2012 Employee of the Month Archives
January 2012
Renee Carter, Certified Nursing Assistant I at the Missouri Veterans Home – Warrensburg
Renee has been selected for her efforts as an outstanding role model for all MVH employees at the Warrensburg Veterans Home. During a period several months ago, the Warrensburg home was experiencing a high turnover of CNAs on the night shift. Renee volunteered to leave her day shift position to work nights to help train and monitor the new CNAs. Since then, Nursing Management has noticed a decrease in night shift turnover rates and better morale among CNAs on that shift.
Another example of Renee’s attitude and ethic is on a particularly busy day, she was pulled off of her home unit to assist two other units as well as transport a Veteran to a medical appointment. Through it all, Renee maintained a great attitude and smile.
Renee will be honored at a ceremony at the Missouri Veterans Home – Warrensburg on January 23, 2012 at 9 am.
February 2012
Kelly Stanford, Custodial Worker I at the Missouri Veterans Home – Mexico
Kelly has been selected for being an outstanding and dedicated employee and an example of caring for others at the Missouri Veterans Home - Mexico.
Kelly exhibits this caring attitude by spending his breaks playing the guitar and singing with the residents. He has also helped organize a talent show for the Mexico Home Anniversary Week, entertained residents and families on family day and provided a charity concert free of charge with his band to support the special care unit.
Of special note is the occasion when a resident Veteran had been taken to the VA medical center in Columbia for palliative care due to a diagnosis of a very progressive cancer. Through discussions between mutual acquaintances of both the Veteran and Kelly, Kelly was asked and was willing to go to the hospital and sing a few songs for the Veteran, making his last days happier.
This extra effort to show the Veteran special concern and Kelly’s sincere expression of sorrow at the Veteran’s passing truly exemplifies the caring attitude set forth at our Veterans Homes.
Kelly will be honored at a ceremony at the Missouri Veterans Home – Mexico on February 24, 2012 at 2 pm.
March 2012
Anastasia "Staci" Wilson, Administrative Assistant for the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Fort Leonard Wood
Staci has been selected for being a hard worker, very honest, and willing to help in any way to make things happen at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Fort Leonard Wood, using her skills and abilities in every aspect of service at the cemetery.
Staci’s communication skills are one of her greatest assets. Feedback from the community, Veteran clients, and their families is always positive and tells of how she made them feel comfortable when talking and meeting with them. In addition when a funeral home contacts the cemetery for a service, Staci maintains contact with the home and ensures that all of their needs are met. She then keeps the cemetery staff fully informed of individual burial details including the status of the funeral process and the estimated time of arrival at the cemetery gates.
Staci always puts the Veterans first in helping them to pre-certify, and their families first as well, in ordering grave markers, arranging for burial services, or just to welcome them for a visit and a cup of coffee. She lets the Veterans and families know that we will be here for them not just for the burial, but in the days ahead.
Staci will be honored at a ceremony at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Fort Leonard Wood on March 15, 2012 at 1:30 pm.
April 2012
Alfredia Williams, Veterans Service Officer for the Southeast Region
Alfredia has been selected for her dedication to the Veterans she serves in Pulaski and Texas Counties.
Alfredia spends as much time as necessary talking with Veterans and gaining their trust to obtain the help they might need. She makes a profound difference in the lives of those Veterans, listening to their needs and filing claims that enable them to receive the compensation, pension, aid and attendance needed for their well-being.
Of particular note is Alfredia’s coordination of a medals ceremony for Texas County Veterans. Alfredia met with and encouraged Veterans to complete the forms for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam medals, communicated with the Adjutant General’s Office to ensure accuracy of each recipient’s medal, met with the local school administrator to plan the event, and contacted all participants who were involved in the pinning and presenting of coins and flowers to the Veterans and their spouses. Alfredia spent hours of personal time travelling to Houston to ensure everything was in proper order.
Alfredia will be honored at a ceremony at the VSO Regional Meeting on May 24, 1 pm at the Missouri Veterans Home – Cape Girardeau.
May 2012
Matthew Applewhite, Custodial Worker I for the Missouri Veterans Home – St. Louis
Matthew has been selected for his dependability as Custodial Worker and his dedication to that job as well as to the Veterans at the Missouri Veterans Home – St. Louis.
Matthew is known for his willingness to help out in any department and for recognizing when something needs to be done, then stepping in and doing the job to meet that need.
Matthew recently demonstrated that characteristic when he discovered a vending machine in the facility had been vandalized with the plexiglass front shoved in, leaving the items exposed. Taking initiative, Matthew used his own tools and repaired the vending machine, eliminating the need to call the vending machine company and preventing the loss of profit on the vending machine items that go towards the Assistance League and the Veterans in the home.
Matthew is appreciated by his co-workers and supervisors for his cooperativeness and willing to help out, from washing dishes in the kitchen when the Dietary department is short-staffed to assisting Veterans in other tasks.
Matthew will be honored at a ceremony on May 3, 2012 at 10:00 am at the Missouri Veterans Home – St. Louis.