Nominated by fellow team members, three Rise managers were honored with the first Excellence in Leadership award at an end-of-year managers’ retreat. This is what the nominators had to say in part about the honorees:

Mental Health Program Manager Becky Rother (left) with SES-Anoka County “is an amazing leader. She is understanding, compassionate, respectful and a hardworking supervisor. Becky takes the time to know her staff — how she can best support us and gently guide us when we need guidance.”

Dan Meyers, directorof Vocational Evaluation and Transition Services, “doesn’t stand up and take the credit or be flashy, he just coordinates and runs his team like a fine orchestra conductor. His satisfaction comes from knowing that his team and the people we serve are doing well and winning. Dan is concise and confronts any barriers that may come up and helps dissolve it. Dan allows each of to be leaders in our own right and succeed.”

Jodi Blume, DTH program manager “has been there for all of us here at Anoka in one shape or form by listening, offering advice, and a shoulder to lean on when in need. It shows through her words, wisdom, and character that she is an amazing attribute to the CIP-Anoka team and Rise as a whole. Jodi has an amazing future ahead of her, and we are all so proud to call her our leader here!”

Congratulations to the other nominees:
* Maeta Burns-Penn, program manager with Employment Innovations
* Amy Carter, ARMHS / housing case manager at Central Minnesota Works
* Keith Hovland, director of CBTE and Supported Employment teams
* Cory McDevitt, program supervis0r at Creative Partnerships South
* Danielle Oestreicher, program manager for Anoka County CBTE
* Crystal Ray, program supervisor for SES-Hennepin County
* Shelia Ritter, program supersor with Minnesota Employment Center
* Casey Strack, program supervisor at CIP-Coon Rapids
* Michele Warren, director of Industrial Services
* Crystal Woolcott, DTH program supervisor for Employment Innovations
* Natalie Zacharias, DTH program manager / associate director for CIP-Coon Rapids