Employment Highlights

Stephanie Wall
Nominated by: Kim Lyngaas

Stephanie Wall could be up for this award year after year. She adheres strong to the “lead by example” philosophy and holds herself to a standard most people could only aspire to. Not only is Steph a team lead for two sites in Moorhead, MN, but is also a mentor for her peers in that region. Putting her day-to-day accomplishment/feats aside (which really deserve recognition in their own right), she really deserves an award for her sacrifice and leadership during the 2009 Red River Flood. Steph lives north of Fargo and when the floods were emanate she signed up for a code red alert to be sent to her cell phone that told her if evacuation was going to occur for the site. Once public announcement was made and she received the red alert she began coordinating the efforts. She spent almost eight hours on the phone lining up staff to help with the move and work during the entire evacuation. Steph’s own home was surrounded by water so she had to make her own plan to get into the site. She had to have her husband drive her on a four wheeler to an area of ice that she had to cross and then staff had to pick her up on the other side. At one point they even had to use a boat to get to dry land. Steph had to pack enough for everyone, including herself, to last a minimum of four days. Steph went with three of the individuals to their alternative placement. The next several days were far from easy for anyone, but Steph never let is show. Working twelve hour shifts (one of the short days), helping the guys adjust to their new surroundings, new housemates and unfamiliar staff, Steph did it all. Not only did she have to support the gentleman in a new setting she still had to find ways to finish her other work, like completing payroll from a motel room. The sacrifice Steph made is unbelievable. She made sure the five individuals she supports were comfortable, safe and secure, while putting her needs on the back burner. Her sacrifice went as far as missing her own son’s third birthday party. Even with all of that under her belt, Steph still found the good in everything. “The flood had some good come out of it. Since I spent all those hours with the guys, I really got to know them even more.” Stephanie is not only a tremendous employee, but also a model to the principles that guide our service.