Pictured: Demetria LaFond (center) receiving the award virtually, presented by Heather Hansen, Director of Community Services (circle inset).

I am pleased to announce the SA Value Award Recipient for Excellence! Congratulations to Demetria LaFond, Program Manager for the WorkFirst Program,  Community Services.

At Service Alternatives, we each strive towards Excellence, together we embody it.

Demetria LaFond demonstrates excellence in her work which she leads with compassion in the community.  The nomination stood out to the committee for the ways in which her work impacts multiple communities, has remained consistent over time, and has been steady and unconditional through the pandemic.

The nomination states:

Demetria manages a small but mighty program serving multiple counties. When the pandemic impacted business in 2020, Demetria remained focused on serving the community in any safe way possible. In 2021, two of Demetria’s long-time co-workers moved on to other opportunities, and Demetria remained. Demetria drove back and forth between Wenatchee, Oak Harbor, and Everett for months, committed to serving all communities and parents with excellence, while hoping to onboard additional team members. At times during 2020 and 2021, there were not opportunities for parents to meet with Demetria in an office space open to the community, so Demetria traveled to parents, often meeting them in parking lots or coffee shops to ensure there was no delay in their ability to participate in the program. Demetria remains consistently focused on excellence. Demetria not only speaks the SA values, she models them consistently in the work she does. Demetria is a fantastic balance of empathy and expectations, and there is not work she will not do to help someone support themselves and achieve their goals. Demetria has since onboarded two employees and continues her pursuit of excellence through the training and support she provides! Demetria is an excellent representation of commitment, compassion, and an unwavering desire to serve communities well.

This display of commitment and unconditional care to families and team members truly represents excellence. Thank you, Demetria, and congratulations!