The Resource Center holds 35th annual employee service recognition event

Steve Strom is congratulated by Denise Jones.

Combined, they have put in more than 1,780 years of service at The Resource Center. And TRC recently honored those 139 people at the agency’s 35th annual Employee Service Recognition Luncheon, held at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron.

The event paid tribute to employees who, during 2019, completed a milestone year of service with The Resource Center.

The longest-serving employee recognized at this year’s luncheon was Steven Strom of Jamestown, help desk coordinator in the information systems department, who has been with TRC for 40 years. He is the eighth employee ever to reach this milestone.

Honored for 35 years were Donna Lundmark, Kathy Constantino, Bruce Jackson, and Lisa Nelson.

Recognized for 35 years of service were Kathy Constantino of Jamestown, staff assistance specialist; Bruce Jackson of Lakewood, care coordinator; Donna Lundmark of Russell, PA, executive administrative assistant; and Lisa Nelson of Warren, PA, quality assurance/quality improvement specialist.

You can click the links below to watch videos of the 40-year and 35-year honorees:

• https://youtu.be/uYPohz7a6sw – Steve Strom
• https://youtu.be/s1BCFdA3oAg – Lisa Nelson
• https://youtu.be/GtCZcxLQlOs – Donna Lundmark
• https://youtu.be/TsmatKOO19k – Bruce Jackson
• https://youtu.be/5ty4Gtvj5Ac – Kathy Constantino

Honored for 30 years of service were Sherry Carnes of Jamestown, imaging specialist; Lori Carutis of Clymer, service coordinator; Donna Eddy of Randolph, job developer; Beth Jermain of Frewsburg, support option administrator; Karen Silzle of Jamestown, residence coordinator; and Karen Williamson of Falconer, direct support professional lead.

Employees recognized for 30 years of service with The Resource Center included, from left, Donna Eddy, Lori Carutis, Sherry Carnes, and Beth Jermain.

Honored for 25 years were, from left, Evelyn Wright-Kegelmyer, Terri Servis, Ann McKillip, Kristen Farmer, Lisa Gross, and Heather C. Brown. Missing are Heather Burch, Linda Burlingame, Kathy Hyatt, Kristen MacKenzie.

Completing 25 years of service were Heather C. Brown of Ashville, assistant executive director; Heather Burch of Jamestown, residence manager; Linda Burlingame of Brocton, direct support professional aide; Kristen Farmer of Falconer, secretary; Lisa Gross of Jamestown, residence manager; Kathryn Hyatt of Lily Dale, administrative assistant; Kristen MacKenzie of Falconer, residence coordinator supervisor; Ann McKillip of Jamestown, purchasing supervisor; Teresa Servis of Jamestown, residence manager; and Evelyn Wright-Kegelmyer of Cassadaga, staff development specialist.

Among those honored for 20 years of service were, from left, front row, Marcia Restivo, Rosanna Hatfield and Cookie Wilson; and, back row, Josh Johnson, Jamie Intihar and Sabrina Avery.

Honored for 20 years of service were Sabrina Avery of Jamestown, direct support professional aide; Patrick Covey of Lakewood, quality assurance/quality improvement specialist; Brian Crawford of Jamestown, direct support professional lead; Susan Engstrom of Jamestown, third-shift supervisor; Rosanna Hatfield of Bemus Point, clinical site supervisor; Roger Heeter of Jamestown, driver; Jamie Intihar of Sinclairville, agency habilitation specialist; Jodie Johnson of Jamestown, direct support professional; Joshua Johnson of Jamestown, staff assistance specialist; Marcia Restivo of Jamestown, family support and engagement specialist/guardianship coordinator; and Margaret Wilson of Jamestown, direct support professional aide.

Those recognized for 15 years of service were Debra Adams of Falconer, direct support professional aide; Ned Battle of Jamestown, direct support professional lead; William Bowler of Warren, physical therapist; Shelly Coleson of Frewsburg, senior finance specialist; Christine Cook of Jamestown, residence coordinator; Shirley DeGolier of Fredonia, driver; Tammy Fardink of Ashville, nurse supervisor; Deborah Kalfas of Mayville, licensed practical nurse; Carla MacTavish of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Tammy Marks of Jamestown, lead manufacturing supervisor; Shannon McCune of Lakewood, residence manager; Annie Melendez of Jamestown, assistant residence manager; Maureen Peterson of Dunkirk, administrative coordinator; Ashley Piazza of Lakewood, medical aide; Robert Radack of Lakewood, driver; Cheryl Rosenow of Mayville, direct support professional; Walter Rutland of Dunkirk, direct support professional aide; Amber Sigular of Frewsburg, patient access navigator; Cheryl Stow of Ashville, direct support professional; Kelly Surrena of Jamestown, direct support professional; Johnny Tooley of Falconer, day services supervisor; Viginia Vath of Jamestown, assistant executive director; Penny Woodring of Celoron, direct support professional; Jillian Zeolle of Jamestown, patient access representative; and Billie Ziacik of Erie, PA, recruitment coordinator.

Fifteen-year employees included, from left, front row, Walter Rutland, Billie Ziacik, Tammy Fardink, Shelly Coleson, Debra Adams, Tammy Marks, and Annie Melendez; and, back row, Johnny Tooley, Penny Woodring, Ashley Piazza, Maureen Peterson, Ned Battle, Bill Bowler, Robert Radack, Amber Sigular, and Jillian Zeolle.

Completing 10 years of service were Daniel Bender of Kennedy, production superintendent; Annmarie Bonfiglio-Davis of Kennedy, direct support professional lead; Tarin Cardone of Jamestown, direct support professional lead; Jason Carnahan of Jamestown, residence manager; Roland Cartner Jr. of Falconer, maintenance specialist; Mariela Collazo of Dunkirk, care coordinator; Christopher Davis of Jamestown, vehicle detailing supervisor; Verna Dickinson of Jamestown, staff assistance specialist; Michael Duncanson of Jamestown, direct support professional; Deja Ferrara of Jamestown, nurse manager; Sandra Greenman of Dunkirk, mental health clinician; Carol Hanson of Jamestown, direct support professional; Holly Horton of Dunkirk, community coach; Nancy Johnson of Greenhurst, secretary; Lisa Langford of Jamestown, residence coordinator; Janet Laurin of Jamestown, community coach; Randall Lewis of Frewsburg, attorney; Gerald Lundberg of Jamestown, lead manufacturing supervisor; Janelle Newcomb of Celoron, environmental services coordinator; Jade Peterson of Steamburg, service coordinator; Amy Pratt of Jamestown, direct support professional; Lisa Rios of Jamestown, direct support professional aide; John Rogers of Jamestown, production maintenance technician; Marsha Staar of Frewsburg, assistant residence manager; Sabrina Stevens of Jamestown, direct support professional aide; Allison Urbanski of Jamestown, direct support professional lead; Michael Winship of Randolph, shipping and receiving supervisor; and Toni Wulf of Russell, licensed practical nurse.

Here are some of our 10-year employees.

Employees who reached five years of service were Tania Alfonso of Jamestown, direct support professional; Christopher Anderson of Lakewood, marketing and development project manager; Jon Annis of Frewsburg, engineering manager; Julia Baggiano of Jamestown, self-determination assistant; Mark Baglia of Jamestown, employment specialist; Jessica Banes of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Britnie Barmore of Gerry, self-determination assistant; Rachel Barto of Falconer, direct support professional; Alex Berdine of Jamestown, community coach; Melissa Blue of Jamestown, community coach; Alyssa Bouquin, licensed practical nurse; Lauren Boyle of Fredonia, rehabilitation counselor; Nichole Brunecz of Lakewood, community habilitation administrator; Timothy C. Carlson of Jamestown, driver; Larissa Catanese of Sinclairville, direct support professional; Nicolas Couse of Jamestown, assistant residence manager; Jeanette Davis of Jamestown, driver; Jenifer Davis of Randolph, assistant residence manager; Renee Delahoy of Jamestown, assistant residence manager; Wendy Doutt of Jamestown, residence manager; Kelly Edwards of Jamestown, direct support professional aide; Ronald Walter Gabalski Jr., recreation assistant; Megan Goodwill of Jamestown, medical aide; Lori Gould of Jamestown, direct support professional lead; Jessica Hagle of Dunkirk, community coach; Carol Hand of Lakewood, direct support professional aide; Nikki Hayes of Jamestown, direct support professional; Stefanie Howie of Jamestown, direct support professional; Sarah Knuth of Randolph, licensed practical nurse; Samantha Langworthy of Jamestown, direct support professional; Katy Lauffenburger of Frewsburg, scheduler; Constance McCracken of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Brandi Mecusker of Jamestown, direct support professional aide; Richard Meek of Westfield, community coach; Andrew Ninham of Bemus Point, maintenance specialist; James Nunes of Jamestown, industrial quality assurance technician; Nicholas Parent of Fredonia, residence manager; Daniel Potter of Jamestown, habilitation specialist; Barbara Ravellette of Jamestown, job developer; Harold Roberts of Bear Lake, PA, production superintendent; Angela Rounds of Jamestown, residence coordinator; Carol Rowland of Falconer, administrative coordinator; Ashley Russell of Falconer, office assistant/scheduler; Luz Santana of Jamestown, care coordinator; Elizabeth Schmid-Miller of Jamestown, community coach; Catherine Schultz of Kennedy, medical aide; Martin Seekings of Jamestown, direct support professional; Jamie Sheldon of Jamestown, assistant residence manager; Andrea Shierling of Jamestown, community coach; Sarina Simmes of Jamestown, direct support professional aide; Joanne Spunaugle of Lakewood, licensed practical nurse; Amanda Stevens of Sherman, licensed practical nurse; Milagros Thunberg of Falconer, direct support professional aide; Sandra Young pf Bemus Point, direct support professional aide; and Shauna Zollinger of Randolph, direct support professional.

Here are some of our five-year employees.

Executive Director Denise Jones delivered welcoming remarks.

“Today we celebrate you and your commitment to The Resource Center and, more importantly, to the individuals that we support,” Denise told the staff being honored. “Many of you came to The Resource Center in search of your first job and found a career. You have stayed because you care about what we do and the people we support.”

She noted that those employees being honored for five years of service have worked a total of about 10,000 hours at TRC, while a 40-year employee would have worked about 72,000 total hours over four decades.

“You’ve literally spent 20 percent of your time available in service to others, and that’s something to really take pride in. We all know consistency in staffing is the key to service provision, and you are providing that,” Jones told employees. “So on behalf of the individuals we support, their families and from the bottom of my heart, congratulations and thank you for choosing to invest your time in the lives of others here at The Resource Center.”

After all of the employees has been honored, Patricia Perlee, the President of TRC’s Board of Directors, gave closing remarks.

“Your dedication to your job and your commitment to those we serve is the reason TRC continues to be the great organization that it is today,” Patty told employees. “You are the reason that our mission continues; that each life is unique, it’s valued; each person contributes to our community; and everyone experiences lifelong growth and a quality of life.”

“When I walk out of The Resource Center,” she continued, “and I see different people in the hallway, the thing that always strikes me is that everybody looks happy. They’re genuinely happy to be at their job, and they really seem to be a united community. And I think that’s what makes TRC so great.”

All employees being honored received a winter coat or fleece embroidered with TRC’s logo. Employees completing 20 years of service or more also received a monetary gift.

Click here to listen to a radio show that recaps the Employee Service Recognition Luncheon.