Winter 2023 – HR News
Recreation Specialist Hired
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
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