Virtual Event Celebrates LMHS Employees
Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) celebrated the accomplishments of their employees at a virtual event held in July. The annual Employee Recognition event was modified to comply with social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic with a private online live stream for employees to view. Award honorees attended special viewing parties at Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) and were individually escorted to receive their awards on-screen.
“We are happy to celebrate our employees and their service to this organization and community during their career and especially during the pandemic,” President & CEO Rob Montagnese said. “It might be difficult to find a bright light in our daily lives during this crisis, but the efforts of our employees do not go unnoticed. We appreciate all of our employees’ service, and the Licking County community will emerge stronger and better because of your efforts.”
Rob presented the Manager of the Year Award during a celebration on July 10. Established in 1987, the award recognizes a management employee who has demonstrated fair and consistent leadership in his or her area of responsibility. The nominee should demonstrate an ability to inspire his or her employees beyond the ordinary requirements of their jobs. Two managers were honored this year – Lisa Hayes and Denise Matthews.
Lisa began employment at LMHS in June 2002 as a frontline staff nurse on 4-North, and in 2005, she transferred to Radiology. In 2007, she became one of the first Clinical Coordinators and helped develop the role of the Clinical Educator at Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH). She was named as the Clarissa Ann Howard Award for Clinical Excellence honoree in 2008. Lisa’s first management role was the Patient Care Manager position on 5-South, and in 2014, she became the Director of the Medical/Surgical units. In 2017, Lisa was named the Director of Acute Care and currently oversees all medical/surgical units, critical care units, Inpatient Rehab, the patient care coordinators, and dialysis. She also serves as the LMH liaison with Lifeline of Ohio.
Denise started her career with LMHS in 2009 and was promoted to Environmental Services Manager within her first year of employment. In addition to the Hospital, Denise oversees housekeeping and related services for more than 30 LMHS locations, including the Select Specialty space at LMH – Tamarack. Denise is highly dedicated to her work, an excellent mentor, and also a very doting grandmother to her five grandchildren.
The Clarissa Ann Howard Nursing Award for Clinical Excellence also was presented during the July 10 event. The annual award recognizes nurses who are respected by their peers for their expertise, professionalism and clinical excellence while providing patient care. The 2020 award recipients are Dusty Meadows, R.N., and Connie Beckley, L.P.N.
Dusty graduated from The Ohio State University with his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, he went on to attend Ohio University and received his associate degree in Nursing and is near the completion of his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Chamberlain University. He is certified in ACLS and PALS and serves as a certified instructor for both PALS and BLS.
Dusty was hired as a staff nurse on 5-South at LMH in July 2008, then transferred to the Emergency Department in 2011. He began a shared role as the Emergency Department Clinical Coordinator in 2014 and assumed the position full time in 2017. Dusty lives in Frazeysburg with his wife of 19 years, Heather, and their children – Emma, age 17, and Jack, age 13. Dusty enjoys kayaking, karate, hiking, traveling and reading in his spare time.
Connie graduated from Newcomerstown High School in 1998. After high school, she joined the Longaberger Company and completed the Longaberger Basket School. Following her time at Longaberger, Connie attended Mid East Ohio Adult Learning Center where she graduated in 2004 with her L.P.N. degree. She joined LMHS in 2005 and has worked primarily in family practice with both Garth Bennington, M.D., and Pattye Whisman, M.D.
Connie and her husband, Thomas, have four children; Brian, Julianne, George, and Pattye Grace. They recently purchased an 11-acre farm where they raise three pigs and 12 chickens. Connie and her family attend the Bladensburg Church of Christ.
LMHS named 30 MVP Award recipients on July 10 for their consistent demonstration of LMHS’ values: compassion, accountability, respect and excellence.
The 2020 MVPs are:
Hanaa Abdelmessih, M.D.
Tricia Allen
Janet Allotey
Tucker Arthurs
Michael Brazil
Austin Brown
J. Scott Brown
Lisa Coutler, B.S.N.
Debi DeLozier
Joe Divan
Emily Gentry
Valerie Gliva, B.S.N.
Mallory Grieb, B.S.N.
Carlena Hoffman, R.N.
Lindsay Lachowsky
John Lazar, M.D.
Brad Lewis, M.D.
Erin Neirkirk
Ginger Palmer, R.N.
Jim Pfister, M.S.W.
Decebmer Rhymer, R.N.
Jennifer Rice
Chuck Rine
Kenita Robinson-Keck, B.S.N.
Chelsie Russell, B.S.N.
Amy Short
Andrea Tosi
Pattye Whisman, M.D.
Kristin Wilson
Brittney Worstell