Wayne Gravesande – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Recognizes Employees Who Have Reached Career Milestones

Michelle Lang — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 21:10:09 +0000

91��Ƭ hosted Employee Appreciation Day on March 1, which was National Employee Appreciation Day, to honor and celebrate employees who reached career milestones in 2023. A total of 46 employees were recognized at the event with a combined total of 590 years of service.

91��Ƭ CEO Simone Gagneron told the honorees that the organization would not be able to fulfill its mission without them.

“These milestones do not only represent years of service, but they represent individual lives that you have changed for the better,” she said. “This work would not be possible without your commitment, your dedication and all the results of what you all have presented. NCC would not be possible without you. So we are truly grateful and we appreciate you all.”

91��Ƭ Director of Human Resources Benjamin Galvez said all honorees have demonstrated a commitment to the people NCC serves every day.

“We recognize that fulfilling our mission is a challenging endeavor, one that never ends,” he said. “We appreciate you and today we say congratulations and a most sincere thank you for your years of dedication.”

Two members of NCC’s Environmental Services team were recognized for 40 years of service to the organization: Bryant Hall and Linda Studivant.

91��Ƭ Director of Environmental Services Wayne Gravesande said they both embody NCC.

“They make the wheels turn. Linda, thank you for all your service and your help day in and day out. Without you, a piece would be missing. Bryant, you’re a pillar here,” he said. “Linda, Bryant, thank you from the bottom of my heart and from 91��Ƭ, the Executive Team, Board and all of your peers.”

Hall said he, like many other honorees, have seen highs and lows over the years, but the mission always shines through.

“The spirit of 91��Ƭ is about people,” he said. “Lifting those that need help. Helping those to stand that need to stand and can no longer stand on their own. Everyone in this room has served this purpose in one way or another.”

91��Ƭ Director of Mission Frances Teabout said the celebration provides NCC employees who may work behind the scenes the opportunity to hear praise that leadership hears more frequently.

“Today, we want to say a loud thank you for all that you do. Thank you for touching the lives of our people. Thank you for making 91��Ƭ look good,” she said. “We’re saying it loud and we’re saying it for the people in the back.”

Each honoree who reached a milestone year was presented with a certificate and later received a rewards program gift, which was based on years of service.

2023 Honorees

5 Years of Service
Agnes (Shanelle) Ebanks, CHELC
Terrance Hicks, Security
Sunday Ilesanmi, Security
Donte Moses, Security
Nkechi Okoroji, Extended Care
Temitope Oludotun, CHELC
Ana Issa Martinez, Extended Care
Eon Reid, Extended Care Dietary
Darnelle Richardson, Adult Learning Center
Charlene Smith, Security
Patrick Taylor, Security
Eidy Urena, Adult Learning Center
Alice Faye Vinson-Davis, HHELC
Obinna Onwunaka, Security

10 Years of Service
Akinade Adeyemi, Security
Leslie Andujar, Human Resources
Bridget Bouie, Security
Dwayne Clyburn, Better Life
Frances Davis, HHELC
Marva Gillens, Security
Mark Hall, Security
Evelyn John, CHELC
Ronald Manning, CHELC
Elsie Palacios, CHELC
Joseph Takouezim, Property Management
Dametria Wertz, FSB
Quawee Williams, Security
John Zaccheus, NCCTI

15 Years of Service
Jerome Barrow, Security
Nijeriah Coley-Severin, Extended Care
Rose Estaing, Extended Care
Ronda Lawrence, Environmental Services
John Mensah, Security
Rosa Ramirez, Adult Learning Center

20 Years of Service
Yetunde Amokun, Extended Care
Cristhian Barcelos, Adult Learning Center
Kala Boxcell, Extended Care
Marie Payen, CHELC

25 Years of Service
Richard Cammarieri, Community Engagement
Dolores Thomas, Extended Care
Elizabeth Mbakaya, Finance

30 Years of Service
Gerard Mansare, Security

35 Years of Service
William Folsom, Security

40 Years of Service
Bryant Hall, Environmental Services
Linda Studivant, Environmental Services

91��Ƭ Prepares for Staff’s Return to On-Site Work

Michelle Lang — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 17:35:49 +0000

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists nationwide, 91��Ƭ continues to take steps to ensure its sites are as safe as possible for employees, residents and clients. The Safe Reopening Committee was formed at the end of June to assess sites throughout the network and work with department directors on their plans to bring all employees back to their workstations.

“We are committed to providing the safest environment possible for our employees, residents and clients,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman. “The Safe Reopening Committee has been an integral part of ensuring each department has what it needs as employees return on site.”

The Safe Reopening Committee is comprised of five members: Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter, Director of Human Resources Benjamin Galvez, Security Operations Manager John Wade, Security Safety Coordinator Obinna Onwunaka and Director of Environmental Services Wayne Gravesande. The committee’s goal is to ensure each site has what it needs to welcome employees back in the safest way possible.

The group conducted site visits to assess signage, the ability to practice social distancing and other safety protocols, including the installation of plexiglass around workstations. The committee reviewed each department’s plan for bringing employees back on site and provided guidance when necessary. Committee members talked through any issues and also worked with department and program directors to ensure proper sanitation of workspaces and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), including ordering procedures.

“I think the staff has done a very good job of being responsible and wearing masks,” Hunter said. “We’re confident that if people continue to do social distancing, wear their masks and wash their hands, it will certainly reduce the risk.”

Part of the Safe Reopening Committee’s task was ensuring uniform signage throughout the network. That way employees, residents and visitors are aware of safety rules and guidelines, such as wearing a face covering, using hand sanitizer, staying at least six feet apart from others and adhering to updated capacity limits in spaces like elevators and laundry rooms.

Employees may experience changes to their workstations for additional safety, including plexiglass installation and perhaps facing in a different direction if they share a room with a coworker.

Hunter said it’s important to understand that everyone is operating in a changed world.

“Things will not be the same,” he said. “Everything you used to do, you have to do differently now. When it comes to meeting with people, assessing clients, following up with folks and having follow-up discussions, it may require phone calls instead of face-to-face meetings or using a larger space to meet with fewer people.”

The creation of the Safe Reopening Committee was a proactive approach with the overarching goal to keep the risk of COVID-19 infection low.

“We’re just doing the best we can do to keep everyone safe,” Hunter said.

91��Ƭ To Host 25th Annual Golf Classic July 1

Michelle Lang — Fri, 31 May 2019 19:57:22 +0000

91��Ƭ Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba taking a swing at the NCC Golf Classic in 2018. File photo.

91��Ƭ will hold its 25th Annual Golf Classic Monday, July 1 at Cedar Hill Golf and Country Club in Livingston, N.J. Proceeds from the event will benefit NCC’s youth and education programs; Harmony House, NCC’s transitional housing facility for homeless families; and the Monsignor William J. Linder Scholarship Fund.
“The annual NCC Golf Classic helps raise funds for our homeless families to provide the services they so desperately need. But in the process, we have a great time playing golf, eating, drinking and enjoying the great company,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman. “It is really a fun filled event that we look forward to each year. Come out and enjoy.”
Golf Co-Chair and NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba emphasized the importance of the event for 91��Ƭ and the children and families it serves.
“This year more than ever, in addition to supporting Harmony House and all the work that 91��Ƭ does, we want to place an emphasis on more participants and more donations to support the Monsignor Linder Scholarship Fund to enable promising young people to obtain not just their high school diploma, but also go on to college,” he said.
Registration for the event will begin at 10:30 a.m. July 1 with a barbecue scheduled for 11 a.m. There will be a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. and after a full day of golfing, participants will enjoy an evening reception beginning at 5:30 p.m.
There will also be an opportunity to participate in a 50/50 drawing and a silent auction with RSINJ Inc.
Withum Smith+Brown is the major sponsor of this year’s event. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
Event co-chairs are Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, NCC Board President and President Emeritus of Essex County College; Michael Pintabone, Partner at Withum Smith+Brown; and Bill Passarotti, Partner and Client Executive at Palmer & Cay.
The event committee includes Richard Rohrman, NCC CEO; Diane Johnson, NCC Board of Directors Member; Craig Drinkard, Deputy Director at Victoria Foundation; Jeremy Garlock of Schenck, Price, Smith & King; Zoraya E. Lee-Hamlin, President and CEO of RayZo Marketing; Antonio Lolo, Vice President of Ferry Carpet; and Wayne Gravesande, NCC Director of Environmental Services.
If you are interested in participating in the 2019 Golf Classic or becoming a sponsor, contact Tracey Battles at tracey.battles@newcommunity.org or 973-497-4414.