Please join us in congratulating the April 2025 Recognition Recipients!
Executive Director’s Recognition
The Executive Director’s Recognition is given to individuals who’s insight, efforts, and innovation elevate their program.
Please join us in congratulating the Human Resources team.
“I would like to give an Executive Director’s recognition to the HR team- Brendan Myers, Leisa Spakoski, and Tammy Burke for doing an excellent job getting our new payroll software, Paychex, up and running without a hitch. The process has been going on for at least a year while they watched demos of various options, selected the best one, and negotiated the price for the agency. Then they learned the new system themselves, managed the implementation, and transferred all our information from one system to the other. They were all patient and gracious as they repeatedly reminded many of us (me included!) to finish setting up our profiles prior to the first payroll being run. This project took many hours to complete, and lately, a lot of extra hours to make sure we all got paid accurately and on time. Thank you, HR team!” – Sybil Newell
Rise to the Occasion Recognition
The Rise to the Occasion Recognition is given to individuals who see a need within the agency and go above and beyond to fill that need.
Please join us in congratulating, Brian Dougherty, CRPA-P at RISE Above, as the April 2025 Rise to the Occasion Recognition recipient.
“I would like to nominate Brian Dougherty for him always being so helpful and knowledgeable.” – Donna Kneaskern
Brian’s helpfulness, knowledge, and willingness to step in wherever needed have not gone unnoticed.
His dedication truly embodies the spirit of this recognition, and we’re grateful for the positive impact you make every day.
Rise to the Extra Mile Recognition
The Rise to the Extra Mile Recognition is given to highly motivated individuals who go that extra mile in their job.
Please join us in congratulating Shaun Engel, CRPA at SunRISE, as the February 2025 Rise to the Extra Mile Recognition recipient.
“I would like to nominate Shaun Engel, peer from SunRISE. Numerous clients have reported how above and beyond he has gone to help them through crisis’ they’ve had while at our facility, and most recently was able to deescalate and maintain safety for a client who was in truly struggling by engaging with him about sports and mutual interests, without Shaun’s support I believe our client would have decompensated and needed higher level of care. We are lucky to have peers like Shaun available to our clients.” – Tonya Allen, LPN
Staff on the Rise
Staff on the Rise is an employee recognition program which recognizes staff who possess an exemplary work ethic, excel on the job, are team players, and are an inspiration to others.
We would like to recognize Becca for her outstanding dedication, exceptional work ethic, and the fun energy she brings to the team. Becca consistently demonstrates an incredible rapport with her clients, always ensuring each one receives equal, individualized attention. She truly goes above and beyond to meet their needs with care and compassion, and this has been made evident through the way her families speak of her. Despite carrying a large caseload, Becca handles her responsibilities with grace and professionalism.
“Her ability to maintain the quality of her work, even under pressure, is a testament to her commitment and resilience. In addition to her individual contributions, Becca is a true team player. She often steps up to support her peers with enthusiasm, offering guidance and sharing valuable resources, such as supplemental documents, to ensure the entire team is set up for success. Becca’s cheerful and fun-loving energy is infectious, and she has an incredible ability to brighten everyone’s day. Becca has shown tremendous growth in her position, and we have high hopes that she will continue to flourish in her role. Her continued dedication makes her an invaluable member of the Youth Care Management team. Thank you, Becca, for everything you do!”