REM Minnesota DSPs Chosen as DSP of the Day

September 26, 2016

At REM Minnesota and The MENTOR Network, we value our Direct Support Professionals and others in direct support roles for their dedication to those we serve and their critical role in carrying out our mission every day.

Throughout the month of September, The MENTOR Network is honoring direct support staff members through the DSP of the Day campaign, which recognizes a different direct support staff member each day for their outstanding service. DSPs from REM Minnesota are among those chosen as the DSP of the Day this year. Congratulations to each of these team members, and thank you for your commitment to the individuals we serve!

September 28: Jordan Koerner

“I enjoy being able to be a part of an individual’s personal and physical growth, and being someone they trust and rely on.”

September 24: Dawn Carignan

“I look forward to going to work every day. My enjoyment comes from the women who live in the home where I work. It’s incredibly rewarding and joyful watching them overcome obstacles that they thought were impossible to overcome. I also enjoy going out into the community with them, taking walks, shopping or getting a coffee—these things that may seem so simple to others give the women I support confidence and light up their day. To see their smiles daily gives me great joy. I love my job as a DSP.”

September 20: Tammy Stangeland

“What I enjoy most about working in a direct support role is working with a variety of people, assisting them in their daily lives, and helping then achieve their goals. Out in the community, one of my favorite things is seeing their faces light up when they see someone they know.”

September 13: Kaye Hill

“I enjoy assisting the individuals I support in accomplishing the goals they have set for themselves; watching them thrive in areas that used to be difficult for them; and learning something new about them every single day. One of the individuals enjoys feeding the ducks and geese at a local pond near his house. The pure joy on his face as he watches the geese run for the bread is heartwarming.”

September 10: Lukas Meyer

“Getting to see people better their lives and knowing that I help to make a difference each day is something I’ll never take for granted. Working in this field definitely teaches you a lot about yourself (patience too) and really brings out the best in a person. Community outings with the guys are the best—we walk through parks, see movies, adventure downtown, go to sporting events, dance at the dam and watch concerts, but disc golfing is by far my favorite activity, hands down.”

September 8: Lawanda Williams

“I enjoy seeing the individuals we support happy and working towards their goals. Some individuals and I like going to Avant Garden. They have an open mic time and anyone can participate by singing, reciting a poem, or playing a musical instrument. Individuals get to enjoy themselves and socialize with members of the community.”

September 3: Sarah Brehmer

“What I enjoy about working in a direct support role is the challenge, making the individuals we serve happy, and watching them overcome obstacles. Lately, we have been going on picnics and we recently took the guys we support to a music festival. It was a lot of work, but great to see them all smile and have a good time.”

September 1: Heather Cochran

“I like working with the individuals we support and having them see me more as family and not as an employee, because this is not a job to me and it is home to them. I like the relationships I have built and being able to see the impact I make on their life daily. The laughs that we have on outings are contagious—you cannot help but laugh with them.”

Updated October 3, 2016