Longtime Security Personnel Reflect on Time at 91��Ƭ

Michelle Lang — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:49:20 +0000

It’s rare for an individual to stay with a particular company for decades, but there are five members of 91��Ƭ’s Security Department who have worked for the organization for 30 years or more. Jerome Barrow, William Folsom, Michelle Grier-Porch, Malinda Liptrot and Gerard Mansare have more than 165 years of service to 91��Ƭ combined.

Folsom has the longest tenure with 91��Ƭ. He will celebrate 40 years as a security officer in August. He has worked mainly in the organization’s residential buildings, with Hudson Senior in Jersey City currently serving as his main post. He started his NCC career at Extended Care where he met his wife who was working in the facility’s kitchen. The couple will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary in August.

He enjoys his work and doesn’t have plans to leave.

“I could retire now but I’m just not ready to sit back yet,” Folsom said. “I like being around different people.”

Grier-Porch greets visitors at the 91��Ƭ Health Care Building, which houses , , the Family Resource Success Center, Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB) and Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF). She has worked at 91��Ƭ for nearly 34 years as a security officer, serving in residential buildings and , which used to fall under NCC, in addition to her current post.

She plans to stay at 91��Ƭ until retirement.

“I love my job. I love working with the people that I work with,” Grier-Porch said. “91��Ƭ’s a good place to be.”

Mansare will reach 30 years at 91��Ƭ in August. He first learned about 91��Ƭ from NCC’s late founder Monsignor William J. Linder, who was serving as the pastor at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newark. Mansare is a very traditional Catholic and was searching for a church after coming to the United States from Guinea in West Africa. He found St. Rose of Lima and became close with Monsignor Linder who encouraged him to continue his education and told him about the security positions available at 91��Ƭ.

Monsignor Linder connected Mansare to lawyers to help him bring his fiance to the United States. He wed the couple and baptized each of their three children. Mansare’s connection to Monsignor Linder and his coworkers has kept him at the organization.

“I love 91��Ƭ,” he said. “It’s like a family.”

Security Sgt. Barrow has worked at 91��Ƭ for about 30 years. He left the organization for a time to deal with family issues but decided to return.

“I came back because I love 91��Ƭ,” he said. “I loved the job I was doing.”

Barrow first came to 91��Ƭ as a security officer in 1979, shortly after the organization had finished construction on many of its residential buildings. He has worked at a variety of sites and all shifts and was promoted to supervisor. He now supervises the 4 p.m. to midnight shift, ensuring the safety and security of residents, staff members and 91��Ƭ property.

Security Operations Manager Derek White is proud of the longtime personnel on his staff.

“They are all an asset to NCC and continue to help residents improve the quality of their lives,” he said. “I’d like to personally thank them for all they have done and continue to do. Their contributions are an important part of our continued success.”

The group of longtime employees has seen many changes over the years, including the expansion of buildings and services. Folsom remembers the creation of Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, as well as the opening of the Health Care Building. The group also saw residential buildings go up and the rehabilitation of properties.

Commitment to 91��Ƭ’s mission, a desire to help others and a sense of camaraderie has kept the longtime members of the Security Department at the organization.

“In the Security Department, we all stick together to try to make everything better than before,” Barrow said. “You learn from your mistakes, build from your mistakes and you move on.”

While some are nearing retirement, they’re happy to come to work each day.

“Anybody that comes in that needs help, 91��Ƭ is there,” Grier-Porch said. “I’m glad that we can be of help to them.”

Employees Recognized For Dedication To 91��Ƭ

Michelle Lang — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 19:11:47 +0000

91��Ƭ held its 2019 Employee Recognition Ceremony Jan. 24 at St. Joseph Plaza where 59 employees were recognized for their years of service to the organization. Plaques were handed out to employees for reaching milestones of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years with 91��Ƭ.
“Everyone here is responsible for carrying out 91��Ƭ’s mission,” said NCC CEO Richard Rohrman. “And you do such a wonderful job. I just really want to thank you and congratulate you for all of the hard work.”
Director of Human Resources Ben Galvez said the employees recognized have over 730 years of service to 91��Ƭ collectively.
“Your collective years at 91��Ƭ demonstrate your commitment to the people we serve that depend on us,” Galvez said. “It also shows your commitment to helping to fulfill our mission on a daily basis.”
Two employees from Environmental Services, Bryant Hall and Linda Studivant, were recognized for having the longest tenure of 35 years.
“Linda has been the smiling face and the happy voice that you hear whenever you call Environmental Services,” Rohrman said. “I’ve never heard a cross word, I’ve never heard a complaint. I’ve never heard anything other than, ‘What can I do to help?’ out of Linda in all these years.”
Rohrman said Hall can be seen throughout the NCC network.
“Every time you turn around, he’s always fixing a problem. He’s always there when you need him,” Rohrman said. “Whenever there’s a need, Bryant’s on the job. Bryant, thank you so much for all your contributions.”
NCC Chief of Staff Kathy Spivey received a plaque for 25 years of service. Rohrman called her the rock of 91��Ƭ.
“She has been part of everything 91��Ƭ has done. She brought the insights, the compassion, the ideas that have really helped form 91��Ƭ,” he said. “She was with Monsignor every day and was part of making 91��Ƭ what it is now.”
Director of Mission Frances Teabout shared a poem about how people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. She related it to 91��Ƭ saying employees come to NCC for a reason (they need a job and the organization needs a role filled), some stay for a season (a while but then they decide to move on) and others stay for a lifetime.
“Today we just want to pause and thank you all for being a part of 91��Ƭ, for being the spirit of 91��Ƭ,” Teabout said. “Whether you’ve been here for a reason, which is now becoming a season, or for a lifetime.”
Employees recognized at the ceremony each received a plaque commemorating their years of service and were treated to lunch in their honor.
EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED
Five Years: Alicia Adams (SAIF), Akinade Adeyemi (Security), Leslie Andujar (Human Resources), Bridget Bouie (Security), Ramon Cabrera (Environmental Services), Alphonzo Clanton (Environmental Services), Dwayne Clyburn (Environmental Services), Frances Davis (HHELC), Mark Hall (Security), Jacqueline Henry (Extended Care), Evelyn John (CHELC), Sam Joseph (Environmental Services), Ronald Manning (Environmental Services), Gertrude McLean (CHELC), Rhonda Nobles (Extended Care), Helen Okafor (Extended Care), Elsie Palacios (CHELC), Ronald Prysock (Workforce Development), Joseph Takouezim (Management), Dametria Wertz (FSB), Wade Wilcher (Security) and John Zaccheus (YATC).
Ten Years: Solomon O. Airiofolo (Extended Care), Jerome S. Barrow (Security), Tangula Brown (HHELC), Nijeriah T. Coley-Severin (Extended Care), Rose Estaing (Extended Care), Cephus Harris (Environmental Services), Tamara Harris (Extended Care), Mary Ikpa (Extended Care), Ruth J. Kimutai (Extended Care), Ronda Lawrence (Environmental Services), John S. Mensah (Security), Rahel A. Nyambi (Extended Care), Lawretta Odih (Extended Care), Ngozi Onuoha (Extended Care), Rosa Ramirez (Adult Learning), Sattie Samkaran (Security) and Lateisha Telfair (CHELC).
Fifteen Years: Yetunde Amokun (Extended Care), Cristhian F. Barcelos (Adult Learning), Roxana Benjamin (Extended Care), Kala Boxcell (Extended Care), Peter Nyamo (Extended Care) and Prentiss Thompson (Security).
Twenty Years: Richard S. Cammarieri (Administration), Lourdes Fuentes (Resident Services), Elizabeth Mbakaya (Finance), Gwendolyn Robinson (Extended Care) and Delores Thomas (Extended Care).
Twenty-Five Years: Fitzroy Barnett (Harmony House), Gerard Mansare (Security), Wilson Medina (Environmental Services) and Kathy L. Spivey (Administration).
Thirty Years: William Folsom (Security), Samson Gebreyesus (Management) and Fany Lopez (Extended Care).
Thirty-Five Years: Bryant Hall (Environmental Services) and Linda C. Studivant (Environmental Services).

Gerard Mansare – 91��Ƭ

Longtime Security Personnel Reflect on Time at 91��Ƭ

Employees Recognized For Dedication To 91��Ƭ