The Value of Relationships

By: Marisa Geitner, President and C.E.O.
I have been reminded recently just how hard it is to say goodbye. No matter what may be driving the change, when someone’s presence in your life changes it can really sting.

Imagine how that is magnified for a person who welcomes others into her life for her most personal care and support needs. Imagine how that compounds when you lend your time to nurture and develop a new support relationship only to have it interrupted by change. Imagine if you are one tasked with consistently finding and hiring new talent to serve our important mission. Each time we say goodbye to a colleague we have enjoyed and invested in, our hearts naturally harden a bit. As our loss compounds it begins to impact the way in which we welcome others into the relationships and the work that means so much to us.

At Heritage Christian we are proud to surpass national rates for direct support retention but it is never good enough. Not only does it have a significant impact on those we support, it is wearing on those who we serve alongside.

As we stretch to meet individual needs in new and diverse ways our need for dedicated employees is immense. We have ongoing, aggressive recruitment efforts in place and we are always honing our investment to attract the best candidates. Even so, with such high hiring standards, we only offer employment to about 22 percent of the people we meet. Therefore we need to continue to meet many people who may be inspired to serve our Christian mission. Each of you can have an active role in introducing us to caring, compassionate people. We appreciate the support.

In addition, each of us who continue to experience loss when someone's role in our lives change, will continue to prayerfully find ways to open our hearts so that  each and every time we demonstrate the welcoming culture that has defined Heritage Christian. Amazing people will be directed and attracted to this great mission as we continue to let the light shine!

The importance of nurturing individual success

By: Marisa Geitner, President and C.E.O.

We are so proud of the programs and services we have been able to offer to our community throughout the last 30 years. We know they have been essential in creating the right atmosphere for relationships to blossom and experiences to shape learning and development. That's when we really see amazing results.

You see, organizations don't achieve personal change, people do. Our role is a guide, a well-educated, dedicated guide. But the true influence Heritage Christian aims to have can only come through personal achievement, one person at a time. We won't see sustainable impact without nurturing individual success.

We are committed to the social change necessary for our community to thrive. We support individual growth through good listening and supportive action. We also know this kind of community impact takes a strong network of allies. It helps us to inform our choices and gain a common vision. Done right these community networks may be invisible to those choosing our services, but they will be among the most powerful forces we can channel for the greater good of our mission.

That's what makes our work day to day so vital. Every day we need to be at our best, nurturing just the right experience that will support personal growth. This defines the difference between good work and true impact. 

The Gift of Millennials

By: Marisa Geitner, President and C.E.O.

Many often hear me repeat a quote born out of research based on the Pygmalion Effect. It goes something like this, "Treat a person as they could be and should be and they will become as they could be and should be, treat them as they are and they will remain as they are."

It’s the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the seemingly nonstop criticism of the Millennial generation, which by the way is the largest and most researched cohort to date. I'm referencing those born between 1980 and 1999. Those who represent, according to the US Census Bureau, more than 80 million people in today’s workforce across this country. They represent 1,110 members of our Heritage Christian Services workforce. That's 62 percent of our total workforce today! In terms of those we support, 50 percent are Millennials.

I'd like to share some general facts that keep me encouraged about our present and future workforce. Despite the national tragedies that have filled their upbringing, they are largely known as optimists. As a widely diverse generation, they demonstrate tolerance of race and they demand equality. They can be masters of self-expression. Nurtured right, this can be a method of developing awareness at a young age. They know themselves and that helps them plot their own opportunities and development. They have demonstrated care for others in need, and they get involved. Their self esteem allows them to be assertive and they have high expectations. It's not a corporation that earns their loyalty, but a good supervisor and team. They value relationships. Did you know they will often rely more on the feedback of those they trust than on the plethora of research they have at the tip of their fingers? They watch and listen to learn.

Is it any wonder Millennials have such an impact at Heritage Christian Services?  It’s a value match right from the get-go. Our culture fuels the entrepreneurial spirit in them, and they appreciate the freedom to develop strong relationships with those they support and those they work with. They are encouraged by the ability to share experiences that help others (and themselves) navigate what matters most. They appreciate diversity in their work sometimes even more than advancement. They want to have an impact when they invest time. They appreciate life as a journey and they don't mind a wild ride.

I’m thankful for people of all ages who work here because all those generations are making sure we’re able to serve future generations.