The Arc of Howard County
2014 Celebration of Excellence Awards
May 14, 2014
Delegate Guy Guzzone (far left), Senator Thomas ‘Mac” Middelton, Board Member Pam Guzzone and Senator James Robey (far right)
2014 Legacy Awards: Senator James Robey, Delegate Elizabeth Bobo, Delegate Steven DeBoy and Delegate James Malone.
In recognition and in appreciation for their years of outstanding advocacy and support of The Arc of Howard County and children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2014 Self-Advocate of the Year – Jason Kauffman and Daniel Larrimore
Board President Ed Wilson with Jason Kaufman
Jason Kauffman was recognized for his growth as an employee at Home Depot, where he is a Lawn and Garden Associate. Blessed with an outgoing personality, Jason has honed his organizational and customer service skills and has become more independent, self-confident and customer-focused. According to Jason’s boss at Home Depot, “Jason is an inspiration to the staff at Home Depot. He is the hardest working employee that I’ve ever seen, and he takes great pride in his work. He really makes my day when I see him, and it is a pleasure to work with him.”
Director of Employment and Day Services Bonnie Cronin (far left), Nasasha Parker, Daniel Larrimore and his mother.
Daniel Larrimore has worked hard to reach the goal of being an independent adult by having a job and a home of his choosing. He has impressed his employers and moved from a series of part-time and minimum wage positions to a full time benefitted job at Cintas, where he is a Shredding Specialist. He moved from his parents’ home to a townhome in Columbia, where he has a roommate and receives supports from The Arc. He excels at Special Olympics. At 29 years old, Daniel has set and reached each goal he has set for himself. We cannot wait to see what he will accomplish next.
2014 Excellence in Employment: General Manager Norman Eaton and Front Office Manager Bob Stevens (Homewood Suites in Columbia)
What sets this duo apart is the culture they have created at the hotel where one of the people served by The Arc has been working as a Breakfast Host for almost two years. The Homewood Suites culture is one where teamwork and customer service is emphasized and where employees are treated as equals and with respect. The employee supported by The Arc has flourished in the courteous, supportive, warm and friendly environment. Homewood Suite managers have provided him the resources to success, and he been able to realize his potential.
2014 Excellence in Community Award: Alyssa Nagy, Blaire Ridgeley and Scarlet Woofter.
Alyssa Nagy is the parent of a student at Patapsco Middle School. Through her advocacy and the efforts of students Blaire Ridgeley and Scarlet Woofter, last year Patapsco Middle School began a “Patapsco Pals” program based on the national Best Buddies initiative to connect typical students and their peers who have developmental disabilities. This past year, Alyssa Nagy’s advocacy helped Patapsco Pals earn acceptance into the Best Buddies program. Patapsco Pals meet for lunch on Friday and after school once month, they attend each other’s birthday parties, navigate the halls together during class changes and share recess. Blaire and Scarlet continue to take an active role in the group, suggesting projects, fundraisers and new initiatives. Without the dedication and advocacy of Alyssa Nagy and the encouragement and support from Blaire Ridgeley and Scarley Woofter, this active, vibrant program wouldn’t be the success it is.
2014 Excellence in Community Award: Rose Silverstein
Rose Silverstein has established a special relationship with a woman served by The Arc, which has been a source of pleasure and education. Rose’s support of her friend with developmental disabilities includes encouraging phone calls and shared interests. They go to movies, hockey games and amusement parks together, where life skills, can be practiced. According to her friend’s mother, Rose sees her “abilities rather than her disabilities…and embraces her individuality.”
Board Member Lisa Hussman (far left), Shantha Chandra and Executive Director Carol Beatty
2014 Excellence in Community Award: Shantha Chandra.
Shantha Chandra runs the tennis program through the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, and she introduces tennis to elementary school students of all levels of ability, including those with special needs and disabilities. Shantha has established the Multicultural Children’s Tennis Association, which teaches lifetime skills with an emphasis on sportsmanship, inclusion and growth among culturally diverse individuals. Through these efforts she has helped create a community that builds relationships and embraces differences.
Board Member Dorothy Plantz (left) and Margaret Dressel
2014 Excellence in Professional Services Award: Margaret Dressel
Margaret is the founder and owner of Massage by Margaret Network and works with several individuals supported by The Arc. She has a background working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in both direct care and administrative roles. Realizing that many people with developmental disabilities rarely receive “touch for the sake of touch” led her to start her own company. She individualizes each person’s therapy and adapts techniques for each, bringing psychological and physiological benefits of massage to each in a thoughtful and respectful way. She is dedicated to making the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities fuller and more satisfying.
Agnieska Dziadek (left) with Board Member Peter Della-Croce
2014 Excellence in Professional Services Award: Agnieska Dziadek,
Agnieska is childcare service provider. An immigrant from Poland, Agnieska Dziadek is considered an Au Pair Extraordinare due to her education and experience in her home country. She applies her abilities in the care of a child with developmental disabilities and does so with attention to social development, independent living skills and academic accomplishments. She goes above and beyond her duties and is always advancing her own education, so as to provide better care for a child with special needs, helping her to achieve her full potential.
2014 Excellence in Schools Award: Hammond High School and its dance program.
Led by teacher Brook Kuhl-McClellan and para-educator Lois Geyer, the Hammond High School dance program models The Arc’s mission of full community life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through the dance program, students with development disabilities have the benefits of expressing themselves creatively, participating in concerts with their typical peers and forging relationships that have extended beyond the classroom to the benefit of all the students involved. The student mentors are an integral component of the program’s success and make a great impact on the students with disabilities. The level of inclusion and acceptance is obvious to all observers and is an outstanding example of what can be achieved through the leadership of both educators and students.
Executive Director Carol Beatty (left), Judy Pattik and Board President Ed Wilson
2014 Excellence in Public Service: Judy Pattik, Coordinator of Special Education, Howard County Public School System.
Judy Pattik provides leadership and support to the county school system’s special education staff to maximize opportunities for students with disabilities to be fully included in their neighborhood schools. Her efforts extend beyond the time when students with disabilities exit the school system as young adults. To that end, Ms. Pattik has worked tirelessly to establish the Howard County Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities, created by Executive Order from Howard County Executive Ken Ulman in 2013.
2014 Excellence in Public Service: Senator James Robey
Throughout his illustrious public service career – in law enforcement, as County Executive and, most recently, as State Senator – Jim Robey has always championed Howard County’s citizens with disabilities. In so doing, he has used his considerable influence to improve the lives of Marylanders with developmental disabilities and the community based non-profit organizations that provide their support.
Phillip Swanson (left), Resource Development Chair Richard Dean and Delegate Guy Guzzone
2014 Volunteer of the Year: Phil Swanson
Phil Swanson is a leader, an on the ground volunteer, a donor and sponsor of our fundraising events. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors and was on the Executive Committee and the Monitoring and Advisory Committee. He has been more than a contributor; he has been an example to others – he has engaged his friends and associates in his support of The Arc. Phil Swanson is part of The Arc’s “family” and can be counted on for support in any capacity in which he is asked to participate.
Andre Pearson (left) with Arc Employee Cathy Garland-Meyers
2014 Employee of the Year: Andre Pearson
Andre Pearson is a house manager and has been with The Arc since 2010. He has transformed the house for which he is responsible, believing that improving the interior of the home would benefit the people who lived there and improve their quality of life. Using his creativity and desire to improve living conditions for the people he supports, he turned the home into a warm and welcoming place.
Delegate Guy Guzzonne with Senator Thomas ‘Mac’ Middleton
2014 President’s Award: Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton and Delegate Guy Guzzone
Senator Middleton and Delegate Guzzone have been true legislative champions for people with developmental disabilities. That support has been ongoing, but was nowhere more in evidence than during the 2014 legislative session. It was a legislative challenge to avoid having direct support staff left behind in the sometimes contentious minimum wage discussion during the Session. Senator Middleton and Delegate Guzzone led the charge, putting their power and influence to work to advocate for increased funding for direct support wages and to ensure that those direct support positions would not become minimum wage jobs. It was a great victory for Marylanders with developmental disabilities.