2022 Years of Service Recognition

2022 Years of Service

Recognition

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Sandra Bocialetti Director of Human Resources Thank you for your hard work and dedication to PTSMC! You continue to bring smiles to all our faces and make the hard tasks easy; we appreciate you for that! - The Danbury Staff Thank you for always being a warm and welcoming face in Admin. I am grateful for our fun chats, your advice, and your patience. You have become one of my favorite humans. - Marilex Santiago Congrats on 40 years of service! You represent all of the best things that are PTSMC. We are so lucky to have you leading the way for the organization, and I have enjoyed the last 10 years of working with you!

- Ryan Balavender I love getting to catch up with you, and I really appreciate your easy smile and patience. Thank you, Sandra! - Sara Gareiss 40 years! That is beyond amazing! You are a true staple of PTSMC, and I appreciate that I can always count on you to have answers to my questions. Congrats on this milestone at PTSMC! - Christine Hill

WOW! Sandra, what an achievement; time to celebrate YOU. Thank you for everything. You are an amazing individual, and you always make time for everyone no matter how much you have going on. You make us all feel important now it’s time for you to be No 1. Congratulations to 40 years :) - Alison Pearce Sandra, congratulations on 40 years! What an amazing milestone! I can’t thank you enough for all the help and guidance you’ve given me through the years. Thank you so much for always being there with helpful advice, and a road map to navigate tricky situations. You’re the best! - Anthony Ciaburri Sandra, Sandra, Sandra. You are the rock at PTSMC. You have one of the hardest jobs I can ever imagine, and you do it so well. You are always there to lend your expert advice and a warm smile. PTSMC is lucky to have you! Thank you for supporting me all these years. Congratulations on an incredible milestone. ️- Kristen Forster

Cheers to 40 years of sharing your warm smile and friendly, welcoming presence with everyone at PTSMC. We are the luckiest bunch, and I am proud to be a part of your team! - Karen Havlicek

Sandra, not many people can say they have been part of a company for 40 years! Truly so admirable and amazing! I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to meet you 24 years ago when my wife worked in the Waterbury location. Amy would consistently talk about this Sandra person and how genuinely nice she was. When I joined the company, I soon learned how true Amy’s words were. The level of commitment and integrity you have brought to each and every day at PTMSC is unmatched. You are a true asset, and we are blessed as a company to have had you for so many years. - Steve Platt

Sandra, WOW! Congratulations on your 40 year anniversary at PTSMC! I’m grateful to work with such an awesome person. Congrats! - Joan Porper

Thanks for always keeping track of my time off! Congrats on 40 years!

- Debra Philcox

To the kindest and most even keel person I know - congratulations Sandra! Your dedication is amazing. Thank you for your ever present guidance and knowledge in supporting our PTSMC family. - Emily Hansen

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Mike Durand Vice President of Business Development Congrats on 30 years of service! You do so much for PTSMC, wear so many hats, and provide valuable leadership on a day-to-day basis. I have been fortunate the last 10 years to learn and grow underneath you, and I appreciate all the opportunity and insight. Thank you for leading PTSMC to where it is today, through all the challenges and accomplishments. - Ryan Balavender I am inspired and excited to grow as a person and as a professional every time we talk! Thank you! - Sara Gareiss 30 years! That is amazing. I am so happy we connected many years ago. You have made my transition to PTSMC an easy one. Looking forward to many more years working together! - Christine Hill Congratulations Mike on 30 years! - Alison Pearce Mike has been an extremely supportive and encouraging manager. He shows great leadership by being a good listener and steps in to offer advice and guidance when needed. Mike's management style is one of trust and empowerment, which allows the Practice Liaison Team to be creative and develop our own approach to marketing the PTSMC brand. My favorite work memories are sharing stories of success and defeat with Mike on the fly.

Thankfully, they are mostly success stories and have been met with laughter or a "Job well done!" comment, on his part. It has been a pleasure working for Mike. Congratulations to you, Mike! What an accomplishment! - Janet Tarasuk Congratulations Mike! PTSMC wouldn’t be the same without you. Thank you for your hard work and great energy. Cheers to you! - Emily Hansen WOW! Congratulations Mike on your amazing 30 year career with PTSMC! Happy to be part of your Team! - Joan Porper Mike, Congratulations on 30 years! Your hard work and dedication to PTSMC has benefited us all greatly. We wouldn’t be where we are today without your efforts. Thank you for all that you do! Cheers! - Anthony Ciaburri Mike, I have had the opportunity to have known you and your witty disposition for 24 years from the days when you were working as an ATC in the Waterbury location. Later, when you went on to advance to your MBA, you made your visions known providing many key components to developing and progressing the company to where it is today. Your ability to provide consistency and flexibility in adapting to the ever-changing business market has been a major key component of PTSMC’s success. I personally want to say thank you for all of your efforts and for dealing with all of my late night calls. - Steve Platt

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Alan Balavender President Congrats on 25 years, and thank you for providing the blueprint on how to successfully and effectively lead and grow an organization. Over my 10 years at PTSMC (to both of our disappointment), I have been fortunate to learn and see your skills up close, and I appreciate all the opportunity you have provided for all the people you lead, myself included. I realize you have not done it alone, but the culture and environment that is PTSMC makes it challenging to leave.

- Ryan Balavender 25 years! Congrats on your long career here at PTSMC! It was so nice meeting you at some recent company events. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year! - Christine Hill Alan, we all benefit from your dedication and strong leadership! Wishing you the happiest 25th work anniversary! - Joan Porper Alan, you are amazing! You have built an incredible company on the main principle of truly caring - caring for our patients and caring for our employees. I am grateful to be part of this amazing organization. Congratulations!

- Emily Hansen I first met Alan as a student at Graham Sessions almost 10 years ago. We sat next to each other at a dinner and hit it off immediately. When I found out I was moving to Connecticut, he was the first call I made. I wanted to work for his company, and he knew exactly where I would be a good fit. Alan has created something special in the PT world with PTSMC, and he is well respected in the world of private practice. I admire his visionary leadership, listening ear, and accessibility. Thank you for your service to this company and to the profession of physical therapy! - Stephanie Weyrauch Alan, Congratulations on 25 years! It seems like just yesterday you and Scott met with me at Donovan’s Reef to discuss the partner model and possible employment at PTSMC. Flash forward 16 years, and here we are... 31 offices strong and growing. Your vision has given many people an opportunity that they may not have had otherwise. I’m truly grateful to be one of those people!

Thank you! - Anthony Ciaburri Al, congratulations on 25 amazing years! Being your first sidekick and seeing you evolve has been pretty amazing! You are dedicated and inspiring in all you have and continue to accomplish. I would like to personally thank you for pushing me to set my own goals from a young age and for having a strong and consistent hand in helping me develop my own successes. Thank you for your active and diligent professionalism and for the ongoing opportunities that you have created for so many of us. - Steve Platt

What an amazing journey over 20 years, in creating a thriving environment of successful PT for the towns of Guilford and Wallingford. I’m sure the journey has been challenging at times but you have obviously put a lot of effort into your clinics as your employees all appreciate and respect you as a boss as well as a clinician. I am grateful to have such a great place to work!

Congrats Steve! - Dave Plonsky Click here for video messages

Steve Platt Guilford Partner Thank you for always having my back and supporting my growth at PTSMC. You are a great leader and I love how much you care about people. You will always drop everything to be there and listen. Here's to many more years!

- Kristen Forster Congratulations on 20 years! You've accomplished quite a lot in that time. Tons of time, sacrifice, and for sure patience in that 20 years. I feel lucky to have been able to work with you and learn from you. Cheers to your 20!

- Todd Cacopardo The way that Steve has impacted this community over the last 20 years is recognized as so much more than his title! He is not just a Partner in this company, but a leader, a friend, a coach, and an incredibly wholesome person.

He has built this clinic to be a model for others to see just how much you can enjoy your job and your colleagues. From the bottom of my heart, congratulations on reaching such a monumental milestone. My greatest wish for you is that you continue to love what you do and who you do it with, as you have made it so easy for the rest of us to do the same! - Angela Riehl

20 years ago there was a rumble in the shoreline, a subtle shift in the atmosphere. As one patient recounted to me, “My wife needed therapy, and I wasn’t thrilled with the place I had been going myself, so I asked my doctor for a suggestion... he said, ‘well, there is this new young kid opening an office in Guilford, why don’t you try him out.’” The rest, as they say, is history.

Steve Platt has touched so many lives here on the shoreline. His energy, compassion, sense of fun, and overall love of what he does shows through every day. From the first office on Goose Lane, with the office that doubled as a treatment room, to the office on Rt 1 that we immediately outgrew, to 385 Church Street, where we have been for the last 15 years (and needed to expand), the growth of this office is fueled by his energy. The air just vibrates differently when he is present. I live here on the shoreline, and whenever I explain where I work, it inevitably comes down to “Ohhh, STEVE PLATT’S place!”

Steve not only gives to his patients, but he gives to his staff - show of hands, who has passed through Guilford on their path to where they are now!?! Steve loves to mentor and to help his staff grow themselves into whatever direction they want to take, even if that means they leave him someday. He creates an atmosphere in the office of fun, and patients and staff both thrive in his presence. Thank you Steve, for creating Guilford, and making it what it is for all of us. - Sue Ginsburg

Although I have only been with PTSMC for a short time, I couldn't imagine working for anyone else. From day one, I have felt welcomed by you, and my comfort and familiarity with the company was made a priority. Thank you for your commitment to your employees as well as your patients; ensuring every problem can be solved and every goal can be achieved. Never stop being the leader that you are! Congratulations on your 20 year milestone and well-deserved success! - Jules Pera My relationship with Steve began as his student back in 2013. Since that time, I was lucky enough to join his Guilford team as a treating clinician and to work side by side with him over the past 4 years. Steve exemplifies what it means to be a healthcare worker. The care and time he puts into his own patients first and foremost but also the passion he has puts in to building a clinic that the Guilford community can rely on. The reputation he has built for himself speaks more than any words here can. His work ethic, clinical expertise and relentless energy have forged 20 years of success and many more to come in the future. I could not be more proud of him and his accomplishments, Congrats Steve!

- Zack Currie

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Becky Passante Guilford Physical Therapist Becky is one of the busiest and most active people I have ever met, but she comes into the clinic and devotes her time and effort to each and every patient she sees. She is beloved by those she treats and those that treat along side of her. From being Steve's first hir, to 20 years of service to the Guilford community, is truly an amazing accomplishment. Congratulations Becky! - Zack Currie Becky, you are a gift to the Guilford clinic and to all the patients who are lucky enough to see you. You are the best! So glad I get to work with you.

Congratulations on 20 years. - Carole Pimenta

Becky Passante Continued...

20 years ago when I first opened the Guilford location, I volunteered my services at my first road race in Branford. At that time, I was looking to hire a part time PT. Karma was on my side, because running in this race was an old, spirited friend, Becky McHenry. Since then, I have had the pleasure of being a witness to not only Becky’s multiple pregnancies, but to her true authentic and enthusiastic character. Becky, you are a ray of sunshine for so many and a role model for many as to how to manage a work/family life balance. Thank you for providing us with your gracious nature, your kindness and positivity has helped so many. - Steve Platt

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Anthony Ciaburri Orange Partner Anthony is a great leader to our Orange office, and I am thankful he took me under his wing as a new grad. It has been amazing to watch the clinic grow over the years! Congrats on 15 years! - Katy Sullivan

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Steven de Castro Groton Partner Congrats on 15 years Steve! It’s been great to work with you and support Groton. I love chatting about running and can always count on your many miles to inspire us #GetMoving challengers. - Mallory Mason

Congratulations on this milestone! You've accomplished so much and we're all so grateful for your leadership. Looking forward to the next 15+!

- Juliann Chacko Anthony is an outstanding leader in the Orange clinic. He is supportive, empathetic, understanding and hard-working. He truly models leadership through his actions. Since I have worked at PTSMC, he has supported me through a pandemic, my husband's medical residency and fellowship, being away from my family and parenthood. I feel so honored to work for him, and his leadership style motivates me to work harder than ever. Thanks for making work fun and leading our team to success. - Stephanie Weyrauch

Steven, I think I've known you for most of your 15 years! You put me back together, several times, and helped me get started with running. You're always encouraging when I need it. I guess you hadn't had enough of me because you made me your PSC! Well done on your 15 years. Here's to many more! - Karin Larsen Click here for video messages

Emily Hansen Simsbury Partner Click here for video messages

Kathryn Flodquist Waterbury Physical Therapist Kathryn, congratulations on this very impressive milestone of 15 years with the company. Although I've known you for only a piece of that time, our connection over MDT was evident from the day we met! From the beginning, I felt excited to discuss our career paths, clinical situations, and dreams about McKenzie milestones. It has been great going through the stages of the system with you, and I feel lucky to have a strong connection and friend in you. Cheers to many more! - Brian Greer

Emily, congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment and shows your dedication and loyalty to PTSMC! I have enjoyed supporting and promoting you upon opening the Simsbury clinic. You are great at fostering relationships with providers, and it shows when I market to the local community. Many of the providers echo my sentiments of praise when it comes to the therapy and compassion you deliver to your patients. Well done! I am glad to be able to work together and help grow your clinic! - Janet Tarasuk First off, Emily is an amazing person. She goes above and beyond for her patients and colleagues. She always makes sure that you feel heard and is always willing to talk to you about your concerns. It makes such a difference coming into work knowing that you will be working with your BEST FRIEND! Emily, keep up your amazing work, and thank you for everything you do to make it a joy to work at PTSMC. YOU ARE THE BEST EVER! - Your Vegan BFF, Eric Horne

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Ryan Balavender Director of Facilities It's been an absolute pleasure getting to know you while we were doing the "roadshow!" Looking forward to the next time we chat and the next collaboration, always! - Sara Gareiss As Director of Facilities, I think, maybe, your most surprising telephone call was from me when I stated, "a car, actually an SUV, with no one in it, just crashed into our brick building and front door!" Congrats on10 years! - Debra Philcox

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Alison Pearce Director of Revenue Cycle Management Alison, since the first day I met you, I was impressed with your kindness and your willingness to train me with thorough instruction while maintaining such calm compassion. You have never said "no" to me - you always made time to help. You set me on my journey to where I am today. You are fabulous! - Betsy Holt

Ryan, Congrats on 10 years! Thank you for being there whenever I’m in need...

I greatly appreciate all that you do! Thank you! - Anthony Ciaburri

Alison, you have quite simply been my "rock" since the day I started. You are the kindest, smartest person I know. PTSMC is so lucky to have you.

- Carole Pimenta

Congrats Ryan! I remember when you told me you only planned on 6 months with PTSMC, similar to myself, and look where we are now! You are a great person to work with because of how calm, collected, and thoughtful you are in your work. Thank you for all you do. - Mallory Mason

Congrats on 15 years with PTSMC! I look forward to working with you for many years to come : ) - Christine Hill Congratulations on your 10 year work anniversary Alison! It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you since I joined PTSMC. - Joan Porper BEST. TRAINER. EVER. Congrats on 10 years! - Debra Philcox

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I have had the pleasure of working with Alison for many years. She brings a passion for people into everything she does. I am grateful for our many chats and all of her support over the years. I know many people here at PTSMC would say the same! Congratulations on 10 years and so many incredible accomplishments! - Kristen Forster

Danielle Dunn Wallingford Physical Therpaist & Director of Clinical Excellence and Residency Program So grateful for your easy presence and calm, cool, collected clinical mind. I so enjoy our chats, and I always look forward to catching up with you! - Sara Gareiss Click here for video messages

Danielle has been an excellent mentor for me since I started working at PTSMC, especially in the realm of pelvic health. Her ability to balance clinical work, mentorship, residency directorship, and parenthood is truly inspiring. She is such an asset to this company and an excellent resource for veteran and novice clinicians alike. Thank you for your service to this company! It is a better organization because of you! - Stephanie Weyrauch

Sam Donahue Guilford Athletic Trainer

Congrats Danielle! I love working with you and the Clinical Excellence Team and am so proud of where you have taken the program. It’s been so rewarding to support you there! I feel like I have known and worked with you forever because we just ‘click’ personally and professionally. Cheers to this milestone and all that is to come next! - Mallory Mason

Sam, congratulations on your 5 year anniversary. It has been wholeheartedly a great honor to see how you have made such an impact on North Branford HS, coaches, and parents. Your passion and excitement for the athletes and the community has been a joy to watch. Thank you for your diligence, warm positivity, and polished professionalism that you bring to your job every day!

It has been a pleasure having you as a part of my Guilford family. - Steve Platt

Sam Donahue Continued...

I have known Sam Donahue since his last years of college when he interned with our North Branford HS Athletic Trainer out of our Guilford PTSMC office.

Since then, he has graduated from QU, become a certified and licensed athletic trainer and is now beloved in the North Branford community. He had big shoes to fill at NBHS but has done a great job of building relationships with coaches, athletes and parents. Sam has been a team player who steps up to help his fellow athletic trainers by working extra hours and has grown in his clinical care of student athletes. His teamwork mentality is a “PT for Life” attribute, and I have enjoyed watching him grow professionally.

Congratulations to Sam on his 5th anniversary, and I wish him many more successful years on our Guilford PTSMC team. - Heather Feiner

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Jenna Hancock New London Patient Services Coordinator Congratulations Jenna! It has been wonderful to see your journey over the past 5 years. Keep up the great work and dedication! - Kristen Forster

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Miranda Jasienowski Groton Physical Therapist Miranda, congrats on 5 years! I love doing #GetMoving together and can always count on you to join the challenge. You always crush it too! Hope you take some time to celebrate this milestone, you rock! - Mallory Mason Miranda, congratulations on 5 years with PTSMC! I like the way your patients respond to your care, and the relationships you develop with them. Well done! - Karin Larsen

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Channing Harwood Plainville Physical Therapist & Clinical Excellence Coordinator I have known Channing since the start of his time working at PTSMC as a resident in our first residency class. I interacted with Channing as an instructor and as his mentor in the residency program. He constantly pushed himself to improve as a clinician and set forth on a path of life-long learning.

Channing is an exemplary clinician and thinker. He is always pushing himself to better himself in the clinic through reflection and continuing education.

He is a natural and confident teacher and makes a huge impact with our new clinicians as a mentor, residency faculty and CI for physical therapy students. What an amazing five years at PTSMC! - Danielle Dunn Channing, it always seems to be the architect that gets the praise, but the builders do all the hard work. Well, that’s not fair. You have been one of the cornerstones of PTSMC of Plainville almost since the beginning. You have helped make this office a special place and one that patients and your coworkers truly enjoy coming too. I have enjoyed watching you become an amazing physical therapist and a resource to us at Plainville and all of PTSMC. You are truly one of the builders of this office and purveyor of the PT for life mission and for that I sincerely thank you. You have an amazing work ethic, and I would challenge anyone who states that they are more prepared for a day in the office with their patients than you. You are always the therapist that your patients need you to be. Understanding, kind, serious, lighthearted, funny - whatever the situation calls for. Plainville is truly a better place for having you here. There are so many stories to tell and plenty of roasts to make, but this isn’t the place for that. Let’s just leave it with the fact that I am truly blessed to have you working in my office, and I look forward to seeing what we can build together in the next five, ten, fifteen years. Thank you! - Kevin Connellan Congratulations on your 5 years at PTSMC! It takes a special, well-rounded person to survive this amount of time at Plainville PTSMC especially, but you certainly have what it takes! All jokes aside, you have made my time as a student and now an employee at PTSMC more enjoyable than I thought my first few working years would be. I always say to others that if I were on the other side of things and was a patient seeking out a PT, Channing would be the PT I want. You consistently put your patients first and go above and beyond just providing them with rehabilitative care. Aside from being an exceptional PT, you're an overall great person and someone I take pride in working aside. You create a fun, enjoyable atmosphere at work, which is most definitely appreciated by your patients and coworkers. Thanks for all the laughs and jokes (even if they're mostly at me and not with me), and always being down to make another pot of coffee and order calzones with me! Cheers to 5 years and hopefully many more! - Natalie Peterson

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Christine Rasile Senior Accountant Congratulations Christine - 5 years is amazing! Thank you for all of your guidance when I started with PTSMC and for answering the questions I still have today. It has been wonderful to work with you, and I look forward to seeing where your role with accounting goes next! - Mallory Mason

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Emily Searle Branford & Lock Street Physical Therapist Emily has only been with our Lock Street crew for 6 months, and she has been awesome since day 1. She is always friendly and welcoming to our patients, and she brings a wonderful, quiet calm to the clinic. Nothing ever seems to throw her off. Personally, Emily has been a great sounding board for me for the past few years, helping with many of my pelvic floor patients and sharing resources. She is also always up to hang out after work hours for a drink and good times. We are so lucky at Lock Street to be able to share her with Branford!

- Danielle Butsch 5 years already! We have come a long way since Temple PT days. Thankfully, we landed with an amazing company! I look forward to working with you for many, many years!

- Christine Hill

Ben Romann Plainville Massage Therapist & PT Aide Ben, what can I say, it’s been a pretty amazing ride these last five years. I want to give you a heartfelt thank you for your hard work and dedication to Massage Therapy and the embodiment of the PT for Life culture. Also, you have helped keep me sane as the only other Gen X-er surrounded for so long by millennials and zoomers (gen z for those who don’t know). You have always stepped up to the plate to help with anything and everything to make PTSMC of Plainville a better experience for patients and your coworkers. Your mellow personality, (sometimes wild) ideas, and commitment to patient/client well-being makes this office a better place. You are an absolute asset to this office, and I look forward to many more years to come.

Thank you. - Kevin Connellan Congratulations on 5 years with the best PTSMC branch out there! You provide a ton of character and value to our clinic, and it has been a very fun and enjoyable time starting out my career with you as part of the team. You are clearly very skilled at what you do, but it's who you are as a person that really makes our patients and staff appreciate you. Cheers to you and all your hard work and dedication! (I believe this calls for a clinic celebration!)

- Natalie Peterson

Click on the play button next to each employee to watch video messages from colleagues in celebration of their milestone!