Hudson Senior – 91��Ƭ

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.”

91��Ƭ Residents Celebrate Christmas

Michelle Lang — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 17:54:36 +0000

Residents in 91��Ƭ’s senior buildings and Extended Care Facility celebrated Christmas with a variety of events. Pictured are the following events: Commons Senior Christmas luncheon, Extended Care Christmas dinner, Hudson Senior Christmas craft activity thanks to Assurance Group, Manor Senior Crib Blessing and Orange Senior Christmas Party. Photos courtesy of 91��Ƭ staff members.

91��Ƭ Celebrates Retirement Of Longtime Chief Of Staff Kathy Spivey

Michelle Lang — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:16:14 +0000

91��Ƭ 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’s retirement April 25 at St. Joseph Plaza.
Spivey will be greatly missed at 91��Ƭ, but has decided to return to Ohio to be closer to family.
“Kathy’s retirement has been coming for a while but is real now. Kathy is more than a 25-plus year critical piece of NCC’s progress,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman. “She 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.”
Spivey first came to 91��Ƭ as a volunteer after meeting Founder Monsignor William J. Linder while both served on the Governor’s Commission on Employment and Training. Spivey had been the Manager of Corporate Personnel Labor Relations for McDonald’s 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.
“For 26 years, 91��Ƭ had a loyal, dedicated, valuable and dependable employee. I applaud her for her contributions to NCC for which she will be missed,” said NCC Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson. “As Kathy Spivey embarks on her new career, which is retirement, I wish her every happiness and joy that she will encounter.”
Working with Monsignor Linder was a highlight of Spivey’s NCC career.
“Probably 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,” she said.
Spivey also enjoyed working with her colleagues and the clients of 91��Ƭ. She developed lifelong relationships over the years.
“I don’t have sisters or daughters,” Spivey said. “But I have so many adopted daughters here at 91��Ƭ and adopted grandchildren here at 91��Ƭ. And I’ve got some mothers in the buildings.”
More than 100 individuals came to celebrate Spivey’s long career at 91��Ƭ April 25. NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba talked about how Spivey dedicated herself to the organization and its mission.
“Throughout all these years, she’s really been a credit to 91��Ƭ. She loves 91��Ƭ, she loves the people who are part of 91��Ƭ and she loves the city,” Yamba said. “Thank 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.”
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.
“You will be missed from 91��Ƭ. You will be missed from the city of Newark and from New Jersey,” Johnson said. “But you’re God’s 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��Ƭ was not a journey in vain.”
During her time at 91��Ƭ, 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��Ƭ also ventured into home ownership opportunities during her employment with Community Hills and Bergen Estates.
Spivey’s advice to employees is to stay focused on the mission of 91��Ƭ: to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.
“The work for us is about the people we are commissioned to serve,” Spivey said. “I share with potential new employees that if you’re coming here just for a paycheck, you’re in the wrong place.”