fbpx

Family Key to Success

By Jeff Warner, Warner’s Stellian History books omit the names of many important people. Despite their significant impact, their part of the story remains unwritten. In Warners’ Stellian’s story, such a man existed. Gerald Tuckner married dad’s sister Marie. Jerry was a...

Read More

Growing Up with Hammer

By Wendy Paulson, Human Resources Specialist Congratulations Hammer Residences, on being recognized as a Star Tribune Top 100 Workplace for five years in a row! On June 15, the Star Tribune published “Top Workplaces 2014”—a list of the best places to work in Minnesota. Only 14 Minnesota companies...

Read More

Celebrating the Successes in Advocacy

By Terriann Matejcek, Director of Advocacy & Volunteer Resources Often our work and our world are moving so fast that we forget to take time to celebrate. We forget to step back, take a breath and say “Wow. That really was something!” On Tuesday, June 10, legislators, family members,...

Read More

Risky Business

by Lisbeth Vest Armstrong, Chief Program Officer Did you ever consider the disability field  a high risk career option? It’s true. While it is such a fun and fulfilling profession – we  get to hang out with, and support, such incredibly sensitive and creative people – there is a price to pay for...

Read More

Running for Fun?!

By Mallory Clark, Assistant Program Manager Last fall Brandon Eddy, RN and I were brainstorming creative ways for people to exercise and have fun at the same time. We came up with the idea of encouraging the individuals we serve to challenge themselves and participate in a 5K. As we searched the...

Read More

Person Centered Thinking and Planning

By Betsy Gadbois, Director of Learning & Education for Opportunity Partners Person centered thinking and person centered planning seem to be the buzzwords in the disability world, again. We have been talking about these concepts for all of my 30+ years in the field. We all want to believe that...

Read More

Living Life to the “Max”

By Peter Schaffran, Case Manager I began supporting those with disabilities in 2002 when I worked with developmental disability children. I was a college student at MSU – Mankato and I was searching for the right fit after graduation. After I short time working at Pinnacle with...

Read More

A Board Member’s Perspective

By Bill Young, Board Vice President for both Hammer and Hammer Travel It was 2009, and I was having a bad day at work. I stepped out of the elevator on my way home and ran into a coworker, Mark Flannery who was the immediate past President on the Hammer Board of Directors.  He said, “I have great...

Read More

A Voice for Autism, Here and Abroad

By Melissa Diamond, Direct Support Professional Last summer, I hosted a lecture event in Minnetonka as a fundraiser for my organization, A Global Voice for Autism. The event featured Hammer CEO John Estrem and parent autism advocate Idil Abdull. Idil has been a leader in drawing attention to the...

Read More