Staff Newsletter | Tuesday, January 11, 2022
“That they may all be one.” – John 17:21
It seems almost every day, amidst the torrent of challenges we continue to face, there is always at least one shining example from our team that reminds me how incredible all of you are. Last week, I stopped into the Association Office to welcome the newest member of our team, Nicole Brickman, our new Human Resources Director. Nicole served as the HR director for Skookum, a great organization based in Bremerton. I love their mission statement: “Creating opportunities for people of all abilities.” (Prior to COVID, we had a strong partnership with Skookum at our Bremerton community center, providing employment opportunities to a diverse group of people.) Nicole has a strong background in employee recruitment, among other things, and she is going to make a huge impact in helping us build a culture that strengthens us as an employer. Welcome, Nicole! We are excited to have you on our team.
As you probably know, the HR team is almost entirely new, but by now you are getting to know them – Shiori Hole-Curry, Bethany Cramer, Carla Gianini, Stephanie Smith, Michelle Rose, and Curt Archambault. We are very fortunate MoMo Pulliam, Dorita Rogers, and Christina Retailliau have remained on the team – they have been here for a number of years and have a great understanding of the HR processes. They played a critical role in helping to onboard their new teammates. Together, this team has worked hard to meet the multitude of demands coming at them, all at a very rapid pace. Thank you, team HR, for your incredible dedication! You make a big contribution to our Y.
When I stepped into the human resources office that day, Shiori, Bethany, Carla, and Stephanie – along with Nicole – were deeply immersed in their jobs. I asked them how the “leaves” process was going. Stephanie, who is at the point to receive employee submissions throughout the association, clicked to refresh the latest number and “shrieked” as she informed me the number had increased by 50 in the last 30 minutes. But seriously, Stephanie and the team have been taking the information in stride and doing what they need to do to provide assistance to our association. Stephanie has been working alongside Eric Kuhnau, Safety and Risk Management Director, to provide assistance to every single employee in our association. There are a lot of wrinkles and nuances to the guidelines, and Eric and Stephanie are addressing each one of them as you have questions. Yes, the latest surge of the virus has produced a spike in the number of exposures and infections, but as our team has done throughout these past 22 months, we do what’s needed to support one another and the communities we serve. Eric and Stephanie have been incredible in adapting to the need. Thank you both for your commitment to our team! You have made an incredible difference to all of us.
The fact that the HR team is so new and has worked hard to jump on the “treadmill” quickly so they are able to contribute is a testament to their commitment, a theme that pervades our entire organization. Everyone, new and experienced, has been looking for ways to lift up our team. Last week, as Stephanie indicated, there were a number of staff reporting they were either exposed or infected by the virus. This was posing challenges to our operations. Within the past week, both of our Early Learning Centers were forced to close, and both the Gordon and Mel Korum centers had multiple full-time staff calling out, having been impacted by the virus. I was in a meeting with Stephanie Roberts, the current executive director for the Gordon center, listening to her provide an update on the impact the virus was having on her team. Interestingly, though, her report was not gloomy; in fact, it was far from it. Though the Gordon team was down five full-time staff, Stephanie shared how Brian Flattum, Chief Operations Officer, jumped in to help cover a four-hour shift Monday evening, with Michelle Rose, Chief Human Resources Officer, being on hand to support. After sharing about Brian and Michelle, Stephanie quickly shifted to her part-time staff and the role they have been playing to step up and carry more of the load. You could see and feel Stephanie’s emotion in describing how her staff have risen to the occasion. I have heard, and seen, that same example over and over again, wherever I go in our association. Our part-time staff are stepping up to play a crucial role so our Y can continue on. Thank you to all of our part-time staff! You are so vital to our Y.
Throughout these past 22 months, there have been countless examples of staff, full- and part-time, doing whatever is needed so our Y could persevere through this pandemic. There is no doubt that the character of our team has carried us through. When one part of the team is down, another steps up. Brian shared how each executive director is reaching out to extend a hand wherever possible. Last week, Megan Sala, Executive Director at our Tom Taylor center, offered assistance to Gordon or Mel Korum, realizing her team was in a position to lend a hand. Recognizing that maintenance teams are short-handed, the centers are working together to address the need. When Bremerton was down a maintenance director, Ed Bressette showed up every Monday morning at 4am to open the facility. There are just so many examples of how our entire team is rising to the occasion to lift up our Y and each other.
For the past few weeks, Michelle has been working with a company called Grapefruit Testing. They have responded to the need to provide COVID testing throughout the country. Michelle has arranged for our employees to have access to this testing. The final arrangements are being worked out and will be posted as soon as possible, but the service will be available on a rotating basis to our three regions: east, central, and west. Thank you, Michelle, for your hard work to provide us with this critical service. Getting tested will afford us a tool to help us navigate these incredibly challenging circumstances. The Omicron variant is presenting a new level of transmission of the virus. Thus far, our team has been working together to enable us to continue to operate. It is incredible to witness the heroism you all are exhibiting to support your teammates.
Last week, I heard Harold Shea, the new West Region Operations Director, was headed into Bremerton at exactly 2pm. It was the soonest he could show up based on the time he reported symptoms. He knew his team had been working hard in his absence and he wanted to get there as soon as he was eligible so he could work alongside them. Jenna Lehman was coordinating lifeguard schedules, even from her home, because the entire Gordon aquatics team was out. Jenna was working with Eric to know the soonest she could get back to the center because she wanted to be with her teammates.
This is our team!! In it together … one Y. I am in awe of your incredible commitment. Thank you. Because of you, our Y will never falter.
#OneY #StayStrong #StayWithUs