RotaryGrams for November 23, 2022 (Nov 23, 2022)

PROGRAM REVIEW

November 16, 2022

"Vocational Excellence Awards"

Our program last week was focused on the Vocational Excellence Awards, which was organized by John Lee. This program was a great representation of those in our community who provide great service above self.

Mary Horace was nominated by Virtue Alexander and presented by John Lee Mary has worked at Munro’s Dry Cleaners for the past 3 years. Mary always greets you with a smile and over the years Mary has come to feel more like family than just someone who works at my local dry cleaners. Mary is professional and pays attention to details and it has become one of the highlights of my week to look forward to seeing Mary and just catching up. I recently saw Mary out with her beautiful family in one of our local grocery stores and it was apparent to me that “everyone knows and loves Mary”, as I was talking to her and catching up, several other people stopped by to say hello to Mary and when I asked her how she knew so many people she said, “from the dry cleaners”. In these days when customer service is lacking in so many areas, I’m so proud to say that with Mary at Munro’s Dry Cleaning on Major drive, customer service is alive and smiling.
Lee Potter was nominated by Mary Poole. Lee is a graduate of LBMT Class of 2015 and is still very active as a facilitator. President of locally owned business, American Air Systems that was started in 1982 by his dad, Don Potter. They have been operating in Southeast Texas for 40 years. Lee is Chair of the “Real Men Wear Pink Campaign”. He is a member of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board - chairing golf tournaments, mixers, and community projects. He is the current Chairman of the Cattle Baron’s Ball. We all know how brutal these Southeast Texas summers can be. One Orange family had to endure the heat with very limited air conditioning in their home for the last 11 years. The temperatures inside often reached the 80s and sometimes even the 90s. Monica Roe and her family were desperate for some relief before Beaumont's American Air Systems stepped in to help. Monica was chosen as the recipient of the Americares Program which provided her and her family with a new air condition and heating unit. After evaluating the home, repairs needed to be made before installation could take place and Lee and his team reached out to local vendors that contributed their time and talents to make it happen.
Bonnie Brooks was nominated Sheree Pierce. It’s hard to know where to start with Bonnie. She has worked for the Regional Planning Commission ever since I have known her. That’s about 10 years. She has held many positions as her job is usually funded by a grant. The grant ends and they find another place for her. The fact that they just move her to another place says that they value her as well. One of the projects she has coordinated for YEARS is the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans held in 3 different locations throughout the year. This is an event providing information and services to practically anyone. NOT just homeless veterans. She has coordinated these events no matter what her job title was at the time. It involves WAY more hours than her 9-5. Bonnie is the first one many of us turn to when we have donations or need services for someone. She is always quick to provide a list of names for whatever our need is. If you have items/goods that need to be donated, she is the one to ask. She can find someone who needs just that item. If you have someone who needs a service, ask Bonnie. She knows just where to point you. She also assists other departments in aid of individuals in need. I get 2 to 3 emails a month asking for assistance for someone. We can’t always help but often we can. That gives others an opportunity to serve. Any time someone is collecting items for some service, you can always count on Bonnie for a donation or a connection to someone who donates. I learned that Bonnie is a Paralegal by trade. For whatever reason, she has chosen to work in the nonprofit world. She has also always worked a 2nd job in the evenings. Bonnie Brooks truly lives a life of “Service Above Self.”
Ester Holloman was nominated by Floyd McSpadden. Ester Holloman exemplifies service above self in every aspect of her vocation. Ester has been with Chartwells and Lamar University for 37 years. During that time, she has touched the lives of thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University with her warm smile and servant's heart. Ester has the uncanny ability of knowing important things such as food allergies of many of the individuals she is serving. She always greets you by name and a kind word. In her spare time Ester received an Associate's Degree with a double major in Applied Science and Food Service. Her professional training and consistency in her work has earned her accolades from her employer as well as those she serves. It was my honor to have worked with Ester at Lamar for 10 years and as a volunteer for over 30 years. I am grateful for what she has done and continues to do for Lamar.
Chris Boone was nominated by Jes Prince. Not only did Chris do an incredible job overseeing the planning division during the pandemic, but he stepped in to serve as Interim City Manager when Kyle Hayes retired. Chris is creative, dedicated, knowledgable and endlessly patient. He has consistently pushed to advocate for downtown development, CDBG funding to our local non profits, and of course, most recently, bringing our permit department online. He has also been instrumental in creating our new communication division. He has not received appropriate credit for all he does and is a very humble and worthy nominee for Vocational Excellence.
Alesha Wells was nominated by Erika Harris. Alesha Wells is the owner of Genesis Salon & Suites. She is a master hairstylist with more than 30 years experience in the beauty business. Alesha started her career as an apprentice and worked her way up the ladder with hard work and dedication. She owns her own salon and the building. Alesha prides herself on being a mentor to many hairstylists and entrepreneurs—mostly women. Like most businesses, Alesha’s salon was hit hard during the pandemic. But, she survived by re-tooling. Alesha dropped off products to clients and offered tutorials on social media. She also had to change her business model. Many of her stylists did not return. Alesha was left with a huge building that was half empty. So, she decided to turn one half of the facility into an office park. She now offers affordable office space to women who operate small businesses. For this, I believe Alesha Wells would be an excellent choice for the Rotary Vocational Excellence Award.
Carleen Ferran was nominated by Uliana Trylowsky. I bought my first Subaru in the fall of 2009. Since then, we've bought two more. My daughter drives the first one, my son drives the second one, and I drive the beautiful blue Crosstrek. Over the years, we have used JK Subaru's service department many times with our vehicles- for regular service as well as for problems that pop up rarely. Carleen has always been a great help. Since she first started working at JK, Carleen has always been very professional, business-like and friendly. I've seen her grow in her knoweldge of the business and as she's progressed with the company, she has continued to always be customer-oriented and focused on providing quality service. Carleen has explained mundane service questions to my children; has dealt with our accident insurance claims. Through it all she's been a consummate professional and a great representative of the work ethic and customer service philosophy that JK always promotes.
Patti Hulett was nominated by Lynn Castle. Patti has helped the Art Museum staff with our health insurance benefits for over 20 years. Every year she researches what health insurance plan would work best for our small group of 16 employees. She is excellent at her job because she is a true advocate for her clients. For those of us not in the health industry, understanding insurance claims can become complicated, frustrating and daunting. Patti is always there to explain how the system works and if she doesn't think it was a fair settlement, she will contact the carrier to get clarification and work to get a better claim. She has always, always exercised the highest level of professionalism and integrity. She is efficient, organized and very conscientious and always goes way above and beyond the call of duty.
Wendy Rodgers was nominated by Kathryn Fuller. Come to Silsbee on a Friday and you'll get a lot more than the best fried fish in Southeast Texas. You'll be transported into a time capsule, a place where you can find your grandma in an old yearbook and see artwork from your favorite first grader. Tiger Hut is the place to see the best of Silsbee, and in the best of Silsbee, you're going to see Tiger Hut. Wearing a shirt from a local fundraiser? You'll see Tiger Hut on that shirt. Buying a pulled pork sandwich from the Friday night football game? Wendy probably handed you your sandwich. Wendy Rogers isn't just the owner of Tiger Hut… she's a one-woman giving machine. There isn't a fundraiser in our community where Wendy isn't giving in some way. Sometimes she gives money. Sometimes she gives her own personal time. Sometimes she opens her restaurant on an off day to allow an organization like the Silsbee cheerleaders or the Silsbee drill team to cook and profit from their sales. But Wendy invests in Silsbee in other ways, too. And I, personally, feel this is the biggest gift that Wendy gives to our community. Wendy hires teenagers… lots and lots of teenagers. She develops them, she encourages them, and she helps them grow. My son has worked for Wendy for over a year now and I would never want him to quit. I probably won't cry when he walks across the stage to graduate and I probably won't cry when I drop him off at college, but I will bawl my eyes out when he has to quit working at Tiger Hut. Why do I care so much about that job? Because Wendy has helped forge him into a person who works his hardest. She shows him genuine love and care. She has worked around his crazy schedule. The magic of Wendy is that she treats all the teenagers that way. Isn't that what every teenager wants? To be treated with kindness and respect by their boss? To be trusted to make good choices and to be corrected with love when they don't? Wendy is making an impact on our community one teenager at a time. To our teens, and to our community, Wendy embodies Rotary's motto of service above self by giving in big and small ways to improve our community and train future leaders to serve.
Herman Simien was nominated by Jacquetta Walker. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to submit Mr. Herman Simien for the Vocational Excellence Awards with the Rotary Club. Herman has been with the Nance training school for over a decade, having retired from a local oil company. He has traveled as far as Brazil & Dubai and of course as close as Milam St. here in Beaumont. I personally, have known Herman for 4 years now and I have been honored to work with him through all the highs and lows of the 2 ½ years of downturn for the school during the pandemic. We lost most of our staff during covid, but Herman stayed on and just came into the office when we would be fortunate enough to have a student. Students have always been impressed not only with the amount of knowledge Herman has but also his humility and character. He is a man of a few words but a brain full of knowledge and a heart full of care. Herman is the epitome of professionalism, humbleness, and team spirit. He aims for the best for all participants and will always go the extra mile to do what it takes for them to succeed. He has always made it clear that his heart is with empowering others and giving them a career and a path for success. His dream is to have the ability to work with those that need a second chance in life, either due to a lack of education, funds or having been incarcerated. We are blessed to have Herman work with our team and to know him is to absolutely love him.

Photo credit: Tim Sudela

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