CareNotes

OHCA 2023 Award Winners Announced

The Oregon Health Care Association is pleased to announce the 2023 OHCA Awards recipients, who have shown initiative and consistently perform above and beyond the call of duty. They demonstrate a commitment to quality care through their dedication to residents, staff, and the long term care profession. The award winners will be formally honored on September 20 at the Annual Convention Awards Luncheon.

Above and Beyond Award

Debra Weber, Activities Director, Sapphire at Ridgeview

Debra Weber’s compassion shines in her everyday interactions with those she works with and serves. She has revitalized the activities program with her inventive ideas in this specialized care setting that caters to residents who have faced homelessness, addiction, and personal struggles. Weber collaborates extensively with both staff and residents, tailoring programs to everyone’s interests. Her dedication is evident in her initiatives, like last winter when she distributed warm clothing to those in need. She has partnered with Goodwill to provide vouchers for essential purchases and worked with local organizations to secure fishing licenses for residents. Weber’s efforts not only invigorate and engage the residents but also instill a sense of purpose. Even after some of her residents move on to other facilities, she continues to visit them, giving her time and commitment to better their lives.

Administrator of the Year: Community-Based Care

Kylie Evenhus, Administrator, Marquis Tualatin

In her transformative seven-year tenure as the administrator at Marquis Tualatin, Kylie Evenhus has elevated resident care to unprecedented levels through visionary leadership that fosters warmth, respect, and genuine
compassion. Displaying unparalleled commitment, she sacrificed her holiday celebrations to step in during one Christmas Eve when there was a staff shortage to personally administer medications to all 80 residents. During a challenging Norovirus outbreak, she tirelessly ensured fresh laundry, bedding, and support for both residents and staff, staying until 11 each night. Evenhus infuses joy into every festivity by making crafts and handmade gifts, encouraging resident creativity, and uniting her team with themed dress-up days. Her steadfast and compassionate leadership in the face of healthcare uncertainties has not only comforted but also empowered her team to contribute and flourish, making a lasting impact on the lives of residents and staff alike.

Administrator of the Year: Skilled Care

Tara Pray, Administrator, Oregon Veterans Home

Tara Pray is an outstanding leader who is always willing to take on daily responsibilities and step up during emergencies. She always shows up to work with a spirited attitude and an unwavering commitment to both residents and staff. Her guidance has been pivotal in achieving facility successes, including deficiency-free surveys, and achieving the AHCA/NCAL “Gold Award.” She has fostered a family-like work environment by building trust and empowering her team to utilize their strengths. She is also very involved in community events and has shown exceptional resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. From hands-on assistance with daily tasks to being a calming presence during emergencies, she exemplifies leadership with integrity and compassion. She consistently goes above and beyond, even securing a grant for staff well-being training. Her tireless commitment to improving residents’ lives, advocating for staff, and creating a supportive environment exemplifies her strength as a leader.

Business Partner of the Year

Sysco Foods

Sysco Foods has been OHCA’s sole source food distributor since the inception of our member purchasing program more than two decades ago. Since that time, Sysco team members have been extremely engaged in the success of OHCA and its members. These efforts have included working with members to address challenges and provide opportunities for improvement in their food departments, providing high-quality speakers and chefs for OHCA events, sponsoring OHCA events and being actively involved in these events throughout the year, and so much more. During the pandemic, though they faced their own challenges with finding drivers and warehouse and support staff on top of severe food and product supply chain issues, Sysco trucks never stopped running to healthcare facilities. As one of our members put it, “Every week, the food always arrived.” For this, we honor our friends at Sysco with the Business Partner of the Aear Award. Thank you for all you’ve done for OHCA and our members!

Caregiver of the Year

Bobbie Gordon, Caregiver, Pacific View Assisted Living

Bobbie Gordon’s dedication to long term care shines as she trains new resident aides, takes extra shifts, and steps up to help both residents and colleagues. She always earns praises from resident families and consistently maintains a perfect attendance record. Her colleagues describe her as the best caregiver, highlighting her knowledge of residents’ preferences, humility, and welcoming nature. She champions quality of life, going beyond the call of duty to learn new interventions, and sets a positive tone for the care staff. She has rejected several promotions because she loves being a caregiver, always warmly welcoming new residents and transforming their care experience. Her compassion for neglected residents and helping them regain their dignity exemplifies her natural gift as a caregiver. Even in the face of industry challenges, she maintains a positive outlook and a strong conviction in improving long term care for generations to come.

Enrichment of Life Award

Kevin Sage, Life Enrichment Director, The Springs at Happy Valley

As the life enrichment director for a new community, Kevin Sage has remarkably improved the residents’ quality of life through innovative and thoughtful programming. His personal connections with residents and staff have fueled creativity, such as the “Day of a Thousand Water Balloons,” scenic drives narrated by ChatGPT, and monthly international-themed experiences, like the World Kitchen tour. Sage’s talents were evident in the plays he produced, including “Love Letters,” where they built a stage and lighting system, showcasing the residents’ acting skills. Recognizing his team members’ abilities, Sage expanded cooking demonstrations and hosted engaging game shows to create strong bonds among staff and residents. He has consistently brought a signature quality of life to the community while fostering a strong sense of unity.

Innovative Program and Improvement Award

Jill Nelson, Vice President of Business Development, VANDA Health

As the vice president of business development, Jill Nelson’s dedication extends beyond her role. While pursuing a horticulture therapy activity specialist program, she also manages her professional responsibilities, including designing an innovative program to enhance residents’ well-being. Notably, she created a captivating sensory garden and regularly organizes engaging horticulture therapy activities, fostering connections between residents and nature. With her guidance, both residents and staff have found joy and enrichment in the program, creating a more connected and nature-aware community.

Leadership Award

Amanda Gray, Regional Director, Sapphire Health Services

In a unique and challenging environment, Amanda Gray exemplifies compassion, leadership, and inspiration in her interactions with colleagues and those she leads. She creates personal connections, both with staff and residents, showing genuine concern for their well-being. Her leadership style is built on trust and accessibility, offering assistance and advice without hesitation. In times of uncertainty, she provides guidance and solutions while handling conflicts with ease. She always inspires improvement in programs and resident lives, conducting productive activity meetings and fostering purposeful engagement. Gray’s bright presence and trust-based leadership have led to deficiency-free surveys and a culture of greatness in the communities she oversees. Her commitment is shown through hands-on involvement, survey guidance, resident evaluations, training, and specialized initiatives. She remains engaged and accessible to support staff across various communities, reflecting her dedication to enhancing the overall environment.

Nurse Leader of the Year: Community-Based Care

April Petz, RN, Elite Care at Fanno Creek

With more than five decades of nursing experience, April Petz has been an invaluable figure in community-based care, playing pivotal roles in hospice care, nurse education, and mentorship. Her nursing expertise is a treasured asset to her community, and her compassionate and kind bedside manner, along with her commitment to residents’ well-being, is evident in her pain management proficiency and empathetic communication. Her dedication to supporting residents and families during end-of-life transitions shines through her daily nursing practice, particularly in her adeptness at guiding families through difficult discussions. She is a natural teacher who has left a lasting impact on caregivers and med techs within her community, inspiring kindness, compassion, and elevated knowledge in their roles. She has elevated the caregiving experience for all, underscoring the significance of clear communication, careful observation, and meticulous documentation in providing quality care.

Nurse Leader of the Year: Skilled Care

Maria Patricia Paruch, Director of Nursing, Marquis Springfield

Maria Patricia Paruch embodies strength, kindness, education, encouragement, and above all, compassion. She goes above and beyond, providing personalized gifts and cards for staff during every holiday, making them feel valued and cherished. Her commitment to education is evident as she personally guides staff and offers learning opportunities. She promotes strong leadership qualities within the team, creating better outcomes and drawing on people to improve. Her compassion extends to both staff and residents, actively working to enhance resident well-being. Beyond her professional contributions, she’s a true friend, always supporting colleagues through illness and personal challenges. She is a person with high integrity, who is dedicated to creating a positive environment for her colleagues and those she serves.

Special Service Award

Dan Locker, Sysco Foods

Until he “retired” earlier this month, Dan Locker was the vice president of national accounts for healthcare/senior living at Sysco Foods. Locker has been OHCA’s primary point of contact for Sysco Foods since early 2020, and the timing couldn’t have been better. Locker was instrumental in ensuring that OHCA member needs were met during the worst of the pandemic and provided the highest level of service 24/7 to OHCA and its members at a time when the nation was crippled by shortages and worker challenges across all sectors, including many categories of food and food-related business lines. OHCA relied on Locker to answer questions, find solutions, and make the best of the situation at hand during this time. Many OHCA members are surprised when they learn that Locker actually lives in New Jersey—he’s always in Oregon at OHCA events! He is what some might call an old-fashioned business man. He’s professional, committed, and always available and eager to put out a fire or figure out the solution for a client in need. More than that, he’s truly a friend to so many at OHCA and many here in Oregon. Locker will be missed and OHCA is honored to award him with the Special Service Award.