Staff on the Rise is a RISE Healthy Housing and Support Services 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. The first recipient of the Staff on the Rise recognition is Nicole Smarro, House Manager at Hedgerow House, the agency’s substance use recovery community residence.
“Nicole is a wonderful team player who possesses an excellent work ethic and she has a very positive, upbeat, and cheerful attitude.”
Nicole started at Hedgerow House in November of 2016 as a program counselor and has been the House Manager since 2018. In her position, she balances working with the residents, administrative responsibilities, and being the agency’s LBGTQ champion. “My days are very full,” Nicole says, “I am the primary counselor for several residents. I am also the Health Coordinator which means I am responsible for overseeing the residents’ medication administration. I coordinate staff and resident trainings such as the Fire Safety and the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) trainings. And I attend webinars and relay information to the entire agency regarding the LBGTQ community.”
Nicole represents TSA in community collaborations such recovery events at Healing Springs Recovery Community Center and raising awareness for Saratoga Pride. Nicole worked with Healing Springs to coordinate the All Recovery Softball Tournament in 2019 and is hopeful that once the pandemic is over the tournament can resume. Her work with Saratoga Pride, an advocacy program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people, involves education regarding health issues specific to LBGTQ individuals. For example, she is currently working on a Transgender Policy that meets the Office of Addiction Services and Support (OASAS) for the agency.
Nicole is always willing to go the extra mile. She is very accommodating, and she is willing to do anything to help. For example, when another RISE community residence needed help, Nicole worked several extra shifts per week for several months. Also, Nicole volunteered to drive to New Hampshire to pick up the Hedgerow House pet hedgehog, Buddy, to boost moral for the residents and staff. And last year when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Nicole wrote the Disinfection Policy for the agency.
Juliane Thompson, Hedgerow House Program Director says, “Nicole is a wonderful team player who possesses an excellent work ethic and she has a very positive, upbeat, and cheerful attitude.” Julianne is very proud to have Nicole on her team, “she is my partner. She helps me run the program with effectiveness and efficiency.”
Nicole credits her exemplary work ethic to her parents, “it was how I was raised. My parents had strong work ethics which set an example for my brothers and me to do the same.”
“You need passion and drive for this type of work to be successful.”
When asked why she chose to work with the substance use population, Nicole responds, “I know what it is like to have a loved one caught in the grips of addiction and how the disease can ruin someone’s life. I worked in corrections for ten years. The inmates told me how well I understand them and convinced me that I’d be more useful in helping people manage their substance use before they ended up in prison.”
Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in human services. She is currently working on her Credentials Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certification. She hopes to learn all she can as the House Manager at Hedgerow House then aims to be a part of the management team when RISE opens a rehabilitation stabilization clinic.
When she is not working, Nicole enjoys spending time with her girlfriend, Megan, walking and playing with their dog, Aspen, and watching movies. “I have a scratch off posted of all the movies you must see in your lifetime. It is my goal to scratch them all off!”
RISE Administration is very proud to have Nicole be the first recipient of the Staff on the Rise recognition. Please join us in congratulating her.