Employee Appreciation Day!

It has been over two years since I first began working at Desert Arc. I remember sitting in our Human Resources office as I was being interviewed and I distinctly remember having a stomach full of butterflies. I was being interviewed for a position in the Behavior Modification Department and was excited for the new opportunity. As the conversation wound down Melissa, who is now our Human Resources generalist, looked at me and asked "Do you have any questions for me?" I asked the question I normally do at interviews: "How long have you been working here?" She let me know that she had been at Desert Arc about one year and looked down the hallway in Building 3 as she pointed out each person along the corridor and began listing off years of service. 1 year. 5 years. 7 years.15 years. That's the portion of the interview that had me convinced that this was the place I wanted to work.

On July 13th our Human Resources Department carried on the annual tradition of honoring staff members for their years of service with Desert Arc's Staff Appreciation Day! Staff with 1 and 3 years of service are recognized at an award ceremony and breakfast at our Palm Desert, Yucca Valley, and Indio locations. Our President and CEO Richard Balocco calls this "One of my favorite events as a CEO" and personally hands out certificates of recognition to every staff member who is being awarded. Later in the afternoon, staff members with 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service are treated to a wonderful lunch at Fantasy Springs Resort. Staff were given an opportunity to speak and many shared heart-felt words about their co-workers and the clients that they work with.

This is my second year participating in this celebration and what I am most amazed by is that whenever someone is asked "Why did you stay for such a long time?" the answer is always the same: "I love this job and I am grateful to be a part of our clients' lives." Many times people arrive at Desert Arc with a strong desire to make a change in someone's life for the better. What Staff Appreciation Day has helped me realize is that more often than not, it's the people we're dedicated to helping that end up changing our lives the most.

Thank you to our Humans Resources Department for taking the time to appreciate the work that is done and thank you to all the staff who make our mission of creating opportunities possible. I look forward to seeing you all next year!