2011 Employee of the Year – Rebecca Goodnight
Position: Sr. Case Manager
BAYS Office Location: Tampa
Years of Service with BAYS: 7 Years
The announcement of the Lawrence Siegel Employee of the Year Award was a highly anticipated moment at the BAYS annual meeting on December 9th. Board of Directors member, Craig Latimer, was on hand to talk about the attributes that exemplified Mr. Siegel’s life and to present the award. Mr. Siegel’s wife, Mary, was also in attendance. Mr. Latimer announced Rebecca Goodnight as Employee of the Year for her dedication, compassion, honesty, loyalty, and professionalism. Rebecca was selected from the eleven outstanding 2011 agency Employee of the Month recipients, all of whom have achieved excellence within BAYS. In addition to Rebecca receiving a plaque, a gift certificate, one day of annual leave, and lunch with Dr. Pam Alvarez, Mr. Latimer generously contributed $50.00 to Rebecca as a personal gesture.
When Rebecca was promoted to Senior Case Manager for IDDS, she immediately began assisting her supervisor with all phases of the program, and Prodigy as well. Rebecca’s duties have included staffing cases, conducting reviews and pre-closure examinations, and serving as a translator for Spanish speaking families. She has performed all of these tasks while providing IDDS services to a full caseload. Rebecca has remained eager to take on more responsibilities and to learn new ways to help while meeting all of her casework timelines.
Rebecca has also served as a coach and trainer to the IDDS and Prodigy case management staff. She routinely provides instruction on time management and documentation to new and existing employees. Rebecca’s co-workers respect and appreciate her advice because she manages a full caseload and is able to understand the challenges they face.
Rebecca’s supervisor, Carrie Rotella, was asked to describe Rebecca in just a few words. She said that Rebecca always does what is asked, follows through to the end, and is dependable and trustworthy. Ms. Rotella also affirmed that Rebecca has many more positive attributes. She emphasized that Rebecca’s dedication, professionalism, and expertise have all led to the success she has achieved with her clients and coworkers. Additionally, her keen organizational skills have enabled her to achieve excellence in a very efficient manner.
Most importantly, Rebecca’s fine work has earned her praise from clients and parents alike. She has positively impacted children’s lives and in turn benefitted our community. For these reasons and many more, BAYS is proud to honor Rebecca as BAYS inaugural Lawrence Siegel Employee of the Year.
November Employee of the Month – Mia Williams
Position: IDDS Case Manager
BAYS Office Location: Orlando
Years of Service with BAYS: 1 ½ years
BAYS is pleased to announce that Mia Williams has been selected as BAYS Employee of the Month. Mia is described as a super star in the Orlando office for her excellent casework, dedication, and professionalism.
Mia ensures that each IDDS family she assists is treated in a special manner and that all services provided are seamless and professional. Mia readily accepts challenging cases and delves into complex issues that are necessary to provide vital interventions. She recently worked with a youth who had difficulty reading. Mia did not dismiss the issue, but instead encouraged this youth to visit the library and check out books he liked. She continued to encourage him, and worked closely with his mother to support his endeavor. This youth is currently reading at grade level and was recently proud when he presented Mia with a positive school report. Mia’s extra effort resulted in this child developing a love for reading which will surely positively impact his life. This is only but one of Mia’s success stories.
Mia’s candid personality and humorous outlook add a sense of light-heartedness to the Orlando office atmosphere. She maintains this cheerful spirit while also being serious about the importance and urgency of her work. Mia values her IDDS youth and families and treats all as special individuals. For the manner in which she serves youth and families it is no surprise that she receives compliments from parents. Mia was described by one parent on a recent phone survey as “perfect.”
In addition to her excellent service, Mia has taken on additional duties without complaint and without sacrificing the quality of her work. She is dedicated to her profession and is committed to performing at an exceptional level. BAYS is fortunate to have Mia as a member of the agency and is proud to name her Employee of the Month.
October Employee of the Month – Angelina Adams
Position: IDDS Case Manager
BAYS Office Location: Tampa
Years of Service with BAYS: 1 ½ years
It is a pleasure to announce Angelina Adams as BAYS Employee of the Month. Angelina has become a very valuable member of the BAYS team since she joined the organization one and one half years ago. She performs her IDDS Case Manager duties with excellence and a great sense of pride. Her positive attitude is also appreciated by her supervisor and the staff in the Tampa office.
Angelina is dedicated to her work. Not only does she complete her work proficiently, she also volunteered to be the Intern Coordinator in the Tampa office. Angelina helps university interns create their schedules, provides instructions on job duties, and gives feedback on their performance. She has done an outstanding job with the interns and has received a great deal of positive feedback. In fact, one of her latest interns was hired as a case manager in the Prodigy program. Angelina has been able to handle these extra responsibilities while performing at an exceptional level as a case manager.
Angelina is committed to helping her coworkers. On several occasions she made client contacts when other case managers were either unavailable or on leave. She also recently volunteered to teach a BAYS seminar when the IDDS counselor was unable to make the class. Angelina wanted to ensure the class was available to program youth without inconveniencing them. This type of teamwork increases staff harmony and helps to provide the highest level of service possible to BAYS youth and families.
BAYS is happy to honor Angelina as Employee of the Month for all she contributes to the organization and the clients we serve.
September Employee of the Month -Cindy Pokel
Position: Counselor
BAYS Office Location: Orlando
Years of Service with BAYS: 9 Months
BAYS is delighted to announce that Cindy Pokel has been selected as Employee of the Month. Cindy has only been a member of the BAYS family for nine months, but has made an impact on the organization and youth we serve. Her dedication and compassion are characteristics that are highly valued by BAYS and the profession in which we work.
Cindy has been doing a remarkable job as the new BAYS counselor for Circuit 9. She has gone above and beyond for program youth and families, and has been an excellent resource to case managers. Cindy takes the initiative to meet school counselors, officials, and safe coordinators to meet the educational needs of the youth she serves. She also researches any and all services she feels will benefit not only the youth, but also their siblings and families as a whole. Cindy works hard to get to know the families and makes sure she has all services in place. She also makes the extra effort to regularly communicate with case managers after counseling sessions to inform them on what has transpired with their youth and families.
Recently, a coworker witnessed just how much effort Cindy puts forth for families and how much she cares about them. Cindy had already completed her three visits with a particular family, but met the case manager at the Juvenile Assessment Center to see the family one last time. She knew the children would be hungry and distracted, so she came with snacks and had bought them each a book. While talking with the family, Cindy helped care for the younger child so the mother could focus on what was being discussed. This sweet and thoughtful gesture was a small illustration of Cindy’s character. The initiative Cindy takes in serving families is impressive. It is obvious that she really cares about what she does, and it makes those around her happy to know that she is a part of the BAYS team.
Cindy is also a great support to her coworkers. Recently, when a coworker was ill and unable to keep a scheduled client visit, Cindy was there to help without hesitation. She made a great effort to go to the BAYS office to meet with the family that day, and did so with a cheerful attitude.
BAYS is fortunate to have Cindy as a member of our organization and is honored to recognize her as Employee of the Month.
August Employee of the Month – Linford Hayes
Position: Unit Supervisor
BAYS Office Location: Ocala
Years of Service with BAYS: 7 Years
BAYS is delighted to announce that Lindford Hayes has been selected as Employee of the Month. During his seven year tenure with BAYS, Lindford has been an extremely important member of the organization. He currently serves not only as the IDDS Unit Supervisor for the Ocala office, but also as a member of the BAYS Senior Leadership Team, and the Subject Area Specialist (SAS) Coordinator.
Lindford is well respected by his staff and the entire organization for his high ethical standards and exceptional leadership skills. His reputation amongst BAYS partners and the Ocala community is equally outstanding. Lindford is also committed to the IDDS youth his office serves. This is exemplified by the IDDS caseload he carries which includes some of the most challenging youth served by their program.
Under Lindford’s leadership, the BAYS Ocala office recently received a commendable score of 89% on their DJJ Quality Assurance review. This rating is the highest recorded in the state this year for IDDS. Lindford has led his excellent four-member staff to success while still maintaining a cohesive family atmosphere. During monthly staff meetings his team celebrates cultural diversity by each contributing creative ethnic cuisines.
Lindford’s commitment to the organization is remarkable. In addition to his time and contributions to the BAYS Senior Leadership Team, Lindford also coordinates the SAS initiative. It is important to note that Lindford is responsible for the creation of the SAS structure, including the schedule matrix and SOP. SAS has become a valuable resource for the entire organization as well as local and state audiences through conference presentations.
Lindford’s modest personality is endearing to everyone who knows his dedication, work ethic, and expertise. He is always quick to point out the exceptional work done by his staff and, in this case, would most assuredly want to share the praise with his team.
Therefore, we are honored to proclaim Lindford Hayes as BAYS Employee of the Month with special congratulations to his staff for the accomplishments this office has achieved under his strong and capable leadership.
July Employee of the Month-Victoria Henry
Position: IDDS Senior Case Manager
BAYS Office Location: Orlando
Years of Service with BAYS: 2 Years
It is a pleasure to announce that Victoria Henry has been selected as BAYS Employee of the Month. Victoria is being praised for her dedication to her work, the compassion and respect she gives to her IDDS clients, and her positive sense of teamwork.
Victoria has been with BAYS for only two years, but has already risen to the position of Senior Case Manager. She consistently displays dedication to her job by always being willing to accept additional responsibilities when needed, and without complaint. She recently took on extra duties when her supervisor was conducting training and did so with a smile on her face. Victoria has also established excellent
relationships with her co-workers and is admired for her expertise, and her friendly and upbeat demeanor.
In addition to receiving a nomination for Employee of the Month by a co-worker, Victoria was nominated by the mother of one of her clients. The mother stated, “The kindness that Mrs. Henry showed to my child just didn’t happen, I believe she treats all her clients with the same respect as she treated me and my child.” She went on to say that Victoria could have treated her child like a criminal, but instead was kind, but firm. The mother thanked her for her work and felt that she was deserving of a nomination for Employee of the Month.
The work that we do at BAYS is important. Each employee has the opportunity to positively impact the youth and families we serve. Victoria has displayed the qualities that BAYS holds highest. She is dedicated to her job, and she has the skills and compassion necessary to be a positive light in the lives of those with which she has the privilege to work.
BAYS is very proud of Victoria and is pleased to recognize her as Employee of the Month.
June Employee of the Month-Rebecca Goodnight
Position: IDDS Senior Case Manager
BAYS Office Location: Tampa
Years of Service with BAYS: 6 ½ Years
BAYS is pleased to honor Rebecca Goodnight as June’s Employee of the Month. Rebecca is recognized for her dedication, commitment, and outstanding work with the IDDS Program in the Tampa Office.
As a Senior Case Manager, Rebecca has served as a coach to her co-workers. She has shared the “best practice” case management skills she has used to attain high success rates with IDDS youth. She has also provided valuable strategies to help case managers become more efficient.
Rebecca is credited for the lead role she played in the development of two mental health and substance abuse tools. She and her team created a form and provider book for youth recommended for mental health and substance abuse services. The form captures necessary information critical to the referral process, and the book serves as a useful resource to case managers regarding provider license and accreditation information. During a recent monitoring, these tools were highly praised.
Rebecca has been a tremendous support to her supervisor in taking on additional responsibilities when needed. She was extremely helpful during a contract monitoring held in April. She volunteered to provide assistance wherever needed. Also in April, she immediately responded to a need to cover a Treatment Team when her supervisor was called upon from another office. Rebecca not only performed well, but then took the time to type the notes in Case Book in JJIS. Even with these extra duties, Rebecca stayed current with her client contacts.
Most importantly, Rebecca has been successful in helping the youth she serves. Recently, a parent sent her an email message of thanks for her hard work, support, and encouragement. The parent conveyed that she had made a positive impact on her child’s life. This type of praise is most highly regarded.
BAYS is fortunate to have a staff member such as Rebecca, and it is a pleasure to name her Employee of the Month.
May Employee of the Month
Position: Sr. Case Manager IDDS/Prodigy
BAYS Office Location: Clearwater
Years of Service with BAYS: 1 ½ Years
BAYS is pleased to proclaim Erin Leschak as BAYS Employee of the Month. Erin has been a part of the BAYS Team for less than two years, but has already made a positive impact.
Erin has shown a great deal of flexibility and willingness to assist the agency with various programs. She has been organized and competent as she has served as Administrative Supervisor with the PLL Program in Tampa, and Sr. Case Manager for the IDDS Program in Clearwater.
Recently, Erin offered support without hesitation when she was needed to fill in for her supervisor. During this period, she was quite proficient as she managed the office, conducted a scheduled staff meeting, and assigned cases. She also volunteered for additional tasks and worked late to support the staff during this same interval.
Erin’s leadership skills are clearly evident. She is respected by anyone who has been fortunate enough to work with her. Her calm demeanor and competence toward “getting the job done” has pulled her team together and offered stability when it was needed.
What truly sets Erin apart as an employee is her positive attitude. She always maintains a high level of professionalism and warmth toward her clients and colleagues. This is appreciated by everyone she works with.
We would like to thank Erin for her dedication to the agency and wish her many more happy years of service with BAYS.
April Employee of the Month- Tim Rattanachane
Position: IDDS Case Manager
BAYS Office Location: Clearwater
Years of Service with BAYS: 6 ½ Years
BAYS is honored to announce that Tim Rattanachane has been selected as Employee of the Month. Tim has been a part of the BAYS team for more than six years and exemplifies the character that defines our agency.
Tim truly cares about our program youth and families. His excellent case management skills and compassionate disposition help to make him a standout in his position.
When you first meet Tim you are struck by his genuine and caring demeanor. He makes you want to be a better person any time you are around him. If you ever forget why you have chosen this career path, being around Tim for just a few minutes will help you remember.
Tim’s excellent case management skills were also recently praised during a contract monitoring. His work portrayed dedication and caring for the youth on his caseload. The Clearwater Office was very proud of
his contribution to their positive review.
Tim’s dedication to his job goes beyond the youth and families in the IDDS Program. Just a few weeks ago, Tim was contacted by his supervisor to help one of his co-workers who had been bitten by a dog. The supervisor knew Tim was in the vicinity and could arrive faster. Tim immediately went to the co-worker’s aid. He took her to the hospital and waited to make sure she would be alright. He later took her to lunch before returning her to her car. Tim provided kindhearted support that day, and made a scary situation a little less upsetting.
Tim’s character embodies the ideals set by our agency. He is kind and compassionate, and will do anything for anyone. His selfless actions and dedication to his job are commended by his office and by the entire BAYS organization. We congratulate Tim on his achievements and are delighted to name him Employee of the Month.
March Employee of the Month
Position: Case Manager-Prodigy
BAYS Office Location: Clearwater
Years of Service with BAYS: Two + Years
David Parrish was selected as BAYS Employee of the Month for his exceptional work
ethic and his exemplary case management skills. David is an extremely hard worker who
is both proficient and meticulous. This was evidenced in a recent program review when
DJJ monitors commended David for his well written notes and his attention to detail.
David can always be counted on to do his job above and beyond what is required with
little need for direction. He is also willing to help his co-workers whenever they are in
need. Recently, David was asked by his supervisor to help with some additional work
on case files. He immediately responded and worked to completion without comment or
complaint.
The passion that David brings to his work with youth is apparent to all around him. His
values, initiative, and enthusiasm are both inspirational and admirable. BAYS is pleased
to honor David as Employee of the Month.
February Employee of the Month-Bertha Little
Position: Administrative Assistant
BAYS Office Location: Tampa
Years of Service with BAYS: Seven + Years
Bertha Little was selected as Employee of the Month for the outstanding work she performs for the Tampa Office. Bertha is not only the Administrative Assistant for the IDDS and PLL Programs but, in August of 2010, she also volunteered to take on the Prodigy Program. She opens and closes cases for all three programs and maintains an accurate database. She often goes beyond the call of duty by assisting her supervisor in retrieving cases from the State Attorney’s Office and frequently working from home when deadlines are fast approaching.
When the BAYS IDDS/ Prodigy Office in Clearwater needed extra help in January, Bertha was there to volunteer her assistance. She has been traveling to Clearwater sometimes twice a week to help out with billing and data base work. Even with the additional responsibilities, Bertha has maintained a high level of quality work in Tampa, without complaints of the work volume or the often short time constraints.
Bertha’s expertise and energetic spirit help the Tampa Office to run smoothly, and her generosity of time continues to be a tremendous support to the Clearwater Office. She performs her work proficiently and timely, all the while showing great patience. Bertha continues to amaze those around her.
BAYS is fortunate to have Bertha as part of our team and we are happy to name her Employee of the Month.
January Employee of the Month-Belinda Zientek
Position: C-Core Director
BAYS Office Location: Tampa
Years of Service with BAYS: Three Years
Belinda was nominated for the BAYS Employee of the Month Award for the outstanding work she has done with the C-Core grant, and for her work as the BAYS Subject Area Specialist on Girls’ Gender issues. Belinda has demonstrated an outstanding work ethic, as well as commitment and dedication to the agency. Her accomplishments are praise-worthy.
BAYS received the C-Core grant from the Home Builder’s Institute (HBI) in October 2010, wherein Belinda immediately began recruiting program mentors and mentees. Her hard work resulted in our agency being recognized with the first C-Core matches and activities in the NATION! During the short time since the program’s inception, Belinda has also not only started services in Hillsborough County, but also in Polk County.
HBI conducted a C-Core visit in January 2011, and Belinda was able to discuss her responsibilities, challenges and successes. HBI was very impressed with all of her accomplishments thus far. HBI has also used Belinda as an example of excellence when talking to other sites about implementation. Due to her tireless work, the program is projected to meet or exceed all first year outcomes.
Belinda was also eager to become BAYS first Subject Area Specialist on Girls’ Gender issues. She has developed a great expertise on the topic, and regularly presents information to the BAYS staff to raise awareness and increase the agency’s effectiveness in working with girls.
BAYS is very proud of Belinda, and is pleased to make her our very first recipient of Employee of the Month Award.
