Celebrating S:US Employees
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At this year’s S:US Employee Recognition Ceremony, we gathered to celebrate the dedication, hard work, and passion of our incredible team. The event honored employee milestones across all levels of service in five-year increments, from 5 to 35+ years, and recognized outstanding individuals through the monthly Employee Recognition Spotlights. Attendees also enjoyed winning raffle prizes, adding some extra excitement to the festivities! And let’s not forgot the stunning centerpieces assembled by people served with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Chief HR & People Officer Margaret-Ann Cole (MAC) kicked off the Employee Recognition event with an inspiring message of gratitude and celebration for the incredible contributions of our team. As part of the ceremony, we premiered a video that was filmed during our summer staff picnics featuring interviews with colleagues sharing what makes our community so unique. It’s a wonderful reminder of the spirit and dedication that define us. Watch the video here.
Following MAC’s remarks, President & CEO Perry Perlmutter, took the stage to welcome everyone to the event, expressing his gratitude and appreciation, and then launched the milestone recognitions by honoring the staff members who have served S:US for an impressive 35+ years, inviting them to the stage for a well-deserved round of applause.
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Brenda Jones-Fatoke, Coordinator of Intake, DD Clinical
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Granville Morris, DSP, Throop
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Iris Cajigas, HCMS Assistant, Human Resources
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Karlene Austin, Program Director, Broadway
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Leonard Johnson, Accounts Payable Specialist, AP
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Willina Ellis, Direct Support Professional, Valentine 5
Building on that spirit, the remainder of our esteemed milestone recipients for 30 years, 25 years, 20 years, 10 years, and 5 years of service also received a certificate to honor each staff member’s commitment and the lasting influence they’ve had on both the organization and the communities we serve.
Years of Service Milestone recipients.
The celebration continued as the special award winners were announced. Among the distinguished recipients were:
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Anhia Leandre, Annett Lennox, Edwin Hicks, Julie McCaw, and Muniratu Kure were presented the “Extra Mile Award” for going above and beyond to complete tasks.
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Honorable Mention to the Developmental Disabilities Team for organizing a Cruise Trip for 70 people served with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD)!
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The “Never Let Them See You Sweat Award” winner was Consuelo Medina, Childcare specialist at Athena House, for exhibiting the willingness to consistently take all steps necessary to get the work done.
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Elan Quashie, Program Director, Opioid Overdoes Prevention Program (OOPP), earned the “MacGyver Award” for demonstrating extraordinary talent for problem-solving through the use of a new idea, practice, or process that has positively impacted the S:US community.
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Adam Wawrynek, Danea Moholland, Denise Almonte, Denise Peart, Jonathan Henderson, Joshua Alcide, and Taisha McGill of the SSVF Long Island & New York City Veteran Engagement team were presented with the “Iterate to Great Award” for utilizing data-informed decision-making to improve day-to-day practices.
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Honorable Mention to the Human Resources Team!
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Thank you to the Event Committee for organizing our gathering, managing logistics, securing raffle prizes, mobilizing attendees, and decorating the venue. A special shout out to our Human Resources team, whose ongoing efforts encourage employee engagement and boost staff morale. HR’s role is vital in building a positive and supportive work environment, ensuring each staff member feels valued and connected.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to come together, celebrate achievements, and honor the incredible work our S:US staff does in supporting the people we serve and their colleagues every day.
