Champion of the Month, Debra Bryant, brings 40 years of experience working with people with disabilities to her role as a Direct Support Professional. Debra works to oversee the crew of Rise workers at Federal Premium in Anoka, MN. Debra joined Rise 10 years ago, after working at a functional day program in Buffalo, MN.

What does Debra love about Rise?

According to Debra, what she loves most about her work at Rise is the collaborative nature of her team– along with the joy of witnessing persons served work hard and achieve new milestones.

Fellow Team Members commend Debra for her exceptional qualities as a part of the team at Federal. According to one colleague, Debra “embodies all the qualities of an outstanding team member, going above and beyond to support the people in our programs in a kind, caring, and respectful way.” Another shares that Debra “prides herself on being respectful, kind, and courteous. She adapts her approach for each individual’s needs on a daily basis.”

Debra Bryant’s Impact

Debra’s impact extends beyond the individuals she supports. She has collaborated with business partners at Federal to navigate significant changes at the site as they work to minimize heavy metal exposure. Debra has worked very closely with the site to ensure the Rise crew is a step ahead on compliance, going above and beyond to not only support the crew with the vast changes, but also strengthen our business partnership with Federal.

Outside of work, you can find Debra spending time with her family, including her 7 grandkids and 7 great-grandkids: “They keep me busy, which I love!”