We were so proud to present our 4th Annual AHSS Core Values Awards this month. We collect nominations from everyone in the company, and one of the most energizing things the management team gets to do each year is choose the winners. With more than 130 nominations from and for our peers, it’s phenomenal to see how much our employees appreciate each other and the work that we do for our families. The recipients of these awards have done an exemplary job reflecting & reinforcing: Integrity, Positivity & Energy, Getting Stuff Done (GSD), Teamwork, and Empathy. And now, we proudly present this year’s winners:
INTEGRITY Stacy Bruger, Accounts Receivable Specialist — “Stacy has decorum, seems able to find plans that are agreeable to all parties. She has taken over this position and its responsibility and owned it very well. She is a huge asset to AHSS — someone who assures that we are consistent, fair, and diligent, and was a natural fit for this core value.”
Lynn Green presents Adam Palmasani with the Positivity & Energy Award.
POSITIVITY & ENERGY Adam Palmasani, University Relations Recruiter — “Adam brings such a positive mind and thought process to the team, and he always has a positive spin to any situation. He brings a positive and enthusiastic approach to college recruiting and understands how to represent our company in an energetic and positive way.”
GETTING STUFF DONE (INDIVIDUAL) Carlos Miyasato, Program Lead — “Carlos has always gone far above and beyond the expectations. He assists with parent training while in the home running sessions, he created (and implements) all of the older social groups curriculum months in advance, and comes in on off days to help out around the centers.”
Proud winners of the GSD (team) award, our Client Services Team
GETTING STUFF DONE (TEAM) Client Services Team (Lindsy Peterson, Deb Verschoor, Natalie Portilia, Dashi Ramadani, Sara McGurn, Emily Dixon, Pauline Scott, and Jody Dawaliby) — “The whole team works so hard to get openings filled for our clients in need. They have never wavered from Our Core Values and truly give 100% each and every day for our kiddos and their families.”
TEAMWORK (INDIVIDUAL) Julie Roumeliote, Family Support Coordinator — “What makes Julie such a great team player is her passion for our clients and her willingness to advocate for them across all the multiple teams she participates in.Her teammates know that they can count on her generosity and follow-through to assure the best outcome for the team.”
TEAMWORK (TEAM) The Arlington Heights Autism Center Team (Shana Lehar, Laura Bonfante, Maureen O’Connor, Lainey Rubin, Carlos Miyasato, Sara Bennett, Nicole Craggs. Laura Perisin and Brittany Knight) — “We have families that are entrusting their kids to AHSS AH Center EVERY DAY! These kiddos are now talking, communicating, smiling, enjoying playing games, eating, singing, circle time, and the families at home are enjoying the center staff’s hard work in coming together as a team!”
EMPATHY Adriana Schmidt, BCBA Specialist — “Adriana has such an understanding and power, putting herself in these families’ shoes to catapult them into motion to best support their child. She admirably helps her families with the utmost compassion and respect.”
Last year we created a new award to recognize truly outstanding leaders on our team. This award is for someone who does exactly what founder Steve Kaufman imagines we should be doing (which is always a pretty high bar!). It represents our esteem for someone who has brought not only all of our Core Values to their highest level, but also provided guidance, problem-solving, and true servant leadership to her team.
Amber Rich & Steve Kaufman
FOUNDER’S LEADERSHIP AWARD Amber Rich, Region Lead, BCBA — “Her leadership skills inspire our region and the company to use our strengths and positivity to make meaningful changes for our clients. The SouthWest region runs as well as it does because she is not only our leader, but our example for how a team should act. She is always so supportive and positive, and she inspires and drives all of us to be the best we can!”
L to R: Steve Kaufman, Lisa Dworkin, & Laura McKee
SPECIAL RECOGNITION Lisa Dworkin, founding Chief Clinical Officer “retiring” — We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Lisa Dworkin for her contributions to Autism Home Support Services over the last 5 years. Lisa came to us as a part time contract BCBA in late 2010. She generously offered her more than 30 years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis to us. More than that, she offered her wisdom and experience as a great team builder and leader. We know that AHSS would not be where it is today were it not for her outstanding intelligence, work ethic, and drive for excellence. We are deeply grateful for all of her contributions and are gladly NOT saying goodbye, as she has agreed to be available for consulting going forward. We are, however, saying an enormous thank you and best wishes on your “retirement.” Lisa, we love you!
You can see more pictures from the awards ceremony in the below gallery. And we have more pictures from the rest of our Holiday Party on our Facebook page! Go directly to the album by clicking here!
