New Community hosted an Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon on March 7, which was National Employee Appreciation Day, to honor and celebrate employees who reached career milestones in 2024. A total of 49 employees who have collectively served New Community for 660 years were recognized at the event.
CEO Simone Gagneron highlighted the importance of each employee working toward a common goal. She quoted an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” At New Community, Gagneron said only collectively can the organization move forward.
She acknowledged that the work involves dealing with real life challenges on a daily basis that can be draining. But she knows that New Community employees continue to show up to do their jobs because they take pride in their work helping others.
“We care and we put that into every piece of the work that we do,” Gagneron said. “We work together and we care and it shows and it delivers. And it makes a difference.”
Gagneron said the talents the honorees have dedicated to New Community in Newark, Orange and Jersey City have helped keep families housed, helped children develop a love of learning, kept individuals and families safe and saved lives.
“We honor and celebrate each of you today not because of your years that you have worked for NCC. We honor and celebrate you today for the thousands of lives you have touched,” she said. “Today we say thank you and congratulations and we can’t wait to move forward together.”
Director of Human Resources Benjamin Galvez thanked the honorees for their many years of service and their commitment to New Community’s mission.
“I want to remind you that what you do and what you have done for many years makes an impact on every single client, resident and member of the public that you see every day,” he said.
Each honoree who reached a milestone year was presented with a certificate and later received a rewards program gift, which was based on years of service.
2024 Honorees
5 Years of Service
Anibal Alvelo, Resident Services
Fernando Argueta, Environmental Services
Milton Austin, Extended Care
Guadalupe Cepeda Reyes, Resident Services
Abiola Dyall, CHELC
Olakunle Fadayomi, Security
Marva Gillens, Security
Pablo Guzman, Environmental Services
Harriet Harrison, Extended Care
Tina Howard, Human Resources
Leonard Hughes, Security
Kenneth Izuogu, Extended Care
Azmar Kemp, Security
Shabana Khan, HHELC
Sunil Kumar, Security
Francine McLaughlin, SAIF
Kate Okolo, Extended Care
Noemi Sanabria, Family Service Bureau
Jermaine Simpkins, Environmental Services
Ricky Smith, Security
Paola Vasquez, CHELC
Akash Verma, Security
10 Years of Service
Lawrece Anderson, HHELC
Philip Arthur, Extended Care
Carlos Batista, Environmental Services
Jill DeRios, Resident Services
Edwin Negron, Environmental Services
Marycomfort Opara, HHELC
Keith Ransom, Security
15 Years of Service
Mercy Attah, Security
Dashon Hall, Extended Care
Madeline Miller, Extended Care
20 Years of Service
Michelle Jenkins, CHELC
Hope Okpala, CHELC
Roslyn Skyles, Adult Learning Center
25 Years of Service
Jacqueline Andrews, SAIF
Dorothy Artis, Property Management
Maximo DeLeon, Food Services
Genoveva Ferreras, Food Services
Ramon Gerena, IT
Jermaine Jones, Security
Sharon Jordan, Extended Care
James Massey, Security
Angela Potts, HHELC
Susan Williams, Extended Care
30 Years of Service
Mulu Gebreyesus, Credit Union
Robin Harris, Extended Care
Gary Taylor, Environmental Services
35 Years of Service
Michelle Grier-Porch, Security
