We are thrilled to announce the Employees of the Year for 2025

At Polar Park on Tuesday, January 27, our colleagues were honored for their outstanding service to our mission and core values at Seven Hills. Dr. Kathleen Jordan, President & CEO, and Marilyn Lopez-Haddad, VP of Human Services, delivered a heartfelt program, celebrating each recipient with their colleagues, family, and friends in attendance.

President's Award

Specioza Kabaikya, Direct Support Professional, NeuroCare

Specioza has been a valued team member of Seven Hills NeuroCare since 2021 and consistently exemplifies the organization’s core values of Respect, Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork, Innovation, and Service to Others. Her dedication, professionalism, and compassion have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the individuals she supports, her colleagues, and the overall success of the organization.

Respect: Specioza consistently demonstrates respect by honoring the dignity, choices, and individuality of those she serves. She communicates thoughtfully, listens actively, and approaches every interaction with professionalism, even in high-pressure or complex situations. Her conduct sets a standard for respectful engagement across the team.

Kindness: Kindness is central to Specioza’s work ethic. She approaches her responsibilities with genuine empathy and compassion, ensuring that individuals feel supported, understood, and valued. Her calm and caring presence positively influences the emotional well-being of both individuals and coworkers.

Integrity: Specioza exemplifies integrity through her reliability, honesty, and accountability. She adheres to policies and procedures, maintains accurate documentation, and consistently follows through on her responsibilities. Her ethical decision-making fosters trust among team members, leadership, and those served.

Teamwork: Specioza is a collaborative and dependable team member who willingly supports her colleagues and contributes to a positive work environment. She assists others without hesitation, communicates effectively, and plays an active role in ensuring continuity of care and team success.

Innovation: Specioza embraces change and demonstrates a willingness to learn and grow. She applies feedback constructively, adapts to new systems and procedures, and seeks opportunities to improve service delivery. Her openness to innovation contributes to improved efficiency and quality outcomes.

Service to Others: Above all, Specioza is deeply committed to serving others. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the safety, well-being, and dignity of the individuals she supports. Her actions reflect a genuine commitment to the mission and values of Seven Hills.

Specioza is as Special as her name reflects, which is the name we use in NeuroCare. She is someone both staff and the people we support can rely on. She has taken on all of the responsibilities of the Residential Director role at Winter Hill in Dracut for the better part of the past year, including stewarding the team through the OQE survey process, with commendations. 
Specioza’s unwavering dedication, professionalism, and compassionate service make her highly deserving of recognition. She represents the very best of Seven Hills and NeuroCare’s values and is an outstanding candidate for this award.

Employees of the Year

Nicole Agois, Managing Director, Open Door Arts

The talented team at Open Door Arts spearheaded the Employee of the Year Award for their fearless leader Nicole Agois, Managing Director — a nomination made entirely without her knowledge, by the team she leads and champions.

Nicole’s impact is felt both in what Open Door Arts has achieved and in how the work is done. Under her leadership, ODA has advanced the participation and representation of people with disability in arts and culture through field-defining initiatives including: pioneering education programs, sustaining our unique disability-centered gallery at Worcester Art Museum - and over the last two years, guiding the creation of the Arts and Culture Accessibility Hub. The Hub is a first of its kind website resource that advances accessibility in cultural organizations growing each day across the country. Just as importantly, she has built a workplace grounded in collaboration, access, humor, and personal growth.

Nicole leads with vision and heart. She balances bold advocacy with thoughtful leadership, empowers expertise over hierarchy, and keeps deep focus on mission while fostering genuine connections.

Over the past eight years, her warmth, integrity, and clarity have allowed the small but mighty ODA team and their work to thrive, while setting a powerful example of inclusive, values-driven leadership across Seven Hills. Thank you and congratulations Nicole!

Evan Audette, Building Services Technician, Seven Hills Foundation

Evan has been a dedicated Maintenance Technician with Seven Hills since 2019, and he exemplifies what it means to live our mission and values every day. He is someone you can always depend on to make the right decision, do the right thing, and follow through—no matter the situation. Evan consistently leads with integrity, treating every task, every home, and every individual with the same care and respect he would give to his own family.

What truly sets Evan apart is the trust he builds. He has earned the respect of his colleagues and, just as importantly, of some of the people we serve who face significant challenges. During a recent move, one person we support shared that Evan was the only person he trusted to handle his electronic devices—an extraordinary testament to Evan’s kindness, reliability, and character. Evan greets everyone warmly, takes time to engage in meaningful conversation, and helps create an environment where people feel safe, valued, and respected.

Evan is a constant source of positivity. He approaches his work with a smile, a team-first mindset, and a genuine willingness to help. Any member of the Facilities team can count on Evan to step in without hesitation.

His proactive approach to maintaining our homes reflects not only pride in his work but also a deep commitment to service to others. Because of Evan, the homes we support feel cared for—and the individuals who live in them feel that care as well.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Evan on our team. His passion, teamwork, and unwavering commitment make everyone around him better and strengthen the Seven Hills community.

Thank you, Evan, for your respect, kindness, integrity, hard work, and dedication. You truly represent the very best of Seven Hills.

John Axford, Direct Support Professional, Seven Hills Community Services Northeast

John works every day to embody the SHF Core Values. He communicates regularly with his supervisor to collaborate on creative solutions to day-to-day challenges. He is always seeking new ways to improve and to ensure that the people he supports live rich, fulfilling lives. John completes his administrative work to a superlative standard. He contributes meaningfully to staff meetings and collaborates well with his team members.

In the past year, John has gone out of his way to ensure that the people he supports have meaningful connections in the community and engage in activities of their choosing.  John has brought one person to church on Sundays and assisted her to establish relationships in the church community and set up weekly rides, even though he is not scheduled to work on Sunday. His persistent invitations also resulted in her attending a social event at the office for the first time in years.

John has worked very hard to ensure that another person he supports has access to meaningful and preferred activities. John has gone with this person to a car show, a Red Sox game, and a comedy show this year, all falling outside of John's scheduled shifts.  John regularly collaborates with other team members to meet up and give people opportunities to socialize.

John has a strong work ethic, a dedication to innovation, an empathetic approach, and a deep care for the well-being of the people he supports. John is an exemplary employee and is deserving of the Employee of the Year recognition.

Keisha Berry, Nursing Supervisor, Seven Hills Family Services

We are honored to award Keisha Berry Employee of the Year in Seven Hills Family Services. As a Nursing Supervisor, she exemplifies professionalism, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to the Seven Hills Core Values. Her commitment to our clients and staff is evident in every task she undertakes.

Keisha approaches each responsibility with exceptional conscientiousness and integrity. Whether managing complex clinical situations, supporting her team, or improving workflows, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the highest quality of care. Her leadership is grounded in sound judgment, reliability, and a genuine desire to serve others.

A natural team player, Keisha fosters a culture of collaboration and open communication. She is always the first to volunteer her support, especially during OQE visits, where she readily steps in to assist in any way needed. Her guidance empowers others, ensuring no team member ever feels unsupported.

Keisha’s career journey is a testament to her dedication and passion. Beginning her work in the TWO program (now ASPIRE) 20 years ago, she later became a Case Manager and pursued her nursing degree, advancing from LPN to RN and ultimately to her current role as Nursing Supervisor for the Shared Living Program. In this role, she developed essential operational workflows and person-centered nursing systems for a program that previously had none.

Most recently, during the DDS OQE audit, Keisha demonstrated exemplary leadership by coordinating medications, protocols, and documentation for all clients—ensuring her team was fully prepared and successful.

Keisha’s commitment to delivering exceptional care enhances the quality of life of the individuals we serve and strengthens the entire organization. For these reasons and many more, she truly deserves the Employee of the Year award.

Melissa Boulos, Program Director, ASPiRE!

Melissa Boulos serves in a key role as the Program Director of the Hopedale CBDES program with Seven Hills ASPiRE!. She has been leading that program as Program Director for more than a year now, stepping up to take on that lead role after years of dedicated service as the Assistant Program Director. Prior to that, Melissa demonstrated impressive professional growth with Seven Hills, starting at ASPIRE! as a DSP before advancing to a case management role and then Assistant.

Melissa’s positive and approachable leadership style demonstrates clear commitments to accountability, quality, empowerment of others, teamwork, and togetherness, all while overseeing the daily operations of a highly successful and impactful day program.

Under her direction, the Hopedale CBDES program continues to create meaningful and impactful experiences for participants. Examples of the kinds of creative programming include a fun fashion show, a range of creative art projects, promoting inclusive community employment for participants with partner employers, like Sweet Inspirations, and consistent access to a diversity of community outings and opportunities - like public parks, hiking trails, museums, and sporting events, among many others - that prioritize the preferences, interests, and individual support plans of participants. Beyond her program responsibilities, Melissa has served as the chair for the ASPIRE! safety committee and represented ASPIRE! on the Foundation safety committee for the past year. She recently took on a new assignment as co-chair of the Seven Hills Human Rights Committee.

Melissa remarkably exemplifies the kind of professional growth and positive impact on the lives of others that is possible for employees at Seven Hills, and we are very lucky and appreciative for her answering the call to care for ASPiRE!, her team, and the many people we serve.

JoNell Camara, Clinical Supervisor, Seven Hills Clinical Services

JoNell Camara joined the team three years ago. She worked hard in her first year to ensure she was prepared to take the assistant clinical director role. She has been in that position since December 2023. To say that she has shown a commitment to the people supported and organization is an understatement.

She has led the region while maintaining a very large caseload. Even with all that, her first thought is, “how can I help others?” She not only maximizes her time but on a weekly basis takes from her personal time to make sure everyone’s needs are met. She volunteered to support the residences and day program on the Vineyard because she recognized that help was needed. Even though we have been down a clinical position for the whole time she has worked with us, she has kept a positive attitude and is always looking for ways to support her team and the region as a whole. She is a humble person who consistently asks for feedback to improve her job performance and takes seriously implementing any recommendations she receives. JoNell has truly displayed the core values of integrity, teamwork, and service to others. Without her at the helm of the clinical support in the Southeast, we would not be able to offer such high quality and innovative opportunities.

Elizabeth Connelly-Silvia, Program Director, Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Southeast

Beth Connelly-Sylvia has been with Seven Hills and the previous organization for over 25 years. She has served in many different capacities – at one time working in the Tobacco Control Program prior to becoming a part of our Educational Programs.  In the last year, Beth has taken over management of the GEARUP program in addition to the programs that she was already managing, EOC (Educational Opportunity Center) and Talent Search.  Beth has worked tirelessly to streamline the functioning of the 3 programs to better utilize resources and has been very creative in how to market the programs to give us the biggest bang for our buck.  

Her knowledge when it comes to FAFSA’s and the college application and financing processes is second to none.  Beth understands the complicated process and the intricacies and knows how to help people attain their educational goals.

Beth has also been a superb mentor to her staff, helping them gain the knowledge and confidence that they need to help people of all ages.  She has empowered her staff to think outside the box and develop programs that can have the biggest impact.

When recently faced with the cancellation of one of the education programs and the uncertainty of the other programs due to federal funding cuts, Beth quickly got to work reaching out to stakeholders and brainstorming how to keep it all going in the great unknown. Beth’s relationships with the local school departments proved beneficial when they were quick to step in to fund the programs while the funding issues were worked out.

Thank you, Beth, for your dedication and perseverance.  We appreciate all that you do and all that you bring to the programs and the students and their families in the Southeast.

Lisa Cronin, Direct Support Professional, SHCS Central MA

We are honored to award Lisa Cronin for Employee of the Year. From the moment she began working with our Home-Based Residential Supports pilot program, Lisa has exemplified the core values of our organization — particularly Respect, Kindness, Integrity, and Service to Others — in every facet of her work.

Lisa has built an extraordinary partnership with the family she supports. This family is deeply invested in their son’s well-being and maintains very high standards for his daily life; Lisa meets their dedication with equal passion. She doesn’t simply follow their guidance — she treats it as a roadmap for excellence, fully honoring our commitment to a person- and family-centered approach. Through her thoughtful, consistent care, she has created a home environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and united around a common goal.

Her compassionate support goes beyond day-to-day care. Lisa has encouraged and facilitated the young man under her care to explore new interests and talents: plays, musicals, even stand-up comedy. She has invested many hours helping him learn lines, songs, and choreography — and it’s not uncommon to see her in the audience, singing along in support. More importantly, she pushes him gently to step outside his comfort zone, while also letting him know she will always be there if he needs to step back.

In addition, Lisa supports him to attend self-advocacy groups and conferences and offers significant support to his parents as well — listening, being present, and showing up whenever she is needed. Her ability to build trust with both the individual and his family is truly remarkable.

Lisa’s dedication is selfless. Since the very beginning of the Home-Based Residential Supports initiative, she has been a dependable, passionate, and compassionate team member. She embodies everything we stand for, and she elevates our mission daily. She is a true asset to our program and worthy of this award.

Elizabeth Cuzzupe, Clinical Supervisor, Seven Hills Behavioral Health/ YOU, Inc

Elizabeth "Liz" Cuzzupe joined YOU, Inc. more than eight years ago. She worked as a Therapeutic Mentor and then attained a master's in counseling with a concentration in Expressive Therapy, completing her internship in the Worcester Outpatient Clinic. Liz has been practicing as a clinician for many years and in 2025 was promoted to the role of Clinical Supervisor. In this role she has quickly developed a warm and sophisticated approach to guiding and supporting developing clinicians.

This year, in addition to learning this new role, Liz was selected to participate in a year-long, state-wide intensive family therapy learning cohort; she has taken on re-energizing, coordinating, and overseeing the Sensory Integration Team (SIT) at Seven Hills Behavioral Health.  She is supporting the satellite clinics to implement their own site-based Sensory Integration teams through training and identifying resources; and she has coordinated a project to start a community garden for clients at the Gold Star clinic. Liz also identified a provider need for colleague-to-colleague support and worked with Dr. Diana Mujalli to create "Connect and Reflect" a group for clinical peers to provide mutual support related to stress of clinical work. Liz, thank you for all you have done to take on a new role, help build a positive culture for staff, and support the complex needs of our clients.

Bryan Cyprien, Assistant Program Director, YOU, Inc.

Three years ago, Bryan Cyprien was a second shift supervisor at Oxford House, a YOU, Inc. Intensive Treatment Residence. We noticed that Bryan was a hard worker and showed leadership qualities. He organized his shifts and the youth responded well to him. Bryan was responsible for leading the PAYA groups and he would modify, simplify, and explain the lesson so all youths were able to understand. Bryan is always willing to help, he listens and asks questions to make sure he understands.  When the cook was out sick, Bryan stepped up and provided hot meals for the youths.

Due to Bryan’s hard work and perseverance, he was offered the case manger’s position. Bryan excelled as he started to organize the youth information for schools, transportation, medical providers etc. When Bryan was available, he started to attend youth meetings and provided valuable insight to youth behaviors.

As Oxford House staffing started to change, Bryan was approached to take on more administration responsibilities. Bryan was completing the assistant program director’s responsibilities.                                     He oversaw every aspect of the assistant program director’s role, with perfection and pride. Bryan still found time to assist as the cook when needed.

Bryan goes above and beyond. He managed Oxford House when the program director was out. Bryan took care of all the administrative responsibilities, attended meetings, provided trainings, covered shifts, worked as the cook, and still had time to talk with the youth.

Bryan is highly respected and is known as a person who gets things done. I have been in meetings where DCF social worker and supervisor, the Lead Agency staff, and parents have spoken very highly of him and thanked him for supporting their kids. Bryan has made parents feel supported and know they can reach out to him for assistance.

Bryan is kind, passionate, caring, and humble. He does not like when others make a big deal of his accomplishments. He has a great work ethic and takes pride in his accomplishments.

Brooke Denault, Residence Director, SHCS Southeast

Brooke has been a Residence Director with us for many years, and during that time she has consistently shown what strong, steady leadership looks like. She runs a home in an area that is historically difficult to staff due to the location, yet her entire team has been with her long-term — five years or more. That speaks volumes about who she is as a leader. People stay because they feel supported, valued, and part of something meaningful, and Brooke is at the heart of that. Brooke leads by example. She isn’t someone who asks others to do anything she wouldn’t do herself. She encourages her staff to take initiative, holds them to high expectations, and gives them the confidence and support they need to meet them. You can see the pride her team takes in their work, and that comes directly from the tone she sets in the home. The individuals living there are supported to build skills, make choices, and be as independent as possible — something Brooke and her team take great care in promoting every day.

One of the things I appreciate most about Brooke is that she doesn’t just show up for her own program — she shows up for others, too. She is always willing to step in, answer questions, and help train newer Residence Directors.

She does this with patience, flexibility, and a genuine desire to see others succeed.  She is thoughtful in her approach, taking time to understand how someone learns best and adjusting her support to match their style. That kind of mentorship isn’t something you can require — it comes naturally to her.

Brooke is reliable, steady, and deeply committed to the people she supports and the staff she supervises. She leads with humility and heart, and the impact of her work is felt well beyond her home. For these reasons, and because of the countless big and small things she does each day, I am proud to nominate Brooke for Employee of the Year.

Franklin Fully, Program Director, Seven Hills Rhode Island

Franklin Fully has distinguished herself at Seven Hills Rhode Island through exceptional leadership, innovation, and service this year. Her months-long commitment to planning Culture Week—serving on every major committee for over three months—brought creativity and thoughtful coordination that shaped the week's success. Franklin moved across departments encouraging participation and communicating the spirit of the celebration, directly supporting Seven Hills' strategic goal of strengthening employee engagement.

Her leadership extended to organizing the affiliate-wide beach party, an event that has grown into a cherished and therapeutic tradition for both staff and the people we support. Within her team, Franklin is a steady source of support, always ready to assist colleagues and creating a welcoming atmosphere at every gathering. Her strong commitment to quality is evident in the care she takes to maintain clean, safe, and dignified living spaces for those we serve, as well as her diligent attention to regulatory standards. Franklin's work reflects a deep alignment with our mission and values.

Bonnie LaFrance, Billing Specialist, Seven Hills Rhode Island

Bonnie Lafrance continues to amaze us with her efforts to ensure we get paid for all the work we do.  She asks questions to help her understand why we bill the way we do and has taken time to fully understand the Early Intervention billing guidelines. She thoroughly knows the billing component of the Welligent Electronic Health Record and proactively utilizes available reports to minimize billing gaps.

Not only does she prepare and send out monthly billing, she responds to each denial, exploring all options when a claim is denied. She is tireless in these efforts, citing billing guidelines and sending back-up documentation to support the claims. She has taken pains to develop relationships with the correct people at each insurance company, using these “go-to” people effectively when she has questions or needs assistance. Over the last few months, Bonnie has worked with 2 separate insurance companies to identify and resolve errors within their systems that resulted in a backlog of denials.

Bonnie’s attention to detail has been noted at the state level, also. She alerts our team at EOHHS when issues arise within Welligent and has assisted with troubleshooting and resolving issues that affect not just Seven Hills, but any of the EI users.

In any of her interactions with EI, the EOHHS team or the insurance companies, Bonnie remains calm and professional. She stays focused on finding solutions without placing blame. She stays “above the line” when errors inevitably occur, assisting us in making corrections or changing systems to improve our processes. Bonnie displays her commitment to the core values through her work and deserves recognition as Employee of the Year.

Jessy Daniel Manyanga, Residential Supervisor, Seven Hills New Hampshire

Jessy Manyanga is the embodiment of opportunity at Seven Hills. Just one year ago, he walked into one of our hiring events with ambition and a clear desire to make a difference—and he made an immediate impression. His presence, professionalism, and commitment stood out from day one, and it quickly became clear that he would be an asset to our team.

Within six months, Jessy’s dedication to our mission and the children we serve earned him a well-deserved promotion to Supervisor.  Since then, Jessy has grown into a respected leader across both the school and residential programs.

His respect and kindness are evident in every interaction with students and staff. He treats everyone with dignity and compassion, creating a positive and supportive environment wherever he goes. Jessy’s integrity is a cornerstone of his leadership. Trusted by his peers, he serves as a communication bridge between staff and leadership, ensuring that voices are heard and needs are met.

Jordan Moores, Area Director, NeuroCare

Jordan Moores consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the highest quality of care for individuals living with brain injuries. Their leadership is marked by compassion, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the people we serve.

What truly sets Jordan apart is their unwavering support—not just for their own teams, but for others across the organization. They regularly step in to assist other areas without hesitation, offering guidance, hands-on help, and a calm presence during times of need. Their ability to lead with both heart and strategy has made them an invaluable resource and role model across the board.

Jordan is not only an exceptional Area Director—they are a difference-maker, and a true asset to our mission.

In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities, Jordan embraces every opportunity for growth. They actively seek out ways to improve services, develop their own skills, and take on new challenges that benefit the organization as a whole. Whether mentoring peers, implementing new initiatives, or navigating complex situations, Jordan does so with integrity, humility, and a true servant-leader mindset. Their impact is far-reaching, and their work embodies the very best of what we stand for.

Luz Nunez, Workforce Success Specialist, Family Services of Central Massachusetts

Luz Nunez came on board at Seven Hills for the Center for Childcare Careers on January 2, 2024. She has been a consistent asset to our department. Although she did not come from an early childhood background, she applied her professional experience working with non-traditional adult learners and non-native speakers of English to intentionally strengthen our educational programs.

The materials she produces and approach she takes to her Workforce Success role ensures that our programs are learner centered. She is always professional, thinks deeply about our work, offers solutions or suggestions when there is an opportunity for improvement. Luz is willing to jump in with whatever is needed. She is a cheerleader for her peers, encouraging them to grow and offering help. She is the definition of team player.

Melody Rolon, Parent Counselor, Children's Aid & Family Service

Melody Rolon is our CAFS 2025 Employee of the Year.  Melody has worked for Seven Hills Child Care Resoures for 8 years in our Information & Referral Department.

This year, Melody has shown great initiative in supporting our DCF unit who work with the most vulnerable families in the Commonwealth. Melody has spent time with those families assisting them in locating appropriate child care for their children. She has also worked with our staff to help them learn how to navigate new technology systems that EEC put in place to track families' progress in accessing child care.

Melody has trained with Child Care Aware of America on Quorum, which is the advocacy tool we use to garner legislative support for our network. She is a hardworking individual who always does her best to support families that she interacts with and at the same time finds time to help her colleagues in lots of different ways. She is a valued member of our team, and we are very lucky to have her supporting our families.

Glenda Rosado, Care Coordinator, Massachusetts Care Coordination Network (MCCN)

At MCCN, Glenda Rosado exemplifies excellence, teamwork, and compassion in every aspect of her role as Senior Care Coordinator. She consistently goes above and beyond to support her colleagues, offering guidance, resources, and reassurance whenever needed. Glenda is approachable, patient, and kind, and never makes anyone feel like a burden.

Her leadership is marked by knowledge, dignity, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed. From mentoring new team members step by step to advocating for coordinators and organizing community initiatives like Toys for Tots, Glenda demonstrates unwavering dedication to both her team and the members she serves. Her actions reflect Seven Hills’ CORE values every day, and her willingness to go the extra mile, even helping a member move into a new home, shows her extraordinary heart for service. Beyond her professional role, Glenda also dedicates her free time to helping the community, volunteering with programs like Lasagna Love to provide meals for families in need. Glenda doesn’t just do her job; she inspires those around her and lifts others up. For these reasons and many more, we are proud to recognize Glenda Rosado as our Employee of the Year.

Lori Santos, Day Care Teacher, Children's Friend

Lori Santos has been with the Early Learning Center for 9 years, sharing her strong background in early childhood education.  She has a background as a center director and steps into that role when needed. Her vast understanding of child development creates a positive and welcoming environment for all the children and families.

Over the past year. Professionals from outside of the Center, such as our teams from the Department of Early Education and Care, and clinicians from our Behavioral Health program, have made mention of how the way Lori utilizes her classroom. The way she talks and interacts with the children is a shining example of the love and care she has for all the children and families in her care.

Lori consistently demonstrates the Seven Hills Foundation’s Core Values. She is a team player and steps up as a leader and mentor at the Center for her colleagues.  She goes above and beyond for the children and the families that we work with. Whether it is to listen to someone that needs it or to offer/find solutions by working alongside families and the other educators. Her dedication to the field and to the Seven Hills community shows in all that she does.

Peter Smyth, Clinician, Stetson School

Peter Smyth is the Employee of the Year for Stetson School. Peter came to Stetson as a clinician in August of 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience, an infectious enthusiasm, and a smile that brightened even the most stressful situation. He jumped right in, volunteering to coach the soccer team that first fall, and has gone above and beyond for the students he supports, his team, and the program ever since.

Peter still coaches the soccer team each fall, in addition to his duties as a clinician. He strives for excellence in everything he does and is always seeking to better his skills and grow his knowledge base. He still brings that same enthusiasm and that bright smile to every day. Stetson is so fortunate to have Peter focused on our students and being such a positive influence on the rest of our team.

Courtney Ward, LPN-Nursing Supervisor, Seven Hills Pediatric Center

Congratulations to Courtney Ward, Nursing Supervisor, on being named Employee of the Year at Seven Hills Pediatric Center.

Courtney exemplifies leadership, dedication, and compassion in everything she does. Over the past year, she has consistently stepped up and gone above and beyond, often taking on additional responsibilities, supporting staff during challenging situations, and ensuring that the highest standards of care are maintained at all times. Her willingness to lead by example, fill gaps when needed, and remain accessible to her team has made a meaningful difference across the organization.

As a Nursing Supervisor, Courtney is a steady and trusted presence for both staff and families. She approaches every challenge with professionalism, calm determination, and a strong commitment to teamwork and patient-centered care. Her proactive problem-solving, mentorship of staff, and tireless advocacy for our residents reflect the very best of Seven Hills Pediatric Center’s mission and values. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of Courtney’s extraordinary efforts and the positive impact she makes at the Pediatric Center every day.