By Chris Chica, Residential Services Coordinator

Each month, we will recognize two DSPs of the Month as well as a Program Manager of the Month. We are thankful for all the ways they bring the best of themselves to those they support and their colleagues. Please join us in celebrating them:

December DSPs of the Month: Beatta Smith & Ernest Gargar  

Beatta

Beatta Smith [County Road F] – Beatta routinely goes the extra mile for the women supported at County Road F, and she is a vital member of the team at this home! Beatta has fostered a love of gardening with the ladies at County Road F – Beatta has everyone choose a flower and vegetable to plant in the garden, she adds a variety of other plants and vegetables herself, and the ladies are involved each step of the way (including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, and composting kitchen scraps to fertilize the garden). The home utilizes the herbs for herb butter and to add to a variety of dishes (including salad and pasta!), and the beans, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes that are grown are harvested and included in the diet of everyone at the home. The beautiful wildflowers are a significant point of pride for the women here, and the garden has become an amazing way to get the ladies outside during the spring/summer months and eating a variety of vegetables. Congratulations, Beatta!

Ernest

Ernest Gargar [Ridgeview] – Ernest is someone who completes all tasks involved in the role of DSP in a determined and diligent manner, and he is described as an “outstanding team member” as part of the team at our Ridgeview home! Recently, Ernest handled a unique and difficult situation with an undoubtedly high level of poise – Ernest and one of the men supported at Ridgeview became stuck in the elevator at the home (which lasted for almost an hour!), and Ernest not only stayed incredibly calm himself, but he successfully kept the man who we support calm throughout the entire ordeal! Handling this unexpected challenge as incredibly as Ernest did was so very impressive, though at the same time not unexpected, considering the quality of his work, day-in-and-day-out. Congratulations, Ernest!

December Program Manager of the Month: Nenseh Sakpeider

Nenseh

When there are conversations regarding exemplary Program Managers, Nenseh Sakpeider’s (one of the two Program Managers at Lawndale) name is one that is consistently brought up! Nenseh (along with her co-Program Manager Michael Bryant) cultivates an environment at Lawndale that takes tremendous care of the people supported here, as well as leading a terrific staff team. In addition to Nenseh’s work at Lawndale, she has covered at other homes that are without a Program Manager for a period of time, as well as teaching many other Program Managers how to do various integral aspects of the role. Nenseh’s caring and dependable nature lend to her being a shining example of what it means to be a great Program Manager and so very deserving of this month’s “PM of the Month” honor. Congratulations, Nenseh!