Direct Support Professional @ Yellowstone (Hibbing, MN)
Employed with NHS Northstar: 5 years
Nominated by: Josh Wopata
Alan goes out of his way to be there for the clients and to make personal connections with them. Alan will change shifts or come to different houses when there are needs because he is so devoted to hid clients and helping out his co-staff. He gets to know each client personally and then finds way to bring joy to their days by taking them on outings that they enjoy or just being a relatable staff. All staff and clients tend to really like Alan for these reasons.
Deb Slobodnik, Alan’s Supervisor, also shared that Alan is kind and goes above and beyond to help at work, even when he isn’t working. Alan is a pay-it-forward person. Need a ride – Alan’s there! Need something fixed – Alan’s there! No matter what, Alan will find a way to help.
We are proud to have Alan here at NHS Northstar!
Congratulations, Alan!
Take-Five
We ask each of our Shining Star winners to complete a quick, “Take-Five” questionnaire so we can get to know them a little more and hopefully inspire others to shine!
What motivates you to do your best work every day?
Being able to make clients happy to see you arrive, rather than happy to see you leave.
What do you love most about working with the individuals you support?
Learning each client’s personality to earn their trust.
What skills or qualities have you developed in your role that you are most proud of?
Patience.
What is something you do outside of work that you are passionate about?
Almost any outdoor activity. Lots of biking in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter, and hiking year round.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to grow in their role or career at NHS Northstar?
Do some research into what this occupation consists of. It’s not always going to be easy. It does require patience and compassion. I try to see the world through the clients’ eyes.
We can only award one Shining Star of the Month at a time, but would like to recognize others that have been nominated. These staff and their nominations will stay in the running for future award opportunities:
Joan Niskanen, Program Coordinator- nominated by Tina Frazier