MILESTONES OF EXCELLENCE BRUNCH recognizing
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals / Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
E-Badge Academy Members & 1000th DSP to Receive Certification
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
MILESTONES OF EXCELLENCE BRUNCH Recognizing NADSP/OPWDD E-Badge Academy Members & 1000th DSP to Receive Certification Tuesday, February 6, 2024
PROGRAM EMCEE
Jim Stock, Assistant Director Talent, Development and Engagement
WELCOME
Stanfort J. Perry, Chief Executive Officer AHRC Nassau | Citizens Options Unlimited Brookville Center for Children’s Services
REMARKS
Kerri E. Neifeld, Commissioner NYS Office for People People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Joseph M. Macbeth, Chief Executive Officer and President National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Tiajuana Gardner, AHRC Nassau E-Badge Academy 1,000th DSP in New York State to Receive Certification
REMARKS AND RECOGNITION OF ENROLLEES
Vanessa Wright, Learning and Professional Development Specialist
REMARKS
Philip Spohrer, “In My Own Words” on the importance of DSP supports in his life Jim Stock
CLOSING REMARKS
Brunch Catered by Wheatley Farms Catering
TIAJUANA GARDNER
1000TH DSP TO RECIEVE E-BADGE CERTIFICATION Tiajuana Gardner serves as a Direct Support Professional for Day Services at AHRC Nassau. Tiajuana loves this type of work and has remained with Day Services since she started with the agency in 2018. Tiajuana's empathy and compassion made her an excellent fit for the DSP profession and an exceptional team member during the pandemic, picking up extra shifts as a Sub-DSP in her spare time. She has extensive personal experience with autism in her family. Previously, she served in the public school system helping special education students as a teacher’s aide and a senior caregiver at a senior facility. Tiajuana was thrilled to participate in the NADSP E-Badge program. Tiajuana said, “You can never stop learning; more education only makes you better at caring for the people you support.”
For Tiajuana, the E-Badge program was challenging, but it was worth the effort. Her perseverance led to her being the 1,000th E-Badge recipient. Tiajuana is proud of her achievements and brings that sense of pride to completing the DSP III certification.
VANESSA WRIGHT
LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Vanessa Wright has a longstanding career at AHRC Nassau. She began her career 24 years ago as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the Day Services site in Brookville. Over the years, Vanessa has served as assistant manager at several day service locations as well as lead habilitation services assistant (HSA), one-to-one DSP at the Jericho Hub site, and activity coordinator for people supported and staff. As a well-seasoned DSP, Vanessa was tapped to share her expertise through training and mentoring at many different sites. In 2021, Vanessa was promoted to Learning and Development Specialist in the Learning and Development Department. She is a highly requested educator who instructs on SKIP, CPR, defensive driving, and other critical staff development coursework. Her education and career experience also led to her expanding her role to include becoming a National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) E-badge Administrator. In this role, she thrives as a teacher, inspirational mentor, and staff developer. Vanessa is responsible for enrollment and producing a stellar graduation rate, including the 1,000th NADSP E-Badge recipient. Vanessa’s motto is “Hard work + Commitment = Success.” Her proudest accomplishments are the positive impact she has made on the people we support and the education she provides for staff.
CURRENT LEVEL 1 E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED Omosoyeven Aigbedo
Keltoum Conklin
Channa Newman
Susan Bailey
Rachelle Demosthene
Tamara Registre
Carolle Baptiste
Dayjohn Fenner
Melody Roberts
Sandra Baret
Krystle Foss
Anthony Sanon
Shameia Brothers
Taisha Mason
Anson Webb
Coretta Brown
Faf Annia Michel
Camille Williams
Blake Buglino
Billy Midi
Latasia Williams
Sabrina Cenite
Kayla Moore
Kalethia Christian
Charlotte Mullings
CURRENT LEVEL 2 E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED Dapheney Henry
Kia Wright
CURRENT LEVEL 3 E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED
Hanna Hippner-Wasilewski - Certified
FRONT SUPERVISORS E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED
Glenda Gould
Michael Hartung
Amanda Legros
CURRENT LEVEL 3 E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Patricia Andreaci
Sonia Montenegro - Certified
Barbara Valdez
Paula Reinertsen - Certified
Sophia Blackett - Certified
Francois Saint Cyr - Certified
Tiajuana Gardner - Certified
Neshaun Smith - Certified
Dexter Gill - Certified
Agata Wlodarczyk - Certified
Frances Gotterbarn - Certified
Yan-Shu Yeung - Certified
Laurette Holst - Certified
FRONT SUPERVISORS E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Aracely Baires
Debra Noel
Toi Carter
Nallinee Bacchus - Certified
Elizabeth Franqui
Laurette Holst - Certified
Marelene Frazier
Edgar Vasquez - Certified
Socrate Joseph
Taiwan Verene - Certified
CURRENT LEVEL 1 E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Lorretta Bailey
Rebecca Faulkner
Aysia Owens
Jaida Beaubrun
Deborah Francois-Ojo
Davaie Prashad
Michelle Bell
Diamond Guirand
Gloria Reyes
Chanele Boone
Moniqua Haynes
Mpho Ross Holifield
Robenson Bosse
Keisha Helm
Sonia Ruiz
Audrey Byrd
Fianna Hosein
Mellissa Rutty
Qiana Carter
April Howard
Sadie Sawyer
Bianca Charles
Karol Izquierdo
Folusho Smith
Myriam Damas
Tyrik Jackson
Chantal Thompson
Steven Daniels
Kristina Malara
Doris Velasquez
Maria Droge
Luz Medina
Kareem Wade
Sophia Edouard
Sunil Naraini
Samuel Wallace
CURRENT LEVEL 2 E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Jeanette Badger
Shantoya Hamilton
Amanda Darbouze
Ashley Milord
Victoria Diji-Gibson
Samuel Wallace
Marie Francois