The Resource Center honored 145 people at the agency’s 31st annual Employee Service Recognition Luncheon, held in The Resource Center’s administrative office building on Dunham Avenue in Celoron. Combined, they have put in more than 1,725 years of service at The Resource Center.

The event paid tribute to employees who completed a milestone year of service with The Resource Center in 2015. The longest-serving employees recognized at this year’s luncheon marked 35 years with TRC: Marcella Olmstead of Jamestown, direct support professional; Resa Rosen-Murray of Jamestown, activity leader; and Jane Young of Falconer, nursing office assistant. Each of these employees received a check and a clock.

The Rev. Timothy Hoyer, who serves on one of TRC’s board advisory committees, delivered the invocation before lunch. Denise Jones, executive director, gave the welcoming remarks.

“A service award comes out of tradition where wisdom, knowledge and experience are honored. I am pleased that at TRC we have respected this tradition on an annual basis,” Jones said. A 25-year honoree herself this year, she said she was pleased to have grown with The Resource Center, a place where many people have made lifelong friends. “On behalf of the board of directors, management team, our families, and more importantly, the individuals we support, thank you for your dedication to this organization.”

Jones introduced Richard Koerner, a member of TRC’s board.

He talked about the joy one gains when working at a job that impacts people’s lives and said that The Resource Center “helps people be the best they can be.” Koerner added that a key to being able to do a job well is for people to be empowered and that “there’s nobody in town that does empowerment better than The Resource Center.”

Mark Morton, assistant executive director for employee relations, thanked the honorees for taking time to be publicly recognized for their years of service.

“Today we have the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate individual staff for their contributions in furthering the mission of The Resource Center and supporting the people we serve. The individuals we recognize today have, over a span of time five years, 10 years, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 been a part of the collective effort that is necessary for this organization to be successful,” Morton said. “Those years represent commitment from you, the staff, who, with your knowledge, experience and passion made the choice to stay at The Resource Center to keep this agency strong and always striving to be the best. You are not only needed and appreciated by TRC for all you have done and continue to do, but you are needed by this community. Those staff we honor today, along with many others still working here, took the foundation that was built by family members and the earliest staff members and continued to build and grow the agency to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. When you are recognized today, you should feel good about yourselves and proud of what you accomplished, but also remember that you are a part of something bigger, the legacy of The Resource Center and all it represents, and a part of the continuing movement to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities that needs all of us working together to keep moving forward.”

The luncheon was organized by staff of the human resources department. The awards were presented by Jones.

Recognized for 30 years of service were Terry Brandow of Lakewood, cook; Lori Carlson of Jamestown, assistant director of residential services; Neil Magnuson of Lakewood, maintenance specialist; Stephen Riczker of Falconer, director of provider relations; and Donna Trusso of Jamestown, STARS wellness program manager. Each of these employees received a check and a paperweight.

Honored for 25 years of service were Ron Carlson of Jamestown, facilities maintenance manager; Simon Dodge of Jamestown, community living skills instructor; Daniel Farnham of Portland, supervising nurse; Carla Hall of Jamestown, medical aide; Brenda Jabczynski of Jamestown, staff assistance specialist; Sally Jaquith of Sinclairville, licensed mental health clinician; Denise Jones of Jamestown, executive director; Patricia Mead of Fredonia, agency habilitation specialist; Diane Nordstrom of Jamestown, direct support professional; Joyce Peterson of Jamestown, case manager; Shelly Swan of Clarendon, Pa., third-shift supervisor; Barbara Wheeler of Sugar Grove, Pa., care coordinator; and Douglas Wiggers of Ashville, residence manager. Each of these employees received a check, a pen and a letter opener.

Completing 20 years of service were Maureen Anderson of Kennedy, speech pathologist; Stephen Bulich of Steamburg, assistant director; Robin Kestler of Ashville, activity leader; Bethanne Landy of Lakewood, driver; Bruce McQuilkin of Jamestown, direct support professional; Michael Smallman of Jamestown, residence manager; Patrick Smallman of Jamestown, maintenance specialist; Suzette Smith of Sinclairville, assistant director of finance; Arthur Volk of Jamestown, work center counselor; and Jacqueline Wiggers of Ashville, patient access specialist. Each of these employees received a check and a lapel pin.

Honored for 15 years of service were Kimberly Baxter of Jamestown, housekeeper; Todd Becker of Jamestown, Medicaid service coordination program manager; Melissa Cardone of Jamestown, medical support professional; Peter Carlson of Fredonia, driver; Linda Gray of Jamestown, direct support professional; Joelle Iuculano of Jamestown, assistant residence manager; Theresa Kerzner of Jamestown, central intake counselor; Christopher Koons of Jamestown, industrial specialist; Frank Pekarski of Falconer, driver; Rishell Pratt of Jamestown, administrative assistant; Tammy Russell of Falconer, activity leader; Melinda Schrecongost of Falconer, allied health assistant; Daniel Schroder Sr. of Sinclairville, community living skills instructor; Rhonda Scott of Jamestown, residence manager; Frank Szablewski of Cassadaga, environmental services supervisor; April Wallace of Jamestown, service coordinator; Autumn Wilson of Sugar Grove, Pa., day service program manager; and Julie Zanghi of Jamestown, medical support professional. Each of these employees received a check.

Those recognized for 10 years of service were Vanessa Barone of Jamestown, direct support professional; Heather M. Brown of Falconer, site supervisor; Amy Buccola of Frewsburg, direct support professional; Beverly Butts of Ashville, registered nurse; Kathleen Cornelius of Jamestown, direct support professional; Judith Darling of Jamestown, cook; Janice Fosberg of Jamestown, supervising nurse; Barbara Garvey of Ashville, copy/mail clerk; Judy Gilbert of Falconer, direct support professional; Jennifer Grandinetti of Jamestown, direct support professional; Janet Graves of Jamestown, vocational skills instructor; Joyce Harris of Kennedy, production planner; Lacy Hyde of Panama, medical aide; Brenda Jakiela-Wilcox of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Deborah Jose of Jamestown, direct support professional; Rashonda Leeper of Jamestown, assistant residence manager; Stephanie Levoie-Beatty of Jamestown, activity leader; Brooke Long of Jamestown, allied health assistant; Michael Long of Jamestown, production planner; Jason Lutgen of Jamestown, behavior support professional; Patricia Martines of Jamestown, secretary; Althea Maxwell of Dunkirk, vocational skills instructor; Karla Mesler of Jamestown, activity leader; Michael Metzger of Bemus Point, board of directors member; Paula Morello of Brocton, direct support professional; James Nary of Jamestown, family care home liaison; Shelia Sanders of Falconer, dental hygienist; Dawn Sell of Frewsburg, community living skills instructor; Tina Sitterley of Clymer, direct support professional; Sheila St. John of Jamestown, behavior support professional; Deborah Staples of Sinclairville, dental hygienist; Andrew Stevens of Jamestown, direct support professional; Robert Szczepinski of Greenhurst, driver; Kayla Tedone of Fredonia, service coordinator; Cynthia Todaro of Jamestown, purchasing agent; Gerald Vinciguerra of Jamestown, applications administrator; Nichole Washer of Bemus Point, community living skills instructor; and Douglas Winship of Randolph, production planner. Each of these employees received a nylon-lined jacket embroidered with their name and The Resource Center’s logo.

Completing five years of service were Gladys Alverio of Dunkirk, dental assistant; Jeffrey Axelson of Jamestown, care coordinator; Linda Barnes of Falconer, patient registrar; Jacqueline Blackwood of Lakewood, benefits and entitlements coordinator; Tammi Blodien of Jamestown, medical aide; Corina Bullock of Forestville, activity leader; Marie Carrubba, board member; Danielle Chase of Falconer, activity leader; Ashley Christianson of Falconer, direct support professional; Danielle Coone of Jamestown, direct support professional; Debra Dalziel of Jamestown, medical support professional; Gregory Danielson of Fredonia, agency habilitation specialist; Amanda Dove of Jamestown, care coordinator; Kristopoher Drozdziel of Forestville, production maintenance technician; Casey Dubose of Jamestown, residence manager; Jennifer Feldman of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Lynda Ferguson of Fredonia, direct support professional; Colleen Finley of Jamestown, direct support professional; Todd Frangione of Jamestown, director of business operations; Becky Frederes of Jamestown, direct support professional; Christina Gaworecki-Dorrell of Jamestown, direct support professional; Sara Grover of Brocton, direct support professional; Brian Hanna of Randolph, human resources specialist; Trisha Hopkins of Jamestown, medical support professional; Kassandra Lawson of Jamestown, direct support professional; Amber Lingenfelter of Jamestown, direct support professional; Leanna Luka-Conley of Lakewood, director of care coordination and behavioral services; Dana Manno of Jamestown, job coach; Pamela Marchincin of Jamestown, integration manager; Julie McCarthy of Randolph, board member; Michael McCoy of Mayville, residence manager; Dr. Caillean McMahon-Tronetti of Erie, PA, psychiatrist; Barbara Miller of Sinclairville, direct support professional; Joshua Monroe of Jamestown, vocational skills instructor; Stacy Morrell of Dunkirk, dental assistant; Daniel Ortega of Jamestown, self-determination assistant; Angela Ortiz of Dunkirk, direct support professional; Heather Peters of Jamestown, activity leader; Paula Pickett of Jamestown, dietitian; Charles Reardon of Falconer, behavior support professional; Jessica Riquer of Jamestown, supportive living specialist; David Shafer of Jamestown, third-shift supervisor; Amber Siragusa of Fredonia, care coordinator; Jeanne Slade of Steamburg, direct support professional; Marian Spitale of Jamestown, dietitian; Heather Stanford of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Matthew Strom of Jamestown, behavior technician; Laurie Strong of Forestville, agency habilitation specialist; Nicole Tarr of Celoron, direct support professional; Julia Thompson of Falconer, direct support professional; Russ Valone of Fredonia, self-determination assistant; Solimar Vazquez of Jamestown, patient access specialist; Daniel Verrett II of Jamestown, direct support professional; Lori Ann Waag of Cherry Creek, payroll clerk; Michelle Weltikol of Jamestown, licensed practical nurse; Jennifer Wickham of Dunkirk, activity leader; Alishia Wilson of Kennedy, direct support professional; and Amber Wilson of Jamestown, assistant site supervisor. Each of these people received a fleece jacket embroidered with their name and TRC’s logo.