Employee Recognition
Employee of the Year
Congratulations to 2007 VMC Employee of the Year!
Toni Hoff, Office Coordinator, Engineering
Her peers note:
- Toni displays a positive attitude on a daily basis no matter how stressful the situation may be.
- She provides great customer service to all who contact our department needing help.
- Toni goes out of her way on a regular basis to ensure that our customers get what they want, when they want it.
- She works with other departments to problem-solve and is exceptional at keeping everyone informed.
- Toni is very dedicated to doing a job that keeps the department operating efficiently.
- She has come up with all kinds of ways to make our work days easier and better.
- She is a joy to work with and is a real team player.
- She's always willing to help wherever needed and will go that extra mile.
Employee of the Month
There are many ways we show our employees how much we value them. One is through our Employee of the Month program, established to recognize those employees who not only excel in their jobs but also demonstrate Valley Values in action.
Because the Employee of the Month program is employee-driven, employees are encouraged to nominate fellow employees who demonstrate stellar performance. Once an employee is nominated, the information is reviewed anonymously by a committee of former employees of the month. Two employees of the month are chosen each month, and employees of the month in a year are then eligible to become employee of the year.
May 2008 Employees of the Month
Shane Edwards, ER Medical Surgery Technician, Emergency Department
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Shane's nominators said about him:
- Shane is always willing to help others in any way he can.
- He gives 100% and consistently does a stellar job.
- Shane has excellent customer service skills and is always respectful to our patients.
- Shane is an essential part of our “Nurses Talk Tough” presentations, visiting elementary schools and teaching helmet and seat belt safety.
- He goes out of his way to make sure our patients are comfortable and that they have what they need.
- Shane currently chairs the Emergency Room Annual “Summer Safety Camp”.
- He takes the initiative to complete the tasks that need to be done.
- Shane is a perfect candidate for this honor and he whole heartedly deserves to be the Employee of the Month!!!
Denise Stuart, Lactation Consultant, The Birth Center
A valued VMC employee for 21 years, here's what Denise's nominators said about her:
- Denise sets priorities and works efficiently in all aspects of her job.
- She is a pleasure to work with.
- Denise is flexible in dealing with patients of diverse cultures, respecting their needs and wishes. She is always polite and deals with staff and patients in a poised and professional manner.
- Denise is a great team player and always encourages the nurses on the units, keeping everyone informed with the latest information.
- She has given countless hours of community service, providing new parents with important healthcare information at Babies ‘R Us.
- Denise is an active listener and always puts her patients first.
- She leads the “Parent Support Group” at Valley Medical Center, offering sound parental guidance for new parents.
- Denise has a spotless reputation and certainly deserves to be the Employee of the Month!
April 2008 Employees of the Month
Jeff Crumb, Engineer II, Plant Management
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Jeff's nominators said about him:
- Jeff is a hard worker who is very diligent, and always has a great attitude.
- He is an excellent team player, always volunteering to help out others with tasks that need to be completed.
- Jeff is a perfectionist. The engineering staff is always confident that whenever Jeff is given a task, not only will he complete it, he will complete it without missing a beat.
- He is an excellent employee. We are constantly receiving positive comments about him. Jeff is extremely helpful and is always thoughtful of others.
- He is a quiet person, yet he carries an inner strength that instills immediate trust in others.
- Jeff consistently goes above and beyond, and is very deserving of Employee of the Month.
Helen Jordan, Admitting Registrar, Admitting
A valued VMC employee for 3 years, here's what Helen's nominators said about her:
- Helen shows great quality in her work when she admits our patients. She is extremely detail oriented and has the ability to admit our patients quickly and accurately.
- She has compassion for our patients, and listens closely to identify their needs.
- Helen is community-centered and volunteers at a local school, assisting children with their daily activities.
- She is respectful to her team and to our patients. She goes out of her way to help our patients throughout their admission process.
- Helen is always positive and displays great teamwork by offering her assistance to other team members when she comes on duty.
- She is our supply organizer and has shown great innovation in determining the proper location of all of our supplies, making sure everyone has what they need.
- Helen always practices patient safety, uses good judgment, and has the unique ability to sense what her patients need.
- She consistently balances all of her work with a positive attitude and deserves to be the Employee of the Month!!!
March 2008 Employees of the Month
Rob Sancilio, Physical Therapist III, Physical Therapy
A valued VMC employee for 12 years, here's what Rob's nominators said about him:
- Rob is a team player who always contributes to ensure our team runs smoothly.
- He has a calming presence in the department and is highly respected by his teammates.
- Rob has excellent customer service skills and makes sure that his patients feel that they are well cared for.
- He participates in community centered activities such as the Senior Fair and VMC’s Backpack Fitting Program.
- Rob has a long track record of providing exceptional service, and often receives letters of appreciation from our patients.
- He has a great sense of humor, making our department an enjoyable place to work.
- Rob has a strong respect for his job and our patients, and certainly deserves to be our next Employee of the Month!!!
Michelle Hellem, Health Educator, HMR Healthy Images
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Michelle's nominators said about her:
- Michelle is extremely compassionate and understanding with our weight loss patients. Her clear direction helps to ensure successful results.
- She is community centered and volunteers regularly at the Golden Care Health Fair and teaches Health and Fitness Classes for the community.
- Michelle single-handedly runs the babysitter training program offered at VMC. She is an asset to the entire wellness division. She is always willing to take new responsibilities with a smile.
- Michelle has a great attitude. She is friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and is always professional. She constantly strives to be the best and do the best job possible.
- Michelle has a contagious laugh, making the environment pleasant for her patients and co-workers. She is an employee who always displays the Valley Values, and truly deserves to be the Employee of the Month!!!
February 2008 Employees of the Month
Angie Norman, Physical Therapist III, Physical Therapy
A valued VMC employee for 4 years, here's what Angie's nominators said about her:
- Angie is excellent in her quality of patient care. Her gentle guidance has been instrumental with her patients and co-workers.
- She shows immense compassion, listening to the needs of our patients with great care and understanding.
- Angie is community-centered. She has been significant in organizing the Bike Helmet Program, training helmet fitters, volunteering, and assisting with the Renton River Days.
- She displays respect to all her patients and teammates, often identifying problems and implementing solutions.
- Angie demonstrates exceptional teamwork, encouraging input from the entire staff, excluding no one.
- She exhibits innovation in her ability to get work done on various committees. She is detail oriented and creative in her excellent and well written work.
- Angie is a role model in customer service/patient care, always going "above and beyond".
- She is awesome and is very deserving of the Employee of the Month award!
Linda Wing, Clinical Applications Analyst, IT Enterprise Clinical Applications
A valued VMC employee for 1 year, here's what Linda's nominators said about her:
- Linda is a dedicated, loyal, and kind employee who is committed to her work.
- She makes every effort to make our systems accessible and easy to navigate.
- Linda is always kind and considerate when she works with our staff.
- She makes every effort to keep everyone informed when new information is being developed.
- She was imperative in creating a system that is intuitive, concise, and easy to use for our nursing staff.
- Linda incorporates all of the National Patient Safety Goals when she configures our documentation systems and always has the best interest of our patients in mind.
- She is extremely talented, and we are fortunate to have her here at Valley.
- Linda is a fantastic employee and would make an excellent Employee of the Month!
January 2008 Employees of the Month
Casey Connolly, RN, General Surgery
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Casey's nominators said about her:
- Casey is an excellent nurse, clearly possessing a gift of skill and understanding.
- She was very thorough and compassionate while caring for my mother during her stay at Valley Medical Center.
- Casey made us feel more comfortable with leaving our mother overnight.
- She gave my mother great respect during a time when she was weak and in need.
- Casey communicated in detail the aspects of my mother's care to her and our family.
- She had a great knowledge and kindness that gave us hope during an unbearable time.
- Casey would be a fantastic Employee of the Month!
Catherine Dart, Registered Nurse, The Birth Center
A valued VMC employee for 3 years, here's what Catherine's nominators said about her:
- Catherine is a very compassionate person. She has the unique ability to make people feel safe and secure.
- She does her best to provide the utmost care and always greets our patients with a welcoming smile.
- Catherine is a great team player. She works together as a member of our team and offers her assistance wherever it is needed.
- She is always respectful to both patients and co-workers alike.
- Catherine is quick to lend a hand to those in need.
- She consistently reaches out to others, often during the most unexpected times.
- Catherine is an asset to our unit and would make a wonderful Employee of the Month!!!
December 2007 Employees of the Month
Kathy Cwiak, Registered Nurse, 3 North
A valued VMC employee for 27 years, here's what Kathy's nominators said about her:
- Kathy is an excellent team player, and is always willing to assist others.
- She is extremely knowledgeable and is a great resource for the staff nurses and RN residents.
- Kathy has the ability to solve problems with little or no conflict.
- She is compassionate and shows great empathy for our patients and their families.
- Kathy gives exceptional care to her patients and goes out of her way to communicate and explain the various procedures to her patients and their loved ones.
- She works diligently and always gets the job done.
- Kathy has perfected the "art of nursing" and certainly deserves the honor of being the Employee of the Month!!!
Connie Opedal, Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory
A valued VMC employee for 5 years, here's what Connie's nominators said about her:
- Connie demonstrates impeccable quality in each analysis she performs, with unquestionable accuracy and precision.
- She is a member of the Safety Committee in the laboratory, and has spent countless hours researching our chemical waste procedures; providing the lab with guidelines based on her findings.
- Connie has a keen sense of urgency and prioritization in emergency situations which clearly indicates the dedication in her work.
- She has an incredible ability and outstanding flexibility to wear any hat in the lab at any moment with no questions asked.
- Connie is an inspiration and a true mentor by displaying the highest level of integrity and excellence in her work ethic.
- She has a positive attitude, is open to new ideas, and is an excellent team player.
- Connie models the Valley Values in every way and deserves to be the Employee of the Month!!!
November 2007 Employees of the Month
Debbie Argo, Clinic Operations Coordinator, Highlands Primary Care
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Debbie's nominators said about her:
- Debbie is a great team player and is well-respected by her peers and is a joy to have as a colleague.
- She is an outstanding role model for all staff members. She is one of a kind, and is a great person to work with.
- Debbie has excellent communication skills with her co-workers, patients, vendors, and other departments at Valley.
- She is always positive, upbeat, and greets everyone with a smile. She always has an encouraging word regardless of the pressure that may be upon her.
- Debbie has the ability to deal with stressful situations with grace and understanding.
- She is always polite, professional, and is caring to all. She is a pleasure to work with.
- Debbie goes above and beyond the call of duty to be a team player and is a great leader.
- She is always there to lend a helping hand when anyone is in need.
- Debbie is an absolutely stellar employee and certainly deserves to be the Employee of the Month!!!
Kathy Fernen, Patient Service Representative, Psychiatry & Counseling Center
A valued VMC employee for 12 years, here's what Kathy's nominators said about her:
- Kathy is extremely task oriented and is a very hard worker.
- She is consistently complimented by our clients on our Patient Satisfaction Surveys.
- Kathy is a volunteer for Rainbow for Girls, a non-profit organization for adolescent girls. She also volunteers as a doula (mid-wife) for pregnant women.
- She treats her customers and co-workers with equal respect, and maintains confidentiality at all times.
- Kathy often takes on extra tasks and offers her assistance whenever the need arises.
- She never complains and always has a smile on her face.
- Kathy's knowledge and years of experience is invaluable.
- Kathy is the "anchor" of our front office and certainly deserves Employee of the Month!
October 2007 Employees of the Month
Jim Heron, Sr. Applications Analyst, Information Technology
A valued VMC employee for 15 years, here's what Jim's nominators said about him:
- Jim strives to attain the highest quality possible in each aspect of his job.
- He is always looking for a better way to get the job done.
- Jim goes out of his way to meet new employees and welcomes them to Valley.
- He never hesitates to be part of a team. He is always willing to assist others and he never complains.
- Jim approaches his day to day challenges with vigor and a smile on his face.
- He has a sense of humor that helps ease the tension during stressful situations, making Valley a great place to work.
- Jim's commitment to the organization and our patients is unparalleled.
- He inspires others to do a better job each day.
- Jim is so deserving of Employee of the Month!!
Vanessa Isom, Speech Pathologist III, Speech Pathology
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Vanessa's nominators said about her:
- Vanessa has been instrumental in developing the "Nursing Swallow Screen" protocol and procedures to improve the quality of screening for our patients.
- She is a person with a big heart. She goes far beyond what is expected of her duties to care for her patients. She has great compassion and empathy for their problems and concerns.
- Vanessa is community-centered and believes in the cooperation between Valley and the surrounding communities. Earlier this year, she developed a Stroke Club here at VMC to serve south King County residents.
- She treats all of her patients with respect, dignity and understanding.
- Vanessa is a team builder. She exhibits her teamwork by sharing the credit for a job well done and displays her gratitude for others' contributions.
- She has used her innovation skills to develop new speech therapy programs at Valley.
- It is an honor to have her on our VMC and Rehabilitation Team. She is very deserving of Employee of the Month!
September 2007 Employees of the Month
Melanie Ives, Medical Assistant, Valley Family Medicine
A valued VMC employee for 1 year, here's what Melanie's nominators said about her:
- Melanie has a positive attitude and promotes a harmonious working relationship with her co-workers.
- She always presents herself in a calm matter. In a crisis or emergency, Melanie is the Medical Assistant you want to take care of you.
- Melanie respects our patients and staff and treats everyone with dignity and understanding.
- She is extremely focused and thorough, making sure every detail is completed correctly.
- Melanie is an excellent addition to Valley Family Medicine, and has made a tremendous impact in our department.
- She recently utilized her artistic abilities and created a "Summer Fun and Safety Activities" information board for our patients and their families.
- Melanie demonstrates the Valley Values at work every day. She would be an excellent choice for the Employee of the Month!!!
Andy Tran, Café Worker, Dietary Services
A valued VMC employee for 5 years, here's what Andy's nominators said about him:
- Andy provides exceptional customer service. He goes above and beyond when the team needs his assistance.
- He knows everyone by name, and has the unique ability to bring a smile to the faces of staff, patients and families alike.
- Andy works during the early hours of the morning. Regardless of the time, he is always pleasant and cheerful, and greets everyone with a friendly "hello".
- He has a contagious positive personality.
- Andy never looks overwhelmed or irritated, even in stressful situations.
- He is able to interchange positions, and does a phenomenal job.
- The Employee of the Month award was made for Andy. He certainly deserves this honor!!!
August 2007 Employees of the Month
Jackie White, LPN, OHS - Renton
A valued VMC employee for 27 years, here's what Jackie's coworkers said about her:
- Jackie is a dedicated Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who has a firm understanding of occupational medicine and is a tremendous support to her co-workers.
- She is patient-centered and always ensures that her patients are treated fairly under the compensation laws.
- Jackie is a strong member of her clinical team with high professional standards.
- She meets our daily challenges with a smile.
- Jackie is a great resource for training new staff and is extremely reliable.
- She is our “Four-Leaf Clover”, and we are lucky to have her as part of our team.
- Jackie is a wonderful asset to Valley. She certainly deserves to be Employee of the Month!!
Brenda Doss, Unit Secretary, Critical Care Unit
A valued VMC employee for 27 years, here's what Brenda's coworkers said about her:
- Brenda is quick, efficient, consistent and very thorough with her assigned tasks.
- She views the unit, team and hospital as a whole, always demonstrating an awareness of how we all work together and impact one another.
- Brenda is pleasant, respectful and professional while maintaining a friendly and approachable demeanor.
- She is always friendly, helpful and respectful of others.
- Brenda is often a patient’s first point of contact for the Critical Care Unit. She has an exceptional ability to make potentially difficult situations easier for our patients and their families.
- Brenda is an excellent choice for Employee of the Month!!!
July 2007 Employees of the Month
Tina Eng, Occupational Therapist II, Occupational Therapy
A valued VMC employee for 3 years, here's what Tina's coworkers said about her:
- Tina demonstrates the utmost respect for her peers and her patients on a daily basis.
- She is always there when we need her help, and offers to assist without hesitation.
- Tina brings in fresh and new perspectives when we need to explore alternatives.
- She provides excellent patient care and is genuinely surprised when she receives a compliment about her skills and expertise.
- Tina exemplifies Valley Values in the evaluation and treatment of her patients and the communication with her teammates.
- She is an exceptional employee who goes “above and beyond” in her planning and in providing individualized plans for each of her patients.
- Tina is a positive force in the department who works endlessly and tirelessly to make the department a better and a great place to work.
- She is a quiet, but very strong Occupational Therapist who provides excellent care to each of her patients and makes sure they get what they need.
- Tina is a gem on our team and certainly deserves to be Employee of the Month!
Lenora Maghari, Unit Secretary, Joint Center
A valued VMC employee for 6 years, here's what Lenora's coworkers said about her:
- Lenora is the #1 person that you can count on! She gives 100% in everything she does, and is always willing to lend a hand.
- She greets customers with a friendly and positive attitude. She is never without a smile.
- Lenora’s middle name is “Above and Beyond”. She is always willing to go above and beyond to help other units, staffing office, co-workers, and other Managers.
- She has mentored and trained numerous unit clerks, students, and staff, and is very team oriented.
- Lenora keeps the nurse’s station running smoothly and efficiently, treating everyone with great respect and care.
- She is an excellent candidate and certainly deserves to be the Employee of the Month!!!
June 2007 Employees of the Month
Tonya Free, Medical Technologist, Laboratory
A valued VMC employee for 18 years, here's what Tonya's coworkers said about her:
- Tonya displays teamwork daily. Whenever someone needs help, she is always there to lend a helping hand.
- She has excellent innovation skills. Whenever there is an area of concern, she is always willing to troubleshoot the problem.
- Tonya shows respect to all her co-workers. She helps the incoming shift in making up controls and completing the maintenance needed for the next shift tech, ensuring a smooth transition.
- She is knowledgeable and community-centered in many areas. She is hard working and completes Point of Care tests for the clinics in the hospital.
- Tonya is compassionate of our patients and ensures that the required testing is completed prior to the patient’s specimens getting to the lab.
- She is very efficient, accurate, and shows great quality in her work.
- Tonya is an important contributor to the success of our laboratory team and I would highly recommend her for Employee of the Month!
Karen Nodolf, Applications Analyst II/Information Technologies
A valued VMC employee for 2 years, here's what Karen's coworkers said about her:
- Karen models quality. She spends countless hours building and testing applications to ensure that the clinical systems are functioning safely and accurately.
- She is kind, caring, and understands her clients’ needs. She displays compassion and is always willing to help no matter how stressful the situation is.
- Karen is community-centered. She is a volunteer parish nurse for the community and assists at a local clinic for disadvantaged families.
- She treats everyone with respect, even in difficult situations. She is patient and always demonstrates professionalism.
- Karen displays great teamwork. She is helpful and is always willing to assist others even when her “plate is full”.
- She has exhibited great innovation skills in tailoring the design of the electronic medical record system to meet the needs of our patients and staff.
- Karen is a great role model for others and certainly deserves to be the Employee of the Month!
