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Stephanie Presutti-Kubiak stands with her 2019
Joseph
Damiano Memorial Direct Support Professional of the Year Award.
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Allegany Arc recognized employees for their commitment and
dedication at their recent Staff Recognition Dinner and Annual Meeting held at
the Wellsville Country Club. Over 140 people attended included chapter members,
invited guests, self-advocates, staff and board members.
The evening began with the election of returning members to
the Board of Directors. Current Allegany Arc Board members include David A.
Harkenrider – President; Deb Thompson - Vice-President; James Stevens –
Treasurer; Kevin Gildner – Secretary; Linda Clayson, Ed Pekarek, Linda Pullman,
Theresa Salas, Thomas Talbett Jr. and Ed Wilson.
Christopher Koehler and Martha Updike each celebrated 35
years of service.
Belinda Emerson, Roswell Gowdy and Corinna McKnight
celebrated 30 years of service.
Linda Clayson (Board of Directors), Marygail Geffers, Amy
Gowdy, Kelly Graham and Calvin Kemp were recognized for 25 years of service.
Celebrating 20 years of service were Dusty Rhodes, Tom
Eldridge and Ted Seeley.
Employees honored for 15 years of service included Tracy
Beckwith, Dan Crowner, Shawna Cwiklinski, Diana Gowdy, Rachel Houghtaling, Judy
Johanson, Lisa Kyser, Arlene McCaslin, Heather Perkins, Floyd Reynolds, Ashley
Soit and Danielle Sturdevant.
Employees honored for 10 years of services were Amy Bennett,
Amy Clemons, John Dolan, Joye Hornsby, Larry Hugar, Norma Hugar, Carla Miller,
Krista Randall, Louanne Reynolds, Elizabeth Shutt, Michael Smith and Melissa
Spinelli.
Employees honored for five years of service included Rebekah
Brundage, Mary Conley, Julia Davenport, Michele Eichinger, Wiley Finn, April
Gaylord, Lynette Goodridge, Tesla Greenman, Louise Jordan, Robert Paine, David
Schweigart and Daniel Shutt. Stephen Hamer was awarded Allegany Arc's 2019
Self-Advocate of the Year Award. The Self-Advocate of the Year Award is
presented to a self-advocate who has demonstrated leadership, personal growth
and has positively influenced the lives of others. The award recognizes a
self-advocate who has developed a greater understanding of their own needs, gained
confidence to recognize their abilities, and demonstrate commitment to
improving the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.
Self-advocacy is proof that people with disabilities not only matter, but they
have the power to make real change on a large scale, influencing attitudes and
communities.
The highlight of the evening was when Stephanie
Presutti-Kubiak was awarded the 2019 Joseph Damiano Memorial Direct Support
Professional of the Year Award. The Joseph Damiano Memorial Direct Support
Professional of the Year Award was created in memory of Joseph Damiano, whose
Direct Support Professionals enriched both his life as well as his family’s, by
demonstrating an exemplary level of performance over the course of their
relationship and consistently demonstrating commitment to improving the quality
of Joseph’s life. Through this award, Allegany Arc acknowledges the invaluable
work of a direct support professional who consistently demonstrates excellence,
creativity and commitment in providing supports to people who have intellectual
and developmental disabilities.
Mike Damiano, Allegany Arc’s Chief Executive Officer said of
the evening, “We are honored to recognize employees for their years of service,
dedication, and incredible hard work. To have a diverse group as this
representing so many programs and services celebrating such longevity shows the
incredible commitment our employees have to people with special needs.”
For more information on Allegany Arc or to see a current
list of career opportunities, please visit our website www.AlleganyArc.org.
