On Wednesday, May 14th Rising Ground will hold its annual Employee Recognition Evening. At this event we acknowledge staff who are celebrating Length of Service milestone anniversaries as well as the recipients of the 2025 Employee Excellence Awards, peer-nominated awards that recognize staff who embody our core values of Accountability, Connection, Service and Tenacity, alongside our Employee of the Year awards and managerial recognition.
This year, 96 employees are being acknowledged for their 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40-year anniversaries, including five new inductees to the Diamond Club (employees with 25+ years of service).
“We are so fortunate that so many staff stay with us for an extended period, acquiring knowledge and skills that are not only directed to the people we support and the daily operations of our organization, but that are imparted to and inspiring for the rest of the people who work here.,” says Rising Ground CEO, Alan Mucatel.
2025 Employee Excellence Awards
The evening will also include the presentation of the 2025 Employee Excellence Awards. This year there was a record-breaking 784 nominations received for 431 employees. The winners are:
Ivory McQueen, Operations Manager, Transitional Independent Living (TIL) Program
2025 Employee of the Year
Ruby Paniagua, Program Coordinator, Respect & Responsibility Program
2025 Employee of the Year
Jennifer Perez, Operations Senior Supervisor, R.E.I.O (Real Estate and Infrastructure Operations
2025 Manager of the Year
Shaquan King , Case Aide, Preventive Services
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Accountability
Betsy Pilarte, Homefinder-Trainer, Passage of Hope
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Connections
Falon LeGendre, Case Planner, Justice for Youth and Families, Non-Secure Placement
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Tenacity
Ashley Casado, Case Worker, Immigration Services
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Service
Kathleen Cherrie, Generalist and Edith Campos, Administrative Manager, Human Resources Department
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Innovation
Tanisha Barrette, Housing Specialist, Rapid Re-housing
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Impact
Cassandra Youmans, Medical Secretary, Article 31 Mental Health Clinic
2025 Employee Excellence Award Respect
Darryl Pollock, Clerk, Administrative Department
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Achievement
Inez Young, Case Planner, Family Foster Care
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Safety
Lorraine Chung Direct Support Professional, I/DD Services
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Responsibility
Venese Haughton, Residence Manager, I/DD Services
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Frontline Manager
Racquel Jones, Program Director, Runaway and Homeless Services
2025 Employee Excellence Award: Middle Leadership
Length of Service Recognition
5 YEARS
Debbie Lacroix– Care Management
Samantha Dunn– Family Foster Care
Maya Marshall– Family Foster Care
Niema Riley– Family Foster Care
Debra Swire– Family Foster Care
Inez Young– Family Foster Care
Iliana Tejeda– Family Resource Center
Sonia Cancel– Family Respite
Emily Pena-Nunez– Home Study/Post Release Services
Kobby Bekoe– I/DD Department
Jameel Ferguson– I/DD Department
Nadine Harrison– I/DD Department
Omeal Haye– I/DD Department
Adrias Haynesworth– I/DD Department
Junior Henry– I/DD Department
Melissa Mensah Atta– I/DD Department
Adebanji Osunseemi– I/DD Department
Nikesha Powell Ghamandi– I/DD Department
Angela Reckford– I/DD Department
Jahmar Simmons– I/DD Department
Nikaury Lucena– Paths to Success
Emily Mateo– Paths to Healing
Heidi Pena– Paths to Success
Helianis Quijada Salazar– Paths to Success
Shantoya Mann– Justice for Youth and Families
Allie White– Justice for Youth and Families
Brittany Dingle– Justice for Youth and Families
Rahmeek Allah– Justice for Youth and Families
Crystal Bridges– Justice for Youth and Families
Tracey Cameron– Justice for Youth and Families
Ray Soomaroo– MIS
Mari Sanchez– Parentchild+
Ihandra Depena– Passage of Hope
Witma DePena– Passage of Hope
Denise Garcia– Passage of Hope
Glemerlin Garcia– Passage of Hope
Emely Hernandez-Reyes– Passage of Hope
Darlyn Peraza– Passage of Hope
Marianyeli Vasquez– Passage of Hope
Lilia Walczak– Passage of Hope
Nubiana DeLeon– Performance Evaluation Management (PEM)
Kevin Tavarez– Performance Evaluation Management (PEM)
Debora Santiago– Preventive Services
Kadijah Alleyne– Runaway Homeless Youth
Prentice Harris– Runaway Homeless Youth
Lisette Moran– Training
10 YEARS
Anthia Bartholomew – Early Head Start
Laura Valdez– Early Head Start
Jennifer Annunziata– Family Foster Care
Tatea Franks– Family Foster Care
Julian Miles– Family Respite
Mike Uveges– Family Respite
Jermaine Campbell– Finance
Thomas Cartolano– Finance
Tonya Booker– I/DD Department
Lorraine Chung– I/DD Department
Joseph Oppong – I/DD Department
Elaine Williams– I/DD Department
Barbara Haynes– Justice for Youth and Families
Monique Thomas– Justice for Youth and Families
Michael Wells-Davis– Justice for Youth and Families
Halema Williams– Justice for Youth and Families
Calvert Tonge– My Next Move
Hector Salvatierra– Passage of Hope
Virginia Velazquez– Passage of Hope
Nardine Warburton– Performance Evaluation Management (PEM)
Nijah Afflic– Preventive Services
Brundy Frenel– Preventive Services
Chantanique Morrison– Preventive Services
Larea Flores– Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
Shakia Johnson– Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
Melquan Santos– Runaway Homeless Youth
Lee Barmore– Training
15 YEARS
Marshall Booth– Center Based Respite
Joyce Afful– I/DD Department
Lissette Arroyo– I/DD Department
Joycelyn Miller– I/DD Department
Louis Tufano– I/DD Department
Jorge Rosario– Maintenance
Sue Sampogna– Chief Program Officer
20 YEARS
Marlene Cancel – Access & Referral
David Moore – I/DD Department
Alissa Coley – Ames Early Childhood Center
Joseph Person – Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
Casheif Belvin – Training
25 YEARS
Darryl Pollock – Administrative Services
Robyn Jacobson – Health Services
Daphne Carter – Ames Early Childhood Center
Olga Mercado – Ames Early Childhood Center
Tracey Miller – Ames Early Childhood Center
30 YEARS
Fabrizio Aguirre – Finance
Michelle Flores – Health Services
Claudia Harrison – I/DD Department
35 YEARS
Shirlene Clemons – Finance
Ian Mandrew-Prendergast – Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
40 YEARS
Lilly Prasad – Finance