November champion of the month, Shawn Schumacher, didn’t expect to succeed in his Direct Support Professional role when he joined the Rise Coon Rapids team in 2022. After his 30-year career in corporate transportation was upended by the pandemic, Shawn took a DSP job, expecting it would lead him to something more aligned with his transportation experience. However, Shawn soon found immense success and is now an essential part of the Coon Rapids team.

“I quickly realized how fortunate I was to be in a burgeoning Life Enrichment Program within Coon Rapids,” Shawn shares. “After overcoming my fears and doubts about being able to succeed in this environment, I was enlightened to people with disabilities and had compassion to provide.” Since being promoted to a DSP level three, Shawn has even taken on additional responsibilities in facilitating and adapting daily schedules to meet staffing and attendance needs, as well as coordinating transportation and maintaining Coon Rapids’ fleet of vehicles. This, he shares, is something he’s very proud of.

According to colleagues in Coon Rapids, Shawn is “always giving it 110%. He truly cares about the people served in a very person-centered way and provides them with a great experience each and every day. He understands that everyone is different but that everyone deserves to be treated with the same level of respect.”

Notorious for taking care of many tasks that pop up around the building, Shawn is regarded as a go-getter by his peers. Shawn shares that he particularly values the humanitarian culture and consistent schedule that Rise offers. Above all, he is grateful for the opportunity to spend his newfound career giving back and supporting others.

Outside of work, Shawn enjoys the company of his wife and their cats. Life has quieted a bit since his grown daughter left the nest, and he savors the simple pleasures of watching Netflix in front of the fireplace.