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Lifeworks HR News

Winter 2023 – HR News

Recreation Specialist Hired 

Tracey O’Farrell

Lifeworks has a new recreation specialist!  Meet Tracey O’Farrell, a nurse, fitness enthusiast, nutrition coach and vocalist, who started working in the Autism Support Center in early December. Tracey comes to Lifeworks with a lot of experience, having worked for Moderna as a COVID-19 compliance nurse and for the Boston Public Schools as a reading interventionist/severe needs autism paraprofessional. Since 2015, she has been a professional singer at Club Café, a supper club in Boston.  “We are pleased to have Tracey onboard and excited to be able to expand our social and recreation programming.  Her position is newly created through funding provided by DDS to support families with additional activities,” said Brian Clark, Director of the Autism Support Center. 

Through all our programs, we strive to bring new ideas, activities, and opportunities to fruition for the people we serve. Like so many of our wonderful staff, Tracey brings plenty of enthusiasm, energy, and creativity to Lifeworks. She is working with Walpole Media Corporation, a nonprofit public access cable station, to develop a new Lifeworks community activity. Walpole Media has a state-of-the-art studio located in Walpole High School. The Lifeworks community will have the opportunity to learn about behind-the-scenes TV production, create broadcasts, film events, and edit content. 

“I have lots of ideas about what we can do, like creating content around advocacy, and topics that people participating in our programs are passionate about,” said Tracey. “We can do shows about gaming, the explorers’ program, discussion groups, podcasts or just about anything out in the community. They can sign out cameras to cover our sporting events. There are so many possibilities.” 

Currently in its initial planning phase, Tracey says that the program will launch sometime in March with an Open House during which participants can tour the station and take part in a themed event with activities, such as filming in front of a green screen. More details will be announced soon. 

Please join us in welcoming Tracey and all the great people who have joined the Lifeworks staff in the past couple of months! Lifeworks is happy to have you and we appreciate the work you do to advocate, empower, and provide opportunities for our community. 

Newest Members of the Lifeworks Staff

Join us in welcoming the following individuals who have joined the Lifeworks Team! (October 1, 2022 – February 6, 2023)

Jassira Alves, Residential

Michael Auld, Maintenance

Annette Awasung, Residential

Oluwakemi Bankole, Residential

Genevie Barco, Residential

Nada Boufteh, LES Boston

Michelle Calo, Day Habilitation

Morgan Casey, Residential

Marina Cataldo, LES Boston

David Chamberlain, LES Norwood

LeeAnne Chapin, Day Habilitation

Brenda David, Administration, Westwood

Danthia Dolbashian, LES Norwood

Gregory Eustis, LES Boston

Matthew Folan, Residential

Julissa Fort, Residential

Spencer Freitas, LES Boston

Susanne Fuller, Residential

Binta Gbujie, Residential

Kara Goldrick, Harbor Counseling Center

Carole Goodis, Residential

Carol Haartz, Day Habilitation

Alexandra Jacobs, LES Norwood

Marie-Lucie Jean Baptiste, Residential

Ryan Lawrence, Residential

Jennifer Lawson, Payroll Office

Nicole Lochiatto, Family Autism Center

Laura Lynch, LES Norwood

Troy Montgomery, LES Norwood

Daniel Monuteaux, LES Boston

Miliarys Novoa, Family Support

Tracey O’Farrell, Family Autism Center

Renee O’Neill, Day Habilitation

Segun Oyegunwa, Residential

Donna Perry, LES Norwood

Oton Rezende, Transportation

Burt Rose, Residential

Beverley Roye, Residential

Denika Ryner, LES Boston

Edgardo Schultz, Residential

Sandra Start, Harbor Counseling Center

Loren Vecchiarelli, Family Support

Alyson Tayetto, Connections

Stephen Cantine
Fall 2022 – HR News

Stephen Cantine has been appointed Director of Human Resources. Steve brings nearly 20 years of human resources experience to the role,
where he will oversee the agency’s employee relations, recruitment,
retention, compensation, diversity and performance initiatives. This includes the development of new recruiting initiatives, improving staff training, and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion within the agency, as well as staff recognition and appreciation initiatives.
“Steve’s depth of experience and strong knowledge of HR policies and procedures are perfectly aligned with our needs. He will be instrumental in maintaining and improving our employee satisfaction and engagement initiatives,” said Lifeworks CEO Daniel Burke. “With over 400 employees, it is extremely important for us to be able to listen to our employees and successfully collaborate with them. Our employees are essential and key to our mission of advocating, empowering and providing opportunities
for people with disabilities.”
Before joining Lifeworks, Cantine was the human resources manager for Finetco in Rhode Island. Previously, he provided operational oversight and leadership in his role as director of the Center for Career & Professional Development at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. A resident of Wakefield, R.I., Cantine earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree in counseling from California State University.

New Members of the Lifeworks Staff (July 1 – September 30, 2022)

Since the start of this fiscal year, July 1st, Lifeworks HR has been busy onboarding new team members, in addition to Steve, the following individuals have been welcomed to the Lifeworks team:

Asma Abdullah, Licensed Practicing Nurse, Residential

Jill Arsenault, Direct Care II, Residential

Hedwidges Bien-Aime, Direct Care I, Residential

Brendan Byrne, Direct Care II, Day Habilitation

Marsha Dominique, Registered Nurse, Residential

Maci Fusi, Direct Care II, Employment Services

Thomas Hylton, Direct Care II, Shared Living        

Patricia Jamieson, Registered Nurse, Residential

Meredith Kelley, Comptroller, Business Office

Neyda Lara Soto, Driver, Transportation

Tatyana Lopez, Direct Care I, Temporary

Amy Lynch, Direct Care II, Employment Service

Ronald Mondesir, Licensed Practicing Nurse, Residential

Michael Neita, Direct Care II, Individual Home Supports

Ayodeji Ogundele, Direct Care II, Residential

Apryl Scott, Clinician, Residential

Oludotun Shoneye, Temporary, Direct Care I

Angela Smallwood, Direct Care II, Individual Home Supports

Kathy Thi Le, Registered Nurse, Residential

Katherine Tibbetts, Registered Nurse, Day Habilitation

Celebrating 40 Years with Lifeworks

Dear Lifeworks Community, 

As an organization, Lifeworks is honored and blessed to have an incredible team of staff members supporting the people we serve each day. Within our team, we have a significant number of staff who have been with the agency for more than 10 years as well as staff members who have dedicated more than 20 years as a career to Lifeworks and our mission.   We are grateful for all that everyone does. 

While all of us are actively participating in working hard to recruit new staff members to support this valuable team, there is one person who has stood out amongst all of us, one member of our team who has gone far above and beyond all of us. 

On May 3, 2022,  Joanne Sarno-Smith, our house manager at our residence in Foxboro celebrated her 40th ANNIVERSARY with Lifeworks.  Joanne becomes the first Lifeworks employee to celebrate 40 years as an employee, in our 68 years as an organization.  As a team member, starting out in 1982 as a teacher/counselor at a house we had in Dedham, to moving to a teacher/counselor at the Lenox St. Apts., and in 1984 becoming the Program Manager at the Foxboro house, Joanne has done all of her work in direct care settings for her entire 40 years. On behalf of all her colleagues, we are incredibly grateful for all she has done. 

Joanne’s amazing work at Lifeworks is demonstrated every day in this wonderful residence in Foxboro— it is not a facility, but it truly is an amazing home. It is the hub of the Powderhouse Neighborhood. In Joanne’s 38 years there, the men who have lived there have been blessed to be a part of the families of their neighbors and have welcomed all the neighbors into their home.   From block parties, Friday evenings on the front porch, young children learning to ride their bikes in the house driveway, the community garden in the backyard to most importantly providing a wonderful, supportive home for all those who have lived there, Joanne has been the heart and soul, the leader of an amazing staff over so many years.   

For those who do not know Joanne, she is a dynamic, enthusiastic leader in her home and for the agency.  She has been incredibly dedicated to the men who have lived at this home.  While the residence has been a home operated by Lifeworks since 1979, no one remembers if we had a house manager prior to Joanne.  Behind her enthusiasm for the house and agency, Joanne is modest and unassuming.  She will certainly not be happy with me that I am sending this to our Lifeworks community. 

Joanne’s family have been an integral part of the home and our agency and the “brothers” who have lived at the Foxboro residence are a part of the Sarno-Smith family. 

I invite all of you to join me in thanking and recognizing Joanne for all she has done.  

Most of all, on behalf of the families and friends of those she has served, the many staff who have worked there, and most importantly on behalf of the men who have lived or do live there—Fred S, Dennis G., Howard H., John G., Everett B., Dennis W., Lou P., Mike T., Sam P., Roger G., Rich K., John B, Peter F., Brian C., Steve P., Dexter Y., Paul W., Ken W., Joe A., and Phil B.—we are thankful and grateful for all that you do and have done for each of these men and for all of us as your colleagues. 

JOANNE, THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Dan Burke, President/CEO