? They’re going to be assisting them with everyday life,” said Lisa.

“I feel Nancy is an asset to the process, because it gives her a sense of pride that she has helped hire someone for a position,” said Kathy.

TRC plans to soon hire another self-advocate to join the interview team.

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Marie Carrubba, Esq., a longtime member of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors, has been honored for her volunteer efforts on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities.

Marie recently received a certificate of appreciation from The Arc New York’s Guardianship Program. The group gave Marie the honor in recognition of her involvement with TRC’s Guardianship Committee.

Some people with intellectual disabilities are incapable of making decisions regarding their health care. If they don’t have a family member to serve as their legal guardian, The Arc New York can be appointed to serve in that capacity. The Arc New York serves as guardian for several people living in TRC homes. As the Chautauqua County chapter of The Arc New York, The Resource Center helps to fulfill the role of legal guardian through the efforts of its Guardianship Committee, which is composed of community volunteers and TRC staff.

Marie has served on TRC’s Guardianship Committee for many years. Because she is an attorney as well as the Executive Director of the Southwestern Independent Living Center, she provides valuable legal and professional expertise about guardianship issues when they arise.

“Marie’s dedication to our Guardianship Committee has been longstanding, and she has assisted members in understanding the legal aspects of issues that have come up regarding the people we support,” said Tess Kerzner, the Coordinator of TRC’s Guardianship Committee. “Not only is she knowledgeable, but her connections with the community on disability rights and issues are amazing and vast.”

Tess added that Marie supports people with disabilities in other ways, such as providing training to agencies on how to work with people with disabilities; working with schools on transitioning and work incentive programs; advocating for allocation of grant monies to benefit people with disabilities; and fighting for people’s entitlements and benefits through programs such as the Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Income and the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. Marie also serves on a number of local boards, committees and legislative bodies, and in those roles she advocates for people with disabilities.

When asked why she is so dedicated to the service of people with disabilities, Marie responded, “I always felt that people who cannot advocate for themselves need people to be their voice and get the word out.” She added that another motivating factor for her occurred in the 1980s, when The Resource Center encountered opposition from people regarding TRC’s plan to operate community residences for people with intellectual disabilities. Marie was appalled that people protested the concept of locating a group home in their neighborhood.

“Marie has been there since that time, fighting for the rights of people with disabilities,” Tess said. “We at TRC are grateful and honored to have had Marie on our Guardianship Committee for the past 25 years.”

Marie received The Arc New York certificate at TRC’s December Guardianship Committee. She said she was humbled to receive the honor, adding that she believes the family members who volunteer their time to serve on the committee and TRC’s staff are the people who deserve recognition.

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Staff and residents of a home operated by The Resource Center recently donated more than $200 to the Fredonia Fire Department. The money represents the proceeds of an ongoing fund-raising effort by the home.

To the joy of residents and staff, several Fredonia firefighters arrived via fire engine at TRC’s home on Water Street. Firefighters posed for photographs with the home’s residents before climbing aboard the engine and heading back to the station.

“Thanks for the donation,” Fire Chief Ryan Walker told the residents as they presented him with a check for $221.

The money was raised by collecting redeemable beverage containers and turning them in for the 5-cent deposit. Michael McCoy, the home’s Manager, said the project was part of a larger initiative at The Resource Center to have each of TRC’s homes and day programs support a community organization or a charitable cause.

“Each home was challenged to come up with a community event,” Mike said. “Ours was to collect redeemable bottles. Two hundred dollars was the goal.”

He said that, for several reasons, it made sense to raise money in support of the local fire department. Mike himself belongs to the Mayville Fire Department, and he said several of the home’s residents have relatives who are firefighting personnel.

“We have a great love of fire service,” Mike said.

He added that Phyllis Jones, a parent of one of the home’s residents and a former member of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors, is a Fredonia village trustee with oversight responsibility for the fire department. Mike said that, besides the home’s staff, Phyllis contributed the most beverage containers toward the fund-raising effort.

“There’s a wonderful connection between Phyllis’ connection to The Resource Center and Phyllis’ connection to the fire department,” Mike said.

Phyllis said that once she became aware of the fund-raising effort last year, she began saving her redeemable bottles and bringing them to the home. She was thrilled that the home decided to donate the money to the fire department.

“It was a nice gesture,” she said.

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Since being established in 1994, TRC Foundation has supported thousands of people with disabilities and their families by awarding more than $1 million in grants. A new partnership with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation will only improve on that positive track record.

After more than a year of planning, officials from The Resource Center, TRC Foundation and the Community Foundation recently announced a collaboration that will see the dissolution of TRC Foundation and the transfer of its $2.2 million in assets to the Community Foundation. That money will be spread among several new endowment funds that will be managed by the Community Foundation:

• The Resource Center TRC Foundation Fund – This fund provides support to The Resource Center and the Filling the Gap, Inc., network in supporting people with disabilities and other socio-economic challenges and their families including but not limited to autism services, educational services, community activities, guardianship, transportation, and otherwise unfunded programmatic and capital expenditures.
• The Resource Center Laurel Run Fund – This fund supports community awareness, prevention services, and employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities.
• The Resource Center Look Good Fund – This fund supports the needs of people with disabilities in the areas of personal care, personal appearance, clothing, protective gear, transportation, and other unfunded needs.
• The Resource Center Mark Pacheco WOW (Working on Wonders) Fund – This fund supports persons with disabling conditions in fulfilling their wishes and dreams to enjoy recreational and travel experiences based on financial need.
• The Resource Center Kathy Seastedt “Dream On” Fund – This this fund provides financial resources to assist people with disabling conditions who live in the community and who have unfunded needs.
• The Resource Center TRC Excellence Awards Fund – This fund provides financial resources to assist with the recognition of the achievements of people with disabilities and the staff, community members, volunteers, and businesses who support them. This includes, but is not limited to, the Disability Awareness Awards, achievement awards for people with disabilities, TRC Educator Award, TRC Employee of the Year and TRC Direct Support Professional of the Year.

Click here to learn more about these funds.

Despite the tremendously positive impact TRC Foundation has made, TRC and TRCF officials realized they could do even more by partnering with the Community Foundation. Established in 1978 to assist donors in making a positive impact on the local community, CRCF currently manages $94 million held in some 750 funds.

“The Community Foundation has a 40-year history of serving the greater Chautauqua region,” said Randy Ordines, the Chair of TRC Foundation’s Board of Directors. “(They) bring a vast amount of experience in fund and investment management, planned giving and fund development.”

“Because of CRCF’s experience, and the funds already entrusted to their management, we are able to reduce our overall administrative costs while at the same time ensuring the assets of TRC Foundation will be utilized for their intended purposes into perpetuity,” said Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Executive Director.

The Community Foundation has been a longtime supporter of people with disabilities in Chautauqua County, having donated more than $50,000 over the years to The Resource Center to support a number of programs and initiatives. The new partnership strengthens the bond between the organizations.

“The Resource Center and TRC Foundation have profoundly impacted thousands of area residents with disabilities, as well as their families and fellow community members,” said Randy Sweeney, the Community Foundation executive director. “This new partnership with CRCF ensures that these relationships will continue today and into the future.”

Tax-deductible donations to any of the six named funds above benefitting The Resource Center can be made directly to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring Street, Jamestown, NY, 14701, or by visiting www.crcfonline.org. The Resource Center will also accept donations mailed to 200 Dunham Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701, or made online at www.resourcecenter.org.

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The Resource Center took time Thursday, November 9, to thank TRC employees and others who have served in the Armed Forces.

The eighth annual Veterans Day luncheon was held at The Resource Center’s administrative offices on Dunham Avenue in Celoron. The program was led by Mark Morton, Assistant Executive Director of Employee Relations.

“It’s important to take time each year to thank those who served our country,” Mark said. He also read excerpts of President John Kennedy’s 1961 Veterans Day address.

In what has become a tradition at the event, John Graham, who receives supports from The Resource Center, sang the National Anthem. Then Paul Fardink, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who is TRC’s Executive Liaison for Manufacturing Support, led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Assemblyman Andy Goodell – whose father, brother and daughter served in the military – noted that throughout our nation’s history, America has been fortunate to have people willing to “stand up and make a difference” by joining the Armed Forces.

“Veterans are willing to give everything they have for everybody else. There’s nothing greater than someone who is willing to put all they have, including their lives, on the line for someone else,” Andy said.

He credited the bravery and self-sacrifice of America’s veterans for making the United States the nation it is.

“We’re the country we are today because of the people who came before us, and we’ll be the greatest country in the world because of the people who will follow us,” Andy said. “We are committed to doing what’s right. We’re committed with the most precious resource we have – our people.”

County Executive Vince Horrigan, a retired Air Force colonel, served in the Vietnam War. More than 58,000 U.S. troops died during that conflict, and Vince said he knew a number of people who “gave their life, the ultimate sacrifice, to serve our nation.”

Vince also discussed the sacrifices made by the family members who are left behind when troops are deployed overseas.

Looking around the room at the veterans gathered there, Vince asked for a show of hands as he called out each branch of the service. He was especially happy to have fellow Air Force veterans present, but he made it clear he felt a kinship among every veteran there.

“What a great sense of pride I have to be called a veteran, along with the rest of you,” Vince said.

Jacqueline Phelps attended the event on behalf of Congressman Tom Reed. She thanked veterans for their service, saying, “You put your life on the line to make this nation what it is.”

She said veterans provide a meson in civic and work ethic, adding that our community is a better place because of its veterans. She said the same thing applies to The Resource Center.

“The Resource Center is another one of those places in the community that, if we didn’t have it, we wouldn’t be as great.”

Susan Rowley attended the luncheon in two capacities, as a representative for Senator Cathy Young and as the President of the local chapter of Blue Star Mothers, an organization that exists to support veterans and active-duty personnel, and their families. Susan has a son who has been deployed five times to Iraq and Afghanistan.

She thanked each veteran for his or her service, adding, “All citizens owe a debt to our military veterans, past and present.” She noted that the Blue Star Mothers currently are gathering items to ship to U.S. troops for the holidays.

Susan mentioned that Senator Young helped secure a $185,000 grant to start a Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program in Chautauqua County. The Dwyer Program supports veterans via a variety of social activities. Rowley introduced Cindy Reidy, the Coordinator of the local program, who spoke about the group and shared information about the program’s activities.

Next to speak was Greg Carlson, Chautauqua County’s Director of Veteran Services. He expressed appreciation to the veterans in the room.

“We thank you for saying, `I am willing to defend your life,’” Greg said.

An employee of The Resource Center before being named to his current position, Greg said he wasn’t surprised that dozens of veterans work for TRC, an organization whose main mission is to support people with disabilities.

“If you have a heart for service, you have a heart for service,” he said.

Greg then handed out Veteran Recognition Certificates to the TRC employees present who have served in the Armed Forces.

Paul Fardink then went around the room and gave each veteran the opportunity to talk a bit about his or her military service.

Jamestown resident Peter Carlo, an Army veteran who donates American flags to area schools and non-profit organizations, was the last person to speak. Pete shared a story about a Christmas he experienced during the Korean War. In early December of that year, while stationed along the front lines, he received a package from his girlfriend, Mary (now his wife of more than 60 years).   The package contained a 2-foot-high artificial Christmas tree. While Mary had sent along some ornaments to be placed on the tree, Pete told the audience, there weren’t enough to cover the tree. So he supplemented her ornaments by hanging bullets and hand grenades from the branches.

Pete commented on the fact that although the Korean War hostilities ended in 1953, relations between the United State and North Korea are tense. He expressed hope that cooler heads will prevail.

“I want Washington to understand we don’t need any more fighting,” he said.

Dr. Dawn Columbare was elected to The Resource Center’s Board of Directors at the agency’s annual membership meeting.

Dr. Columbare will serve a two-year term. She replaced Richard Koerner, who stepped down after serving on the Board for three years.

Currently working as a nursing education consultant, Dr. Columbare retired from Jamestown Community College in 2015 after a 22-year career at JCC in which she served as the Director of Nursing and as a Nursing Professor. She has a long affiliation with The Resource Center through her position at JCC.

“I first became involved with The Resource Center when I was a clinical instructor for JCC teaching mental health more than 20 years ago,” she said.” “The Resource Center was a clinical site for JCC students at the time and remained a JCC clinical agency affiliation during the years that I was associated with the nursing program. Many of the registered nurses employed by TRC are graduates of the JCC nursing program.”

Dr. Columbare has served on TRC’s Diagnostic and Treatment Services board advisory committee since 2013. TRC officials have valued her professional insight as a committee member and are pleased that she has joined the Board.

“We are grateful to be able to benefit from Dawn’s extensive medical and educational experience,” said Denise Jones, TRC’s Executive Director.

Dr. Columbare obtained her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, her master’s from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her doctorate of nursing practice from Case Western Reserve.

A registered nurse, she is a member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing and the National League for Nursing, and she serves as a peer reviewer for the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Peer Reviewer.

Dr. Columbare is active in the community. She has been a member of Crèche since 1991 and currently serves as its Board Vice President and Finance Committee Chair. She is a longtime member of Zion Covenant Church, where she serves on the Leadership Team and the Missions Committee.  She serves on the Community Service and Program committees of Zonta International. And she sits on the Grants and Scholarship committees for the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

She and her husband, Stephen, live in Lakewood. They have four children and three grandchildren.

Dr. Columbare lists her hobbies as visiting her grandchildren, gardening, skiing, biking and sailing.

The Resource Center has been supporting people with disabilities and their families since 1958. TRC operates a variety of health and counseling services that are available to anyone, regardless of whether they have a disability. The Resource Center also provides subcontracting work to local industry and the federal government at manufacturing facilities in Jamestown and Dunkirk.

The accomplishments of people with disabilities were highlighted recently when The Resource Center held its 29^th annual Disability Awareness Awards Celebration.

The event took place October 16 at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club. The celebration was an opportunity to recognize people with disabilities who have made meaningful strides in their lives, as well as honor community residents and organizations that have helped improve the lives of those who have a disability.

Welcoming remarks were given by Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Executive Director. “This evening we will celebrate the achievements of several people with disabilities who have realized significant accomplishments during the past year, as well as those who have played a significant role in supporting The Resource Center to ensure individuals are provided with the opportunity to pursue their dreams,” Denise said. “We hope you come away inspired by what you hear, and we invite you to join us in our ongoing mission of making a difference in people’s lives.”

She presented the first awards of the evening, which were given to the members of TRC Foundation’s Board of Directors. They each received an Excellence in Governance Award. TRC Foundation, Inc., was established in 1994 to raise money to support the unfunded needs of people with disabilities in Chautauqua County. Over the past 23 years, TRC Foundation has granted more than $1 million to assist area residents.

TRC Foundation’s Board recently took steps to transfer the foundation’s assets to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation “in order to access their expertise in investing and planned giving, and to endow (TRC Foundation’s) funds to ensure that grants can be provided in perpetuity,” Denise said.

“Tonight we recognize a group of leaders for their dedication and commitment to ensuring the success of TRC Foundation, and thank them for their service,” she said.

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Then, with masters of ceremonies Dennis Webster from WJTN and Sheila Webster from the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce leading the show, the rest of the awards were presented. The Community Support Award was given to Jeff Geblein, who has taught instrumental music at Forestville Central School for more than 40 years. As director of the high school band, for many years Jeff has brought band members to The Resource Center’s Dunkirk facilities to play holiday music for staff and people with disabilities. Every December, Jeff and the band perform at TRC’s buildings on East Chestnut Street and Lake Shore Drive, and he arranges for Santa Claus and some elves to appear to hand out gifts and candy canes.

“Our groups perform many times during the year, but it’s always a highlight when we get to go to The Resource Centers,” Jeff said as he accepted his award. “The kids look forward to that and the joy that the music that they play and sing brings to everyone.”

The Health Provider of the Year Award was given to Dr. Adnan Munir of Lakewood. Dr. Munir, The Resource Center’s Medical Director, was honored for the passionate level of care he provides at TRC Community Health Center. TRC’s Primary Care Office serves people with developmental disabilities who live in homes operated by TRC, as well as thousands of other local residents. Some of the people with disabilities who are supported by The Resource Center have complex health issues and are medically fragile. Dr. Munir works with a team of health care professionals and other staff to ensure that these medically fragile people receive the care they need to remain healthy and avoid hospitalizations. During the past few years, Dr. Munir and the team have succeeded in reducing the number of hospitalizations and emergency-room visits among residents of TRC’s homes.

Dr. Munir also oversees the school-based health center that The Resource Center operates at Jamestown High School.

The Employer of the Year Award went to Truck-Lite of Falconer. TRC has partnered with Truck-Lite for more than 15 years to create job opportunities for people with disabilities. In the past year, Truck-Lite has hired five people through TRC’s Supported Employment Program, bringing to seven the number of workers hired through The Resource Center who currently are employed at Truck-Lite. Company officials regularly contact TRC when there are job openings. Truck-Lite and TRC remain in close contact throughout the interview process as well as after a new employee has been brought on board, in order to help ensure the worker will be successful on the job.

Steve Jones, Materials and Procurement Engineer at Truck-Lite, accepted the award. He said the workers Truck-Lite has hired through The Resource Center perform their jobs well. He noted that in addition to having employees with disabilities working at its plant, Truck-Lite provides work opportunities to other people with disabilities by contracting with The Resource Center to have work performed at TRC’s manufacturing facility on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown. Steve praised Truck-Lite’s disabled workers and TRC’s Supported Employment Program, which matches people with disabilities and local businesses.

“They just do a great job, and we’re glad to be a part of it,” he said.

Truck-Lite also received the Employer of the Year Award in 2003.

The next award was for Advocate of the Year, and it was presented to Patrick Smeraldo of Jamestown. He was recognized for his work as an Independent Service Coordinator with Chautauqua Connections, Inc., and the Connections Children’s Coalition, a collaboration involving more than 30 local agencies that support children up to age 5.  In that role, Patrick advocates for children and families, connecting them with area service providers to receive the assistance they need.

Recently, he facilitated the successful rollout of the Child Wellness Passport, a tool that provides an easy way for parents to track information about their children and assess their children’s developmental progress.

Patrick also has advocated for teen-agers living in Resource Center homes, working with staff from TRC and local school districts to ensure that the youths receive the services they need.

This year, he has joined the leadership team of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive in Chautauqua County, and he wants to make sure that no local child is overlooked during the holidays.

In accepting his award, Patrick said he enjoys working for the Connections Children’s Coalition, and he credited others for the coalition’s success.

“I’m only a small, small piece of a large team that’s out there fighting for children every day, and it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to do,” he said.

The Elmer Muench Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Tom Rhodes of Mayville. Several years ago while he was a TRC employee, Tom helped start a choir composed of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at The Resource Center. Group members gave themselves the name Voices of Hope. Over the years the choir has performed numerous concerts at The Resource Center and at community venues such as Lutheran, Heritage Village and the Prendergast Library.

Tom is retired from TRC, but he comes to The Resource Center twice a week to work with the choir members. He inspires them to express themselves through music and to enjoy themselves with no expectations.

Tom said he felt he shouldn’t be honored for doing something he enjoys. “It’s like giving me an award to go to Disney World twice a week,” he said. “We have a lot of fun, and I think that it’s something that I take pride in how much they take pride in what they do.”

Before Tom could leave the stage with his award, Darlene Lascola, a Direct Support Professional who helps to facilitate the choir, came forward to present him with a gift. It was a painting made by Voices of Hope members who also participate in TRC’s Creations art program.

“Tom is more loved than he realizes,” Darlene said in explaining why choir members wanted to create a painting for him.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is named in memory of Elmer Muench, a longtime volunteer for The Resource Center.

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The Personal Success Award was given to David Shaw of Jamestown. He was honored for maintaining successful employment at UPMC Chautauqua WCA. Dave was hired in January to work in the hospital’s kitchen. His manager is proud of Dave’s work ethic, and dietitians have commented on how well they like working with him. Dave is considered to be a reliable asset in the kitchen, and he has yet to be late to work or miss a day.

The Bruce Walford Community Service Award was presented to Evelyn Wright-Kegelmyer of Cassadaga. Evelyn, a Staff Development Specialist at The Resource Center, was honored for her volunteer efforts in support of special events put on by TRC, Filling the Gap and community organizations, especially Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care.

“I love to volunteer, I love to give back.” Evelyn said. “It just satisfies me so much.” She read a quote by Leo Rosten, a humorist and writer:

“I cannot believe that the purpose to life is merely to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be honorable and to be compassionate. I think that it is above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have it make some difference that you lived at all.”

“I try to live by that every day in the things that I do,” said Evelyn. She also thanked members of her family for their efforts in helping to undertake all of her volunteer activities.

The Community Service Award is named in memory of Bruce Walford, manager of TRC’s Dunkirk manufacturing facility.

The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Joshua Hughes of Dunkirk. Joshua, who has several disabling conditions, continuously works to improve himself. He has been sober for 14 years, and this year he stopped using tobacco.

Joshua is employed at Walmart in Fredonia, where co-workers know they can rely on him to perform his tasks and assist when needed. An advocate for people with disabilities, Joshua is a past president of a self-advocacy group sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York. He also has volunteered at the Friendly Kitchen in Dunkirk.

Joshua lives on his own. He recently acquired a vehicle, increasing his independence.

Also recognized at the awards celebration was Phil Murvine of Jamestown. He was honored for having been selected by New York State Industries for the Disabled for recognition in NYSID’s annual Outstanding Performer Program. NYSID honored Murvine for his job performance as a member of The Resource Center’s Environmental Services crew that maintains the Interstate 86 rest area near Bemus Point.

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The final honor of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to Greg Peterson. Greg has been supporting The Resource Center and people with disabilities for more 40 years, serving on the boards of The Resource Center and TRC Foundation.

Marie Carrubba presented the award. Marie, a longtime member of The Resource Center’s board, shared how Greg has been able to find ways to have TRC and people with disabilities benefit from some of his other community interests. Greg is a longtime supporter of Jamestown’s professional baseball team, and in the 1980s he helped arrange for TRC to be the team’s broker for selling season tickets. He also was able to get the professional ballplayers to hold a training practice with a softball team composed of people with disabilities at TRC.

A driving force behind the creation of the Robert H. Jackson Center, Greg involved TRC in one of the facility’s most successful continuing legal education seminars by having people with disabilities create tie-dye T-shirts that were given to participants at a seminar that focused on the Woodstock music festival.

Marie added that when TRC Foundation was created in the mid-1990s, Greg helped attract Board members who would help the foundation be successful.

“Greg has been there for The Resource Center for as long as I can remember,” said Marie, who herself has been involved with TRC since 1983. “No one has been more dedicated or championed the cause of TRC.”

In accepting the award, Greg deflected attention from himself, saying that TRC’s success has been due to its high-quality administrative leadership, employees, board members, and families.

“I’m just so honored with this award as it reflects not on what I did, but it reflects on what everybody here has done throughout those years,” Greg said. “I’m here just representative of people standing on the shoulders of … all of those folks who just give so much of their time and talent for an incredible cause.”

Greg asked longtime family acquaintance Jennifer Felice to join him on the stage. Jennifer has received supports from The Resource Center for many years; her parents, Mike and Laura, were active volunteers and supporters of TRC. Saying that Jennifer was “emblematic of all those people that we do the work for” and who “make great strides and great achievements,” Greg gave her his Lifetime Achievement Award.

Closing remarks were given by Harry Glatz, a member of TRC Foundation’s Board. He quoted portions of a poem by Walter Wintle:

“If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win but think that you can’t, it’s almost a cinch you won’t. Life doesn’t always go to the person who’s the fastest or strongest. But sooner or later the person who wins is the person who thinks he can.”

Each award recipient received a trophy, plus certificates from Congressman Tom Reed, Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andy Goodell. Three people who receive supports from TRC helped hand out the awards: Abby Adam, Kyle Keller and Janel McIntyre. Jane Young, TRC Nursing Office Assistant, was the event photographer.

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This year’s awards selection committee was composed of Chris Anderson, TRC’s Marketing and Internet Manager; Kevin Anderson, TRC’s Assistant Director of Employment and Community-Based Services; Victoria Trass Bardo, Development and Events Manager for Filling the Gap; TRC Assistant Executive Director Heather C. Brown; Kathy Field, TRC’s Associate Executive Administrative Assistant; and Michael Suppa, Filling the Gap’s Vice President for Planning and Operations.

Also recognized at the awards celebration were individuals and businesses who within the past year achieved significant levels of cumulative financial contributions to The Resource Center, TRC Foundation or Filling the Gap. Those achieving milestone giving levels during the past year were Capital Group Companies ($25,000); Graf Realty and R. Erik Seastedt ($10,000); and AXA Advisors, Janice Pratt-Scott and Steve Waterson ($5,000).

Sponsors of this year’s event were Brown & Brown Insurance, Lake Shore Savings, NYSID, New Vision Services, Philips Lytle, Premier Consulting Associates, Saxton Kocur & Associates, Support Enterprises, Inc., and TEAM Services.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and seeks to educate the public and the business community about the value that is created by having a workforce made up of all types of skills and talents.

The Resource Center has been supporting people with disabilities to find and maintain work for more than 50 years. Hundreds of Chautauqua County residents have jobs through TRC’s manufacturing facilities and Environmental Services cleaning crews, and hundreds more are competitively employed in the community thanks to partnerships created among The Resource Center and dozens of local businesses.

Every person’s employment story is a success story. Here are snapshots of a few of the hundreds of people with disabling conditions who have found work thanks to The Resource Center.

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Ben Burkhart
Ben Burkhart is a kindhearted person who is always willing to lend a helping hand. He has been a valuable employee of The Resource Center’s Environmental Services Division since 2009.

In his current position, he is a member of the mobile cleaning crew that travels to different sites in the Jamestown area and ensures that the buildings are looking their best. Ben stated his duties include sweeping and mopping floors, sanitizing surfaces, taking out garbage, and dusting. He works full time and said that he enjoys cleaning, socializing with his co-workers and being out in the community.

Through his job, Ben is able to save money for the future, purchase items that he enjoys, and help with bills and other expenses. People that work with Ben state that he takes direction well, performs all of his assigned duties, and always has a positive attitude. The Resource Center assists Ben by providing job coaching and case management services.

Todd Dallas
After 10 years of being unemployed, Todd joined The Resource Center’s Supported Employment Program in November 2016 in the hopes of rejoining the community and the workforce. Todd is a soft-spoken person who is friendly and fun to work with. His dedication and participation while in the program has been nothing short of outstanding.

Todd interviewed for and was offered the position of a Facility Service Technician in the recycling department at Truck-Lite in May of this year. Returning to the workforce can be scary, but Todd has received exceptional remarks from his employer and his Job Coach. Todd’s job is not easy. He needs to remain alert and constantly push himself to keep up with the demand of work in his department.

Todd has been able to achieve so much this last year, and TRC’s Supported Employment staff who have worked with him continue to be awed by all he has accomplished.

Keith Gowan
Keith entered Supported Employment at the age of 18 as he was finishing up his last year of high school. He entered Job Development and within a few months, interviewed and was hired by The Resource Center’s Environmental Services Division. Keith began working in 2007. He worked on the mobile crew, cleaning several TRC facilities. Keith was chosen specifically for the floor crew for the Jamestown City Hall account because of his superior attention to detail.

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In 2009, a new account opened up for snow removal at the Interstate 86 rest area near Bemus Point. Keith applied and was offered a spot on the crew. He worked there throughout winter, then returned to the mobile cleaning crew.

In 2010, Environmental Services was contracted to provide cleaning services at the I-86 rest area, and Keith was ecstatic when chosen to be placed on the crew full time. His duties include sweeping, mopping, washing windows, and maintaining the overall cleanliness of the restrooms. Keith’s Department of Transportation supervisor trusts him enough to have him attend to duties out of the norm, such as trimming trees, as the supervisor knows Keith is always willing to help wherever he is needed.

Over the years, Keith has proven to be a trustworthy, competent and valued employee.   He currently works 37 hours per week. For the terrific work he does at the rest area, Keith has been recognized by NYSID (New York State Industries for the Disabled) as an Outstanding Performer in its annual William B. Joslin awards program.

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Matthew Madison
Matthew interviewed for a job at the Lakewood Walmart in November 2016. Matthew nailed the interview on his own and was hired as seasonal help, 20 hours per week.

After the Christmas season, Walmart management approached Matthew and asked if he was interested in remaining on staff as a part-time stockperson. Matthew accepted the offer, and his job involved gathering carts in the parking lot and bays and then bringing them to the corrals inside the store. He also assisted in training new hires.

Recently, Matthew was asked to learn the specifics of the cashier position so he could be utilized in the Auto Center. Although Matthew worked a 20-hour schedule each week, he routinely filled in for co-workers who call off. It is not uncommon for him to work several double shifts during a week.

Matthew recently was hired as a full-time employee and will be eligible for insurance benefits.

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Phil Murvine
Phil has worked for The Resource Center’s Environmental Services Division for more than 16 years. During that time, he has learned an array of skills from janitorial and floor work to snow removal and landscaping. He has amazing time management skills, is very prompt and even walks to and from work.

The workers at the Department of Transportation at the I-86 rest stop are extremely pleased with his work ethic. He always stays busy without prompting and does a top-notch job. He loves his job at the rest stop and often says how happy he is with it.

He’s come a long way and has learned how to handle stressful situations and people in a much calmer way. He is helpful and is willing to work extra hours as well. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, and camping. He is an asset to Environmental Services and we are happy to have him.

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Jeremy Russell
Jeremy entered The Resource Center’s Supported Employment Program in July 2012. He had little work experience and was eager to find employment within his home town of Randolph, NY. Once Jeremy completed the initial intake phase for Supported Employment, he entered Job Development.

Jeremy worked closely with his Job Developer, searching for employment opportunities locally. With the Job Developer’s assistance, he submitted two applications for employment in Randolph that were reflective of his work interests. Jeremy interviewed and was hired as a substitute cleaner with Randolph Central School. He works during the school year and is off when school is out of session, and he returns to his job in late summer.

Jeremy enjoys his cleaning job, where he earns enough money to live in his own house and pay his way without assistance.

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David Shaw
To say that 2017 was David Shaw’s year would be an understatement.

David began working as a Food Service Aide for UPMC Chautauqua WCA in March. He grabbed the ball and kept running with it at WCA, as he became an integral part of the kitchen’s daily functions from the get-go. This job has greatly impacted his life, enabling him to live independently and giving him the ability to recently purchase a car.

David is proud to be working for WCA. His elation was exhibited at a Job Club meeting, at which David shared his success with his peers.

His Job Coach, Aliza Neal, said, “David is constantly working and maintains a clean and organized dish room. He also has built great relationships with all of his co-workers.”

David’s future keeps looking brighter with each day that passes!

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The Resource Center followed up last year’s selection as one of the healthiest workplaces in the country by doing even better this year.

The Resource Center has been named the 19^th healthiest employer in America in a nationwide competition. The Resource Center was notified in July that it had been named to the Healthiest 100 list, but TRC’s specific ranking wasn’t revealed until the National Healthiest Employers Awards Ceremony, which took place in Chicago in September.

Each year, Healthiest Employers conducts events in more than 40 regions to identify local businesses that have excelled in creating healthy workplaces for their employees. This past spring, for the second straight year The Resource Center was declared the healthiest employer in Western New York in the Large Business category in a competition organized by Buffalo Business First magazine. Healthiest Employers invited the top 25 percent of the regional honorees to participate in the national competition, said Donna Trusso, the project manager for The Resource Center’s STARS employee wellness program. Organizers of the national competition said that more than 2,000 businesses applied for consideration as one of the Healthiest 100 Employers.

Last year, The Resource Center finished 77^th in the Healthiest Employers rankings. For this year’s competition, TRC’s expectations were modest.

“Our goal was if we were 77 last year, let’s hope we’re at least 76,” Trusso said.

During the awards ceremony, the names of the 100 Healthiest Employers were announced in groups of 10, starting with number 100. Trusso and the two members of TRC’s wellness team who accompanied her to Chicago, Heather Courtney and Jon DeSantis, became anxious as more and more names were announced and TRC wasn’t listed.

“They’re reading off the names in the 50s, 40s, 30s, and we’re sitting there not seeing our name,” Trusso said. She and her co-workers began to wonder if TRC’s name was announced and they somehow missed it.

“You can feel your heart beating a little bit more. It’s very exciting,” DeSantis said. “It felt like the Oscars.”

Finally, as the organizers announced the list of employers ranked 11^th through 20^th, The Resource Center appeared at number 19. TRC’s representatives were pleasantly surprised, saying that they knew the agency’s wellness program had gotten stronger in the past year.

“We felt like we’d made progress, but I never would have envisioned that big of a jump,” Trusso said.

Award applicants were evaluated across six key categories: culture and leadership, foundational components, strategic planning, communication and marketing, programming and interventions, and reporting and analysis. Completed assessments were ranked with the Healthiest Employer Index, a 1-100 metric for wellness programming.

When asked to account for the rise from 77^th to 19^th place in the rankings, Trusso and her team credited TRC’s focus on looking beyond the agency.

“The one thing that I think has really helped us a lot is the collaborations we’ve made in the community,” Trusso said. She pointed to blood drives conducted in partnership with the American Red Cross, a recurring Weight Watchers initiative and ongoing lunch-and-learn offerings that feature local experts on a variety of topics based on employee needs and interests.

DeSantis added that TRC has received regional support for the success of its wellness program. TRC is a member of the P2 Collaborative of Western New York, which seeks to align resources to measurably improve health and healthcare delivery, increase access to care, and reduce health disparities in the region. Representatives of the P2 Collaborative’s other member agencies were pleased with TRC’s ranking on the Healthies Employers list.

“They were just as excited as we were about it,” he said.

The Resource Center also has partnered with the Chautauqua County Health Network and the CHQ250 initiative, among others.

Trusso added that the people overseeing the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities’ employee wellness program contacted TRC to learn more about STARS.

“It’s a really great feeling to know we’re not only helping people here at TRC, but our success is having a positive effect on others,” Trusso said. “It’s very gratifying and satisfying.”

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The Resource Center implemented the STARS employee wellness program several years ago. STARS assesses each person along five key life dimension: basic needs, physical health, mental wellness, family/social relationships, and employment issues. STARS participants enjoy the opportunity to meet with a health coach a minimum of three times per year to develop and monitor a personalized wellness plan; discounts on their health care costs and wellness activities; and the ability to earn incentive points that can be redeemed for prizes. Participation in the wellness program is voluntary. Many of the STARS activities, such as the lunch-and-learn series, are open to all TRC employees, not just those who are enrolled in STARS.

Each STARS participant undergoes an annual biometric screening. Based on the results of the screenings and TRC’s health care claims data, the STARS team’s focus area for 2017 is promoting and maintaining healthy behavioral changes to reduce the risk of heart diseases and diabetes. Targeted approaches included weight management, proper nutrition, smoking cessation, exercise, and stress reduction.

An ongoing challenge is finding ways to engage employees to be willing to make positive changes in their health and well-being. The STARS program comes up with challenges for employees to engage in, on their own or in teams – for instance, TRC recently wrapped up a challenge aimed at getting people to lose weight and/or exercise during the summer. Every interaction with staff is an opportunity to spread the wellness message.

“People are realizing that taking positive steps in overall wellness feels good,” Courtney said.

Trusso said The Resource Center has begun to realize a positive return on its investment in its in-house employee wellness program in terms of improved health measures among STARS participants and decreased claims costs. And those positive changes manifest themselves in the form of more productive employees.

“People appreciate having someone to listen to them and knowing that they’re cared about,” Courtney said. “When staff see that their employer cares about them, they perform better; their attendance is better; they do better.”

Going forward, Trusso and the STARS team want to get others involved in promoting the importance of wellness. TRC has formed a wellness committee to assist in this area and become “ambassadors of wellness,” said Trusso, explaining that she, Courtney and DeSantis can’t do it alone. “We can’t be everywhere.”

TRC administrators are pleased with the performance of the STARS wellness team and the recognition the program has received locally, regionally and nationally.

“I couldn’t be more honored and proud of my team and all of the employees at The Resource Center,” said Heather C. Brown, assistant executive director. “We have worked hard on this initiative since rolling it out a few years ago and are pleased with so much engagement. And then to be recognized at a national level is just unbelievable. But really, it all boils down to helping our employees, our co-workers, to be healthy, well and thriving members of TRC and the community.”

About Healthiest Employer, LLC
Healthiest Employers is an awards program that recognizes organizations that proactively shape the health of their employees. To date, Healthiest Employer has served as a resource to over 8,000 U.S. employers that represent 60 million employees. This program is conducted by Springbuk, a health analytics company. Learn more at www.HealthiestEmployers.com and www.Springbuk.com.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]