2nd Quarter Spotlight Award Winner - 2021
Ellen K. Sturgell
Employment Specialist, at TradeWinds Services, Inc.
We are proud to announce Ellen K. Sturgell as the recipient of our 2nd Quarter Spotlight Award.
This award honors an employment support staff who goes above and beyond for individuals every day!
The winner of this quarter’s award is Ellen K. Sturgell. She loves her work at TradeWinds as an Employment Specialist. Ellen is very patient and caring with her VR participants. She will look out-of-the-box to find accommodating job positions for the VR participants. She writes excellent monthly progress reports and keeps VRCs up to date on any revelations, issues or concerns, and successes. She has a very good rapport with everyone she meets and works with.
“It is very rewarding supporting individuals to reach their goals and gain independence.”
Ellen will reach out to employers in the community and establishes positive relationships with them in order to set up job shadows, assessments, and informational interviews for her participants. She will find employment settings that will both accommodate and help the participants grow successfully.
The most rewarding aspect of being an Employment Specialist is when my clients have learned new skills and their confidence grows. It is very rewarding supporting individuals to reach their goals and gain independence.
Ellen was able to carve out an employment position for a participant that has never been able to maintain employment for very long. This participant has now been working successfully for the past 2 years in his carved-out position. Ellen provides the participant’s encouragement and support to help them obtain and maintain community employment.