Living The Mission Award – September 2026 Winner
About the Award
The "Living the Mission" Award is presented each month to one employee who demonstrates above-and-beyond dedication to DakotAbilities and shows care and compassion for the people we support, their families, and fellow staff. Our goal is to recognize employees who not only fulfill their responsibilities but also go above and beyond throughout the workday, upholding and exemplifying our Core Values.
The award is grounded in our six Core Value Statements, which should be at the center of every employee’s daily work. These values are our daily promise to those we support and to one another:
• Dignity and respect are demonstrated.
• Relationships are valued.
• Accomplishments are celebrated.
• Authentic compassion is experienced.
• Excellence is guided by best practices.
• Advocacy impacts change.
September 2026 Nominees
The following employees were nominated by coworkers for the September 2026 Living the Mission Award. Please join us in congratulating all of the nominees!
- Theresa Haddican
- Chris Gooch
- Blake Egenes
- Cristina Pontarelli
Congratulations to our winner, Chris Gooch!
We are thrilled to announce that the Living the Mission Award for September 2026 goes to Chris Gooch!
Here is what the person who nominated Chris had to say:
"Chris recently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication during a major residential move. He went above and beyond to help ensure the people we support had a smooth transition while also supporting staff were informed, prepared, and supported throughout the process. His commitment to collaboration, advocacy, and the people we support truly exemplifies what it means to be Living the Mission. "
Thanks to Chris and all of the nominees for Living Our Mission for going above and beyond to enrich the lives of those we support. Your dedication is what makes DakotAbilities a place where everyone belongs.