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Staff Stories
Please take a few moments to read about KenCrest's staff and the incredible things they do behind the scenes every day.
Emmanuel Bawuah, Joel Nderitu and Chris Roth
Emmanuel Bawuah, Community Home Supervisor, Joel Nderitu, Resident Advisor, Western Residential Services, and Chris Roth, Alternative Program, EmployNet
Chris was sitting in front of the Western Suburban community home where he lives with two of his staff, Emmanuel and Joel. They were watching two neighborhood boys throw a football around with their father. As they played, the older man fell to the ground, twitching and hitting his head on the pavement. Emmanuel and Joel feared that he was having a seizure and rushed to his aid. Chris assisted them, running into the house and bringing water and paper towels. Using the First Aid training they received at KenCrest, the three of them saved the man from choking. They cleaned him, stabilized him, and stayed with him until the police and EMT arrived. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is being aware and taking action.
Heidi Ziegler
Fiscal Supervisor, Financial Management Services
A staff person was at the Food Court in the mall waiting for their purchase. Suddenly her knee gave out. Experiencing great pain, she couldn’t put any weight on the leg. Immediately, the staff person was not sure how she would get back to the office! Heidi approached the counter to order lunch, took one look, and asked what was wrong. When told, she escorted the staff very slowly, watching with a careful eye her ability to walk, ready to jump in to assist. Heidi made sure that the staff was able to make it to her office safely. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is being concerned about others and lending a helping hand.
Laneisha Wilkerson
Resident Assistant, Western Residential Services
Laneisha found cash lying in the parking lot at Robinson Street. She questioned staff throughout the EmployNet building trying to find its owner. She made everyone at Robinson Street aware that she had found the cash, and waited for the rightful owner to claim it. Quite some time passed and the money was not claimed. Rightfully, she could have kept the money, but instead Laneisha donated it to the KenCrest team that participates in the Pottstown Relay for Life. Positive Approaches never thinks of itself first.
Maureen Whisler
Instructor, EmployNet
A consumer who works in Maureen’s group at EmployNet was struggling with his diet and experiencing health concerns. Maureen met with the consumer and the staff in the community home where he lives. Together they came up with a plan of action. In addition to her regular assignment of teaching him job skills, Maureen educated the gentleman on nutrition. She began meeting with him to discuss healthy eating habits, compiled a weekly lunch menu, shopped for his food, and helped prepare the food. Since Maureen’s involvement, the gentleman’s health has shown improvement and he has a positive outlook towards his lifestyle change. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is helping any way that you can.
Peg Gomez & Maria Owoc
Office Manager, and Maria Owoc, Training Coordinator, Resource Management
A key co-worker in the Resource Management department was on Medical Leave for over a month. Peg and Maria recognized the gap in the department’s workload that this created. They divided the uncovered duties between them, then added that work to their own jobs seamlessly and efficiently. And they did so without a word of complaint. In fact, they covered the absent staff’s work with the same smiling attitude that everyone is so used to from these two. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is uncomplaining.