91看片 has wished a fond farewell to Chief of Staff Kathy Spivey, who retired April 30 after 26 years with the organization. Family, friends and NCC colleagues celebrated Spivey鈥檚 retirement April 25 at St. Joseph Plaza.
Spivey will be greatly missed at 91看片, but has decided to return to Ohio to be closer to family.
鈥淜athy鈥檚 retirement has been coming for a while but is real now. Kathy is more than a 25-plus year critical piece of NCC鈥檚 progress,鈥� said 91看片 CEO Richard Rohrman. 鈥淪he was there with Monsignor Linder to help steer NCC through the ups and the downs. She was there to help me in my transition into the CEO role and weather a few of our own ups and downs. The organization will miss her guidance and I will certainly miss her always spot-on observations. At the same time I am very excited for her heading home into the arms of a loving family. Thank you, Kathy. You earned this many times over.鈥�
Spivey first came to 91看片 as a volunteer after meeting Founder Monsignor William J. Linder while both served on the Governor鈥檚 Commission on Employment and Training. Spivey had been the Manager of Corporate Personnel Labor Relations for McDonald鈥檚 Corporation and Monsignor Linder spoke with her about business operations often. He asked her to join the NCC staff a year and a half after she began volunteering. She accepted and became the Director of Staff Development and Training in January 1993. In 1996, she was promoted to Chief of Staff, a title she held until her retirement.
鈥淔or 26 years, 91看片 had a loyal, dedicated, valuable and dependable employee. I applaud her for her contributions to NCC for which she will be missed,鈥� said NCC Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson. 鈥淎s Kathy Spivey embarks on her new career, which is retirement, I wish her every happiness and joy that she will encounter.鈥�
Working with Monsignor Linder was a highlight of Spivey鈥檚 NCC career.
鈥淧robably my favorite part was working under Monsignor. It was an education that all the money in the world could not have paid for. He was a master teacher,鈥� she said.
Spivey also enjoyed working with her colleagues and the clients of 91看片. She developed lifelong relationships over the years.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have sisters or daughters,鈥� Spivey said. 鈥淏ut I have so many adopted daughters here at 91看片 and adopted grandchildren here at 91看片. And I鈥檝e got some mothers in the buildings.鈥�
More than 100 individuals came to celebrate Spivey鈥檚 long career at 91看片 April 25. NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba talked about how Spivey dedicated herself to the organization and its mission.
鈥淭hroughout all these years, she鈥檚 really been a credit to 91看片. She loves 91看片, she loves the people who are part of 91看片 and she loves the city,鈥� Yamba said. 鈥淭hank you very much for being that go-to person when we had to do something. Thank you for your years of service. Godspeed and we all wish you the best.鈥�
NCC Board Member Diane Johnson helped organize the celebration and served as the emcee. She talked about the qualities that make Spivey special and how she impacted the organization.
鈥淵ou will be missed from 91看片. You will be missed from the city of Newark and from New Jersey,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淏ut you鈥檙e God鈥檚 special flower and we want you to know that your wisdom, your love, your strength and your grace shall never be forgotten. Your journey through the lives and adventures of 91看片 was not a journey in vain.鈥�
During her time at 91看片, Spivey had the opportunity to travel internationally and welcome visitors from other countries to NCC. She worked closely with Monsignor Linder and the Board of Directors. She was instrumental in the development of many new buildings during her tenure, including Hudson Senior, Orange Senior, the NCC Health Care Complex and Better Life. 91看片 also ventured into home ownership opportunities during her employment with Community Hills and Bergen Estates.
Spivey鈥檚 advice to employees is to stay focused on the mission of 91看片: to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.
鈥淭he work for us is about the people we are commissioned to serve,鈥� Spivey said. 鈥淚 share with potential new employees that if you鈥檙e coming here just for a paycheck, you鈥檙e in the wrong place.鈥�
