Employee of the Quarter

Frances Ortega, March 2009
Exceptionally dedicated to the people on her caseload, Fran goes above and beyond on an everyday basis. She recently could not reach a consumer and while another person might have given up and waited to hear from him, she got a sense something was wrong and followed through—she searched all over San Diego County for him before locating him in jail…where he was in desperate need for our help! She then worked diligently to help him sort out his situation. Fran also demonstrated her compassionate side when she helped another person on her caseload to get the support they needed to deal with a diagnosis of cancer. She takes the initiative in helping out with new cases, especially the highly sensitive ones and always comes through with shining colors.

Mary Land, December 2008
Consistency is the name of Mary’s game! Mary does a good job in all areas of her position. She knows her group inside and out, has an excellent rapport with all family members and service coordinators, and is even tempered no matter the circumstances. She is reliable and has great attendance but when she does need time off she is quick to make all of the arrangements so that her time away is seamless. Her supervisors and coordinators truly appreciate that they know what to expect in this staff person and have faith that the folks in her group always receive top notch services!

Pauline Shallow, September 2008
Known for her ability to calmly work with a consumer who has challenging behaviors, Pauline has provided top notch support for years. No matter how difficult the situation, she stays positive in her approach. She has managed to build a great rapport with all team members and puts in extra hours to make sure that new staff are well trained. Pauline knows her roommate so well that she is prepared to handle the behaviors almost before they occur. She has a bag full of tricks to choose from and willingly shares her tips with others to ensure consistent support is available. She continuously challenges her roommate and works through the rough spots with her. To top it off, she excels in doing her paperwork and her documentation always clearly details consumer needs and progress. Pauline is a role model for others!

Marjorie Mina, June 2008
Marjorie has steadily and quietly made a difference for years in the lives of consumers, coworkers, and supervisors. Knowing what it takes to get the job done, Marjorie communicates frequently with all involved and is a role model of efficiency. Anyone who has the opportunity to interact with Marjorie recognizes her true desire to excel. Always willing to help out, she is often the first to respond to coworkers’ voice mails looking for coverage and she has recently taken on a full time caseload while continuing school full time. Her paperwork is top notch and she is truly a pleasure to work with! She is also a strong advocate for all of the consumers she works with and recently assisted someone in being granted a hard to get job transfer. The exemplary direct service, communication, and follow through of this person makes Marjorie the natural mentor for new hires and coworkers.

Cindee Dunton, March 2008
Cindee Dunton joined the team at Community Interface after obtaining her degree in Psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University, all in the midst of caring for her children. Cindee’s life experiences have made being an Independent Living/Supported Employment Resource Counselor a perfect fit. Cindee be celebrated her one year anniversary with the agency in June. Along with her position as an IL/SE RC, Cindee also does job development for a consumer on her caseload and has worked as relief with the Supported Living program.

Cindee has a great rapport with her consumers, their families, and San Diego Regional Center Service Coordinators. Cindee always has a positive attitude and rises to the occasion with every task given to her. With her caseload stretching from Ramona and Escondido down to Lakeside and El Cajon, Cindee has demonstrated her dedication by never missing a beat. As a result, visible improvements can be seen in the lives of her consumers. Most recently, Cindee assisted a consumer in fulfilling his dream of moving to El Cajon and finding a job at a church.

Cindee was asked why she likes her job and she stated: “What I love about my job is the joy of having the honor to work with so many wonderful people. Every day I am able to witness the strength and courage of my consumers reaching for their goals and growing to their potential. I feel so blessed by this work and the rewards make such a difference in my life.”

Gerianne Wuillmier, December 2007
After injuring her knee in the 6th grade, Gerianne “Geri” Wuillmier found herself reassigned to an adaptive physical education class. The majority of the students in her new class had autism. What seemed a hapless accident at the time turned out to be quite a fortuitous event in young Geri’s life; she had found her life’s passion. Geri began working as a volunteer assistant for her fellow students, and from there a decades-long career, defined by compassion and dedication, was launched.

Almost 15 years ago, Geri joined the Community Interface Services team and quickly proved herself to be an invaluable asset. As a roommate in the Supported Living (SL) Program, she served Floretta for eight years, and Lisa for six years and counting. For Geri, the roommate position is actually a family affair, as her 14 year old son, Ryan, has grown up with two SL roommates. The roommate position made it possible for Geri to be at home with her son, while inspiring a sense of dedication and advocacy in Ryan. With her full schedule, Geri still finds time to support other Community Interface consumers by substituting in the day program and organizing social events for consumers.

Geri says what drives her life’s work and advocacy is the satisfaction she finds in each consumer’s personal success and accomplishments, especially when they have the opportunity to shine, showing off their abilities and potential. The Community Interface Services family proudly recognizes Geri’s expertise and steadfast dedication to the agency and the consumers she serves.

Sylvie Rocca, September 2007
Before joining Community Interface Services, Sylvie Rocca was already an experienced caregiver. That experience, coupled with her very nature to care for others, continues to radiate from Sylvie in extraordinary ways. During her first three years with Community Interface Services, Sylvie served as a vocational resource counselor in the Community Integration Training program. More recently she transferred to work in Independent Living. There, her dedication is made visible by the improved quality of the lives of her consumers, such as the gentlemen who now has In-Home Supportive Services as a result of Sylvie’s determination to help him live a better life.

Sylvie’s ability to balance the needs of the people she serves, while incorporating the needs of their families and Regional Center, is a skill to be admired and emulated. Sylvie credits the love of her job to her consumers: “They inspire me to go to work everyday. Serving them makes me thankful to be who I am.” Because of her positive attitude, and her willingness to be a flexible team player, Sylvie’s co-workers and consumers trust her. She is a valued and honored member of the Community Interface family.

Adorna Trax, June 2007
Adorna Trax, Community Interface Services’ most recent employee of the quarter, joined the agency more than three years ago as a Job Coach in the Supported Employment program. She spends her days (and sometimes evenings and weekends!) at places like Von’s, Albertson’s, Ross Dress for Less, Kohl’s, and WalMart helping adults with developmental disabilities become independent on the job. Adorna’s dedication and enthusiasm are exemplary, and she is always a great help to her consumers. She genuinely respects her consumers’ rights and choices, she advocates for them at every opportunity, and she encourages them to be all they can be. Currently, Adorna is helping someone start automotive repair classes to pursue a new career, and another individual to modify his behavior by controlling his anger and frustration. Adorna is always willing to help out in other agency programs, too, and she shows us how to remain positive and upbeat, even when things are getting a little crazy!

Norma Pena, March 2007
Wow, talk about dedication! Norma Pena has worked as a roommate in the Supported Living program for just over 11 years. She has lived with several different consumers over the years, sometimes long-term and sometimes temporary arrangements to help people get through emergencies. Whatever needed to be done, Norma has packed her bags and gone to help. She has always put the needs of her consumers first. Just recently, she cancelled her own family’s holiday plans to support a couple of consumers who would have had no one to spend the holidays with. Helping people with disabilities is not just a job for Norma; she is committed to her consumers like they were her own family members, and she has even recruited her own family members into the agency!

Rey Lunario, May 2007
Since he joined Community Interface Services about two and a half years ago as a vocational resource counselor, Rey Lunario has demonstrated the kind of work ethic and compassion that have made him a great addition to the team. With experience in the Army as a medical specialist, Rey has an ability to take it all in stride, always remaining easy-going and polite. He learned his job quickly, and helps his consumers work all over North County, including Escondido, Vista, and Fallbrook. Rey is very independent, organized, and dependable, and is always timely and thorough with his paperwork. He always has a great, energetic attitude, and is well-liked by his consumers, family members, and co-workers.

Stephen Anderson, September 2006
Stephen Anderson has been with Community Interface Services three and a half years now and has made an incredible difference in his consumer’s quality of life. As a live-in support person in Supported Living, Stephen shares an apartment with a gentleman with a developmental disability. It’s a demanding job, really more of a lifestyle than just a job, but Stephen takes commitment and responsibility all in stride. He helped his roommate overcome fears and learn to socialize more appropriately, so that the consumer will actually open the door for visitors, answer questions, and hold a conversation. That may not sound like much, but it is a lot of progress for this particular gentleman. Stephen and his roommate have overcome many obstacles, and the consumer has been able to experience and enjoy things he never tried before, such as camping, traveling by train, and dealing with crowds. Stephen treats his roommate with utmost dignity and respect, and strives to help him live a life just like anybody without a disability.

Marjorie Mina, June 2006
Marjorie Mina joined Community Interface Services as a job coach in Supported Employment about two and a half years ago after she completed a degree in Human Development. Marjorie is a great addition to the team, and she quickly learned her job and built strong relationships with consumers and employers. She is a model of quiet, hardworking efficiency, and she helps out whenever she can. Thorough and detail-oriented, Marjorie can always be counted on to complete her paperwork, a strength noted in the recent CARF survey. Marjorie is also a great help training new staff persons. She stays positive no matter how crazy things may get, and helps to bring new staff people on board by referring a lot of job applicants to the agency. Marjorie is well liked by her consumers and coworkers, and has earned the respect of family members and service coordinators too.

Nancy Chrisopulos, March 2006
Nancy joined the agency almost 12 years ago with a degree in social work and experience working in senior facilities, and she has shown incredible commitment and dedication to her service recipients over the years. Despite our many attempts to promote her, we can’t seem to drag her away from direct service. She continues to work tirelessly and effortlessly as a Resource Counselor in the Community Integration Training program, helping persons with developmental disabilities to learn basic job skills and become more independent in the community. She is an exemplary role model for applicants and new employees alike. Nancy has a natural, warm personality that comes across in all of her interactions. She never fails to make everyone’s day just a little better. She has a positive attitude and lots of energy, always finding new resources and connections in the community for her group. In fact, she recently helped a couple of her service recipients pursue their passion for aviation by helping arrange free airplane rides with local pilots. A parent of a service recipient that Nancy works with says she is “one in a million” and we can’t argue. Nancy is a true inspiration to us all.

Shannon Foster, January 2006
Shannon Foster joined the agency about two and a half years ago as a vocational RC, helping a group of three individuals with developmental disabilities to build community and work skills. She keeps her group actively involved in the community, helping them find both volunteer and paid work. Her consumers have made great progress with her patient support. She has a gentle encouraging way that really helps bring out the best in those she works with. Shannon is very flexible and willing to help out with other vocational groups or picking up consumers, or working extra hours when needed. Always with a smile and never complaining. She can always be counted on, a true asset to Vocational Services and Community Interface!

Aaron McGee, December 2005
Aaron started with Community Interface Services as an Independent Living Resource Counselor about a year and a half ago. Although he did not have a lot of direct experience in the field, he brought a unique combination of skills and enthusiasm that made him well-qualified. (It also didn’t hurt that he came with the unfailing support of a long term and valued Independent Living counselor who staked her reputation on his future success!) Aaron did not disappoint her or us. He hit the ground running, quickly learned the job, and has proven himself a great addition to the agency. He is very flexible, and works on weekends, evenings, or whenever his service recipients are available. Aaron has a positive, upbeat attitude that really helps to boost coworkers’ morale. Laughter can usually be heard coming from staff meetings when he is in attendance. Since he started with us, Aaron has also become a new parent. He now works with a lot of service recipients who have difficult parenting issues, and with his own experiences to guide him, he is great at helping these fellow parents find and access valuable resources. Aaron has developed a great rapport with all his service recipients, families, and service coordinators. A parent of a service recipient that Aaron works with recently informed Aaron’s supervisor that “He’s a keeper!” He seems to have found his niche, and we are sure glad to have him!

Pauline Shallow, September 2005
Pauline was hired about a year and a half ago as a live-in support person, or “paid roommate.” Pauline came to us with a graduate degree in psychology and some very diverse life experiences that made her especially well-suited for the job. And this was no easy job. Pauline threw herself into her new position with determination and a can-do attitude. Pauline has been a rock of stability and professionalism for her roommate and family through some very difficult times. Despite the stress and difficulty, Pauline never gave up. She remained focused on finding positive solutions and kept the team in constant communication. Pauline worked with the service recipient, the service recipient’s parents, Regional Center, and doctors to develop and refine plans to minimize negative behaviors and maximize productive ones. All the while, Pauline educated herself on various medications and side effects and continued to establish a rapport with her roommate. Pauline has stayed the course and developed a very positive and effective relationship with her roommate. Pauline has always been open to trying anything to help her roommate have a better quality of life, and her dedication and hard work have really paid off.

Iliana Keenan, December 2004
Iliana Keenan came to Community Interface Services about two years ago, starting out as a vocational resource counselor and transferring after a year to independent living. She has a BA in psychology and previously worked as a job coach. Iliana is very dedicated, working long hours including a lot of overtime, subbing for co-workers, and basically doing whatever needs to be done to cover cases. Her communication with consumers, family members, and service coordinators is top-notch, and she manages to stay on top of her paperwork and quickly adapt to any changes, all while keeping a positive attitude.

Norma Pena, March 2004
Norma joined Community Interface Services seven years ago as a live-in staff person to provide support and companionship for one individual in the Supported Living program. Talk about taking your work home with you! Norma’s roommate job was always far more than just a job for her; it’s a whole lifestyle. As a roommate, Norma has shared a home and a life with a consumer; she has offered support, advice, friendship, care and companionship to help an individual live safely, productively, and happily in the community.

Not only has Norma provided wonderful long-term in-home support for individuals, but she has also always been ready to help out as a substitute vocational counselor or serve as a relief worker for another roommate. Since last year, Norma has taken a break from her live-in work, but continues to be an integral part of the Community Interface staff, helping out in emergencies and working a myriad of temporary assignments. Whatever the challenge, Norma is always up for it and finds a way to make things work!

Jeff Johnson, June 2004
Jeff joined Community Interface Services in October 2003 as an Independent Living Resource Counselor. He came to the agency with a B.A. in psychology and a diverse work history in teaching, food service, retail, and employment training for persons with developmental disabilities. It quickly became apparent that Jeff is a natural at human services work because of his supportive, personable approach to work and life. Among Jeff’s many terrific personality traits is his ability to be very flexible, taking on any and all challenges, including helping several folks through difficult court cases. Jeff always keeps his consumers’ support teams informed, and can be counted on to maintain a positive attitude. Jeff’s attributes have not gone unnoticed outside the agency either. Regional Center Service Coordinators have called more than once to compliment him on the wonderful work he does!

Valerie Mitchell, June 2004
If you’ve called or visited the Community Interface Services office recently, you’ve no doubt had the pleasure of getting to know Val who is Director of First Impressions and Administrative Assistant in charge of the front office. Val joined Community Interface in March 2004 and proved herself a great asset in her first few months on board. Val’s vibrant and radiant personality lights up the office whenever she’s there, and she somehow always seems to be in a good mood! Val’s positive attitude and friendly demeanor serve her very well in her job, as she spends all day interacting with others. She had big shoes to fill in her position, but she stepped right in and quickly and efficiently learned a difficult job. Val works hard and looks for new work to do and better ways to do things and keeps everyone smiling! She is greatly appreciated.