Chamber awards 2 employees of the year
FRANKLIN TWP — Two deserving women — one who works with senior citizens and one with horses and special-needs youth — were the recipients Wednesday of the annual Butler County Employee of the Year awards.
Butler County Chamber of Commerce hosted the luncheon and award ceremony at the Atrium, where Toni Kania, chief nursing officer at Quality Life Services in Butler, and Julie Wahlenmayer, director of Glade Run Adventures in Zelienople, were given the 2021 and 2020 awards, respectively.
Because an awards ceremony was not conducted last year due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Wahlenmayer received her award Wednesday.
The award winners are kept a closely guarded secret until the name is announced at the luncheon, so both women were stunned to find themselves holding the wooden mantle clock given to each year's Employee of the Year.
Jordan Grady, chamber executive director, announced the winners and presented them with their new, engraved clocks.
“The mere mention of nursing homes brings immediately to mind the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March 2020 and which has imparted a terrible toll on the lives and health of residents and staff of nursing homes across the country, and has put into jeopardy the very survival of several facilities,” Grady said. “Toni, whose entire career has been in geriatric nursing, tirelessly and boldly faced this pandemic.
“She continues to be unflappable in her efforts to put into place the measures necessary to help the residents and staff of her organization stay as safe as possible against an unrelenting disease.”
He said before cases began popping up in Butler County, Kania put into action preventive measures, communication plans, a strategy for obtaining and distributing personal protective equipment, training programs, strategies to make sure the homes had sufficient staff and other critical measures as Quality Life Services battled the virus.
Grady related a story of Kania working at a Quality Life Services facility near Nemacolin in the winter, where her car became stuck in a snow drift at her motel.
“The problem solver that she is, Toni arranged for a tow truck to pull her car out, so she could return to the facility the next day,” Grady said.
Kania was overcome with emotion upon being named the 2021 Employee of the Year. “I am absolutely humbled beyond words and blessed beyond measure to be standing here receiving this award,” she said.Regarding being a registered nurse during the pandemic, Kania said she never went to work afraid one single day. “Quality Life Services is amazing to work for,” she said. “I go to work every day and I am proud. It's so comforting to know that their values are completely aligned with mine.”She also thanked her family, which includes two sons who are both studying to earn their degrees in the medical field.“There were many nights when there was never supper on the table, and my husband never complained about it,” Kania said.She admitted later in the luncheon that she couldn't believe it when Grady announced her as the winner.“I started to shake,” she said. “I just do what I know, and that's taking care of people.”Michelle Shrecengost, director of clinical services at Quality Life Services, said she could not be more proud of Kania. “It's so well-deserved,” Shrecengost said. “She's an amazing leader and she brings a human touch to everything she does. She doesn't forget it's people we are taking care of.”
Wahlenmayer worked with the chamber's 2019 Leadership Butler County class, whose members installed a new sub-base and a base in two horse arenas at Glade Run Adventures, and placed new mats in the stalls. She said once it was permitted, according to Gov. Tom Wolf's pandemic restrictions, Glade Run Adventures became very busy as residents looked for outdoor activities. “Mental health needs have never been greater,” Wahlenmayer said.She was also amazed to receive the Employee of the Year Award for 2020.“I'm very honored and blessed to get to do the work I do and be a part of such a supportive community,” Wahlenmayer said.
The luncheon included a remote message from Tom Genevro, Butler Health System chief operations officer.He said that as of Wednesday morning, the health system had administered its 100,000th dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Butler Health System's campuses in Butler and Clarion.Genevro said 1,500 people per day were vaccinated at Butler Memorial Hospital before the site was changed Wednesday to a space in the former Sears building at the Clearview Mall, which has the capacity to administer more than 3,000 shots a day.Regarding the pandemic, Genevro said all employees and administrators at Butler Memorial Hospital were overwhelmed at the donations of supplies, food, cards of support and other items to the workers powering through the virus' effect on patients.“The support is incredible and extremely appreciated,” he said.
