11/26/2025
We want to congratulate Liz Ford for achieving a major milestone this month with our agency! Liz was hired on at our Bartley Group Home as a Direct Care staff way back in November of 1995, and has now worked for agency for an astonishing 30 consecutive years, and is our longest tenured employee!
Liz is dependable, honest, committed, loyal and hard working. She is selfless in how she serves others and she leads her staff with respect, consistency, fairness and integrity. She goes above and beyond in meeting the needs of her staff and consumers both! We are very appreciative and proud of all that Liz has accomplished over the past 30 years, as she has been a constant and integral part of our success, growth and sustainability.
Liz started off as a direct care staff in 1995, but soon worked her way up to house manager at the group home that she started at. She managed our group homes for 20 years total, including two 8-bed group homes in West Plains over that time. Liz was also the house manager of our very first ISL that was opened in 2004, and currently manages, and still works shifts when needed as well, 5 homes here in West Plains.
Liz's favorite memories are the consumer dances and parties and a trip to the state capital in Jeff City back in 1997 with a van full of individuals we served at the time, along with founders/owners Mike and Sheila Newton, to get the license for a newly built RCF, Lamplight Village. She recalls seeing the joy on the consumers faces when the license was granted, and knowing they had a brand new facility to move into, was priceless and impactful, she said!
Liz says that some of her favorite things about her job are, seeing the individuals we serve and support achieve things they choose to do, reach goals and milestones, experience happiness and joy and live life to the fullest, really makes her time with the company very rewarding and memorable. She also enjoys preparing and helping our agency out and having successful outcomes over her 30 years with the agency when we prepare for state licensure surveys, that is feels good to be told you're doing a great job by the licensure and certification survey team, even though we already know that as a fact!
Liz stated that the secret to her longevity with the agency has been in part by the fact that she feels valued, appreciated and respected by her employers and because she feels like she is making a positive difference and impact in the lives of those we serve and support. Liz feels respected, trusted and valued for the job that she does, and she knows the agency cares deeply about their employees and consumers, and that has been something that has stood out to her.
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our agency, Liz!
You are simply the best and we appreciate you beyond what any words can explain!
Congratulations on your 30 year milestone!
