Southwest Behavioral & Health Services Presents Annual Employee of the Year Awards to Nine Recipients

From left to right: Luis Celaya (accepting on behalf of Eddie Hernandez), Jason Eng, Staci Perry, Jeff Jorde, President/CEO, Dr. Andrea Pupillo, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Rebecca Cheney, Chaz Martinez

(PHOENIX – July 6, 2017) – Southwest Behavioral & Health Services is pleased to announce it recently presented its 2016 Employee of the Year Awards to nine recipients at its annual awards banquet.

The Employee of the Year Awards recognize individuals in each of SB&H’s program areas. Employees are encouraged to nominate their fellow coworkers who have gone above and beyond in fulfilling SB&H’s mission. From there, a selection committee, comprised of staff from different areas of the organization, chooses the recipients based on their nominations.

“Presenting the Employee of the Year Awards is always one of the events I look forward to most each year,” said Jeff Jorde, SB&H president and CEO. “It’s a true pleasure to be able to recognize those individuals in our organization for their hard work and let them know it is not unnoticed. I congratulate each and every one of them for their dedication to our organization.”

The 2016 recipients include:

Rebecca Cheney

0-5 Family Coach

Phoenix, 85020

Cheney is described by her coworkers as the “epitome of professionalism.” She goes above and beyond her normal duties by providing more case management and follow-through with clients than what is expected of her. She has put together trainings on her own for coworkers to help familiarize them with her role and how to best work with the age 0 to 5 population.

Chaz Martinez

Communications & Events Liaison

Bullhead City, 86442

Martinez is an incredible community ambassador for SB&H; he ensures the organization is represented at community events that align with its mission and vision. Additionally, he has provided cultural competency training to numerous individuals in Mohave County and is working hard to reduce the stigma associated with mental health. He has built great relationships with community partners in both Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City to help SB&H’s clients and is always open to a new idea and gets the job done.

Staci Perry

Crisis Interventionist

Mohave Valley, 86440

Perry goes above and beyond in both what her job description entails and what it doesn’t. Working in crisis, she has developed an excellent rapport with the emergency room staff of both local Bullhead City hospitals and the police department. Additionally, she uses a humanistic approach to mental health treatment. Finally, rather than waiting for a crisis call to happen, Perry applies a proactive approach, driving to the clinics before being called.

Erin Carey

Senior Behavioral Health Technician

Phoenix, 85017

Carey has the gift of developing the bond of trust with her clients through her caring and empathetic approach while maintaining a level of professionalism with her clients.  Even when clients become frustrated at program rules, Carey maintains a calm tone and is able to validate a client’s frustration while also explaining the rationale for the rules. Besides her excellent rapport with the clients, she is always willing to assume additional responsibilities.

Jason Eng

Program Coordinator

Glendale, 85308

Eng’s leadership style is outstanding—he is assertive, fair, inclusive and supportive to all, and he is a role model to all of his employees. He has also created and provided countless resources to staff that allow them to maintain efficiency and effectiveness. All of his staff look up to him as a great leader.

Craig Moore

Behavioral Health Technician

Moore is always there to help, whether it is part of his job or not. He shows great leadership and the ability to go above and beyond what is expected of him. Not only is he highly knowledgeable, but he is detail-oriented, non-confrontational and is someone his coworkers can always count on. He is a self-starter and doesn’t wait to be assigned a task; he simply takes care of it.

Carrie Holmes

Program Coordinator

Tempe, 85283

Holmes demonstrates excellence as a school-based clinician. She cultivates and maintains highly positive and collaborative relationships and partnerships with school teachers and administrators at the schools to which she has been assigned, as well as the family members and other key stakeholders for the children on her caseload. All of her work has resulted in a higher level of camaraderie and collaboration with all the facilities and schools she works with.

Eddie Hernandez

Maintenance Team Lead

Hernandez consistently strives to improve the quality of the environment that he is in. In the maintenance department, he often takes time to share his vast knowledge with other technicians to show them the correct and safe methods when they are unsure of how to proceed. He is equal parts teacher and supervisor, always willing to help out and recognize staff in their efforts.

Dr. Andrea Pupillo

Behavioral Health Medical Professional

Phoenix, 85028

Dr. Pupillo was honored with the Prescriber of the Year Award. She is flexible to meet with clients who are in need, she is willing to provide coverage for staff when challenges arise and she goes out of her way to ensure clients’ needs are met on a continual basis.  When clients appear to need more intense services, she takes the time to review the needs of the client with any and all staff associated with the care of an individual.

About Southwest Behavioral & Health Services:

Incorporated in 1974 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Southwest Behavioral & Health Services provides services in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, rural Maricopa County, Gila, Mohave, Coconino, and Yavapai counties. Our Mission: “We inspire people to feel better and reach their potential. Through helping people discover their strengths, we improve our communities.” SB&H is a leader in development and delivery of services in the areas of housing, residential care, prevention services, outpatient services to children, incarcerated persons and dually diagnosed adults (SMI/SA). An innovative leader in behavioral health, services are client directed-outcome informed, evidence-based and include treatment of co-occurring disorders, the FAST model in prevention services, the Arizona Treatment Initiative for children and families, and the Recovery Model for persons with serious mental illness. For more information on SB&H, please visit www.sbhservices.org.