CARIBOU, Maine — Cary Medical Center recently held its annual Employee Longevity Awards Banquet at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. A total of 74 employees were recognized for a combined 1,205 years of employment at the hospital.
Greg Collins, chairman of hospital’s board of directors, opened up the evening with remarks complimenting the employees who were receiving longevity awards.
“Cary Medical Center has had some great success and been recognized for outstanding clinical performance and patient satisfaction,” said Collins, who joined in certificate presentations to employees. “The commitment and dedication of our entire staff is what makes this award-winning health care possible. Everyone on the board of directors takes great pride in our success, salutes our employees and congratulates the individuals being recognized with longevity awards.”
The annual awards banquet had a ‘safari’ theme and many employees came to the event in costume. Paula Parent, director of human resources at Cary, said that theme for the awards banquet was very well developed and presented by the HR staff.
“Every year we try and develop a different theme for our event” said Parent, who is also chief nursing officer at Cary. “It helps to add some fun and entertainment to our event and the staff that puts the decorations and theme together just do an outstanding job. We much appreciate their efforts and creativity.”
Mary Lou Nelson, who works in the hospital laboratory, was honored for 55 years of continued service. Collins read a letter from the board of trustees acknowledging the outstanding achievement. The letter read in part:
“You have touched the lives and positively impacted an immeasurable amount of patients throughout your 55 years of service to the hospital. Your caring nature, commitment to excellence and compassion has not gone unnoticed. You will forever be a part of our Cary family.”
Nelson received a number of gifts recognizing her years of service including an Amish crafted rocking chair, a canvas print of Cary Medical Center and airline tickets to visit her family in Alaska. Kris Doody, RN, and CEO at Cary said that 55 years of service is a record for the hospital.
“This is truly a remarkable and historic moment for Cary Medical Center,” said Doody. “When we celebrated Mary Lou for 50 years of service five years ago we thought that was unprecedented and at the time I asked Mary Lou to go for 55 and here we are celebrating that milestone with her. Not only has she served the hospital for these many years but she has done so with distinction.”
Nelson was one of two individuals who first began training in the lab at Cary Memorial Hospital in 1960. Nelson said that she planned to work at the hospital for just one year.
“Really, I had intended to work in the lab for one year and then move on,” said Nelson. “But from the first day of my training I absolutely loved it and that is why I am still here today. Cary is a very special place, and the hospital has meant so much to me. Everyone I have worked with, the entire hospital just has something special and I am overwhelmed by this recognition.”
Nelson has worked throughout the Cary lab and served as laboratory manager for a number of years. She has worked with students, and was instrumental in developing Cary’s Blood Donor Program and helped to establish the Cary Health Fair. Nelson was also recognized as Employee of the Decade in 1989 when the hospital celebrated its 10th anniversary in the new Cary Medical Center.
Also receiving special recognition during the awards banquet was Leona Chassie, who works in the hospital laundry. Chassie, who is 86 years old, continues to be a star employee at Cary and celebrated 20 years of service. Jim Cavagnaro, who manages support services at Cary including the laundry service, said that Chassie is an exceptional worker.
“Leona is a model employee,” said Cavagnaro. “She gets to work around 2:30 or 3 a.m. and collects laundry from throughout the hospital to get it ready for the crew that comes in later,” he said. “She is a great mentor for younger employees, sets a great example and is just a remarkable individual.”
Cary Medical Center celebrates employee longevity every year and recognizes employees beginning with five years of service. The awards banquet includes Cary employees who also work at L’Acadie, the hospital’s nine-bed intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Van Buren.
Other employees reaching their milestones included:
Forty-five years of service; Gusta Anderson.
Forty years of service; Kathy Mills and Wanda Hale.
Thirty-five years of service; Peggy Barnes, Dianna Davis, Sandra Laplante and Joann Nadeau.
Thirty years of service: Paula Parent, Galen Dickinson and Susan Miller.
Twenty-five years of service: Lynn James and Shelly Coulombe.
Twenty years of service: Patricia Santana, Leslie Randolph-Anderson, Connie Searles, Angela Farley, Leona Chassie and Stephen Mazerolle.
Fifteen years of service; Cyndi Beausoliel, Beth Ann Collamore, MD, Robin Dionne, Christie Ewing, Candace Johnson, Pam Knoll, Russell Monson, Lana Picard, Jackline Saucier, Sabina St. Peter and Gisele Violette.
Ten years of service; John Albert, Joshua Demerchant, Nicole Hanscom, David Ireland, Glenna Jackson, Kimberly Jones, Tamra Kilcollins, Susan Lavoie, Robert Lester, Stephanie Martin, Victoria Michaud, Michelle McQuade-Williams, Terry Robichaud, Rick Theriault and Jackie Vincent.
Five years of service; Susan Adams, Jane Beaupre, Jennifer Boutot, Kelsey Brewer, Lisa Chabre, Amanda Daigle, Tia Dee, Michelle Deprey, Robbie Desjardins, Priscilla Dionne, Kenneth Dufour, John Foster, Robyn Holdsworth, Paula Johndro, Bill Merchant, Lindsey Michaud, Stephanie Nadeau and Samantha Sheffield.
