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Young worker wins Quadco top award
Quadco Executive Director Bruce Abell expressed his appreciation to all of the workers at the center as he opened the annual awards program on October 5 at the center. “It’s been an exciting year for us,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of work and everyone’s been working real hard.”
Speaking to a crowd of about 130 people in the multi-purpose room of the center’s building in Stryker, Mr. Abell continued by saying, “We’ve been having a lot of fun, too. We’re doing things like our NASCAR Club. We’re doing the movies and popcorn on Fridays and that’s a popular thing. The men’s and women’s clubs have been doing a lot of fun and interesting things and everyone likes that.”
Mr. Abell also noted the opening of the new Defiance Center, as one of the other highlights of the past year.
“On behalf of all of us here at Quadco, I want to let each and every one of you know how much we appreciate everything you do and all the hard work you do that makes Quadco such a good place to work,” he concluded.
The highlight of the awards day program was the announcement of the winner of the Don Spiess Award. This year the award was presented to Travis Ellert of rural Defiance.
In making the presentation of the award, Quadco Training Specialist Christine Wortkoetter said that Travis always comes to work with a smile on his face. She said he is a very hard worker, he is willing to try any new job, and if something extra needs to be done, he volunteers.
She also noted that staff members commented that they have never seen Travis mad or upset or utter an unkind word to anyone. He is kind to his co-workers and always willing to help, she said.
Nancy Mack from the Defiance County Board of MR/DD told the crowd that the 23-year-old has made quite an impression among the workers at Quadco in the short couple of years that he has been working there. “Travis has combined hard work, success and fun to arrive at this day today,” she said.
Defiance County Board of MR/DD Superintendent Rick Edmonds also congratulated Ellert saying, “With everything we’ve heard about Travis today and with the characteristics of Don Spiess, I think it’s very apparent that Travis embodies a lot of those characteristics of Don Spiess and is very, very deserving of this award.”
“I think it’s a reflection of all the support that he has received over the years from his family and, now that he is here at Quadco, all the support he receives from the staff of Quadco,” Mr. Edmonds stated.
The award is named for the late Don Spiess, a former operations manager at Quadco before he retired. Quadco staff members nominate and vote on the annual selection.
In reviewing the criteria for the award, Mr. Abell said that when Mr. Spiess worked at Quadco, “Don was always one of those people who worked real hard. He was always doing more than what was expected of him, and he was friendly and helpful to everyone around him.”
Therefore, the person selected each year is someone who most closely resembles the qualities that Mr. Spiess demonstrated when he worked at Quadco, Mr. Abell said.
Awards were also given for years of service, perfect attendance, being a representative on the employee council, hardest workers, most improved workers, and persons who provide a helping hand to others.
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