"I believe in leadership and helping others grow, so I started looking
for that kind of work. I came into the company as a Direct Support Professional and I loved it. When the Supervisor position opened up I thought, 'I'd love to go a step further'."
Name: Amanda Walnoha
Role: Program Supervisor
Tenure: 7.5 Years
Role: Program Supervisor
Tenure: 7.5 Years
Tell us about your career journey.
When I was a teenager I volunteered at our local hospital for about 5 years. After that I was in a relationship and my stepson had medical issues. I was very hands-on in the nursing part of his care and from there I just had a passion to help other people.Now I'm four years into being a Program Supervisor and I love it.
What's the best part of your day and what's the most challenging part of being a Supervisor?The best part is my mornings, I’m a morning person. I’m very bubbly, up-beat when I come in. I feel like being that way gets the individuals up-beat - it starts their mood off right. So I really think that is a big part of my day, morning with the individuals. It sets them up for the day.
My most challenging time is when there’s a meeting that didn’t go how I expected it to, or it could be a family member just doesn’t understand something you’re doing or advocating for. I’ve seen the positives that it has brought when advocating for someone, not only the individual but the care provided to them. When you’re focused on something that you really believe in, and that change is going to be positive, but you feel like you’re the only one who sees that vision, that can be hard.
But I’m here from my heart and they know that if there is a genuine concern, I’m not going to let up about it.
When I was a teenager I volunteered at our local hospital for about 5 years. After that I was in a relationship and my stepson had medical issues. I was very hands-on in the nursing part of his care and from there I just had a passion to help other people.Now I'm four years into being a Program Supervisor and I love it.
What's the best part of your day and what's the most challenging part of being a Supervisor?The best part is my mornings, I’m a morning person. I’m very bubbly, up-beat when I come in. I feel like being that way gets the individuals up-beat - it starts their mood off right. So I really think that is a big part of my day, morning with the individuals. It sets them up for the day.
My most challenging time is when there’s a meeting that didn’t go how I expected it to, or it could be a family member just doesn’t understand something you’re doing or advocating for. I’ve seen the positives that it has brought when advocating for someone, not only the individual but the care provided to them. When you’re focused on something that you really believe in, and that change is going to be positive, but you feel like you’re the only one who sees that vision, that can be hard.
But I’m here from my heart and they know that if there is a genuine concern, I’m not going to let up about it.
"I like to believe that my co-workers come to me if they are unsure about something or they have questions. Or if they have questions about something, they know they can call or reach out in any way. My thumbprint is that I've made people feel comfortable coming to me for guidance and direction---that's me, it's my super power. I like to think of myself as a Program Superhero!"
What advice would you give someone looking for a Supervisor/Program Director at Sevita?
1. Know your limits. It is not that everybody has bad days, but you have to know they can happen. If somebody’s looking into a supervisor position expect the challenges.
2. If you are really hard on yourself when stress arises it’s going to be a little more difficult for you to open yourself up to the bigger picture. Everything is temporary, believe that you’re in it for the right reasons. So let your drive be for seeing the positive impacts you’re making.
3. If you don’t want to worry about the paperwork, extra meetings, responsibility for covering for your team, then you may want to look at a DSP role or staying in that role. But if you are more into computers, good with meetings, can get in front of people and talk, advocate for things then the supervisor position may be a good fit.
What qualities are you looking for in a new DSP?
Devotion, I want to see you’re devoted to wanting the same things that I envision so that our goals align, that you are client driven, you show up and you’re on time and not calling off. That when you’re here you have a positive attitude and you’re not bringing in whatever home problems you have with you – leave that at the door, and start your day with a positive attitude. Those things can shift your whole day. I would like to see somebody coming in that is ready to work and jump on the job right away- pick up where the last staff left off.
What makes you proud about your career here at Sevita?
My growth. I was very young when I started here so watching my growth and new skills I’ve learned, the relationships I’ve built, those are my biggest accomplishments.
Tell us more about the relationships you've built here.
I’ve been here since I was a DSP and when I came in there were other staff that were DSPs and that’s where you start to build the co-worker relationships; and working hands on with the individuals, that’s when you’re going to build relationships and bonds of trust. Beyond our individuals, I’ve built a sense of family within our company. One of my staff has been at Sevita for 20 years and I look at her as kind of the mother of the program. I also believe that we have positive relationships here within our home specifically. We don’t have a lot of bickering or anything, we all work beautifully together. There are even times where those staff have come to me and said, “I need a friend, I need an ear, I need a shoulder.” I’ve been there for those things too. I do my best obviously, to be here for whatever my staff needs, but I also try to be there in areas that are unrelated just so that they know I’m always on their side. I’m a co-worker, but a friend too.
What does a 'career well lived' mean for you? A career well lived to me looks like all the relationships that I have built with different co-workers, staff, individuals. When I look at the pros of the job, they outweigh the cons. Different times that I’ve advocated and seen positive results, the times that I put forth that extra effort and there was a positive outcome, I would look at that and say that’s a career well lived. That's a good spot to be in and I do feel that way even now. I’m still young, I’ve only been here for a small fraction of time that will be my career here, but at the end of my career I can look back and say, "I put forth a lot of effort, I put all my heart into everything I did. I know that I’ve left a positive impact in most areas that I have been in." That would be a good career for me.