June Champion of the Month, Paige Cihunka, got her start at Rise as an HR intern in 2020. Cihunka graduated from Winona State University with a degree in Human Resources and Business Administration. After completing her degree, she worked for a staffing company before returning to Rise full-time in October 2021. Since then, she has been an integral part of Rise’s Human Resources team as our HR Generalist.

For Cihunka, the impact of her role is what keeps her going. “You really do feel the difference you make in people’s lives,” she shares, “no matter what position you are working in.” She has no shortage of praise for her fellow HR team members: “I am most proud of our HR team, they are always trying to better themselves and everyone every day.”

A colleague shared with us that Cihunka is consistently “empathetic, patient, kind, and supportive.” Since her role as HR Generalist is to coordinate the recruitment process, you can often find her at job fairs and other recruiting events. “Her face lights up when sharing what Rise has to offer,” a team member says. “She is clearly passionate about what she does.”

Cihunka’s impact on Rise is invaluable. In a time when Rise is focused on rebuilding our staff numbers and reducing the waitlist for services, her organization-wide role in recruitment, onboarding, and orientation efforts is truly essential. “My favorite part of my job,” Cihunka shares, “is getting to run Orientation and having the opportunity to meet all of our new hires that come to work for Rise. It is so exciting to meet people that are just as excited to serve the community and make a difference as we all are.”

Outside of working hours, Cihunka loves watching basketball and staying active. You can find her at the gym, going for a walk, rollerblading, spending time with friends and family, or “reading a good thriller book.”