SPIN’s Top Performing DSPs

The Philadelphia Alliance Recognizes SPIN’s Top Performing Direct Support Professionals

Melissa Mroz, Jean McGuckin, Christopher Thompson, Gwen Adams and Dan Fuller

The 12^th Annual Philadelphia Alliance Conference for Direct Support Professionals held on Friday, April 11, was an opportunity for twenty-five of SPIN’s top performing Direct Support Professionals to attend innovative workshops aimed at sharpening their knowledge and skills while providing an enriching experience with fellow colleagues from across the Philadelphia region.

This event hosts an award ceremony recognizing the achievements of this dedicated workforce in four areas: Diversity, Team Spirit, Leadership and Creativity.  SPIN was proud to nominate 5 distinguished Direct Support Professionals for these honors: Gwen Adams, Dan Fuller, Jean McGuckin, Melissa Mroz and Chris Thompson.  

This year we are pleased and proud to announce that Jean McGuckin was selected to receive the Creativity Award for her shining example of high performance support for people to live a life of possibilities.

Jean McGuckin – Creativity Award
Jean makes a difference in the lives of those she supports, every day in every way. Her daily interactions have been recognized by her colleagues, managers, families, and of course all of the individuals she has supported.  Jean supports three gentlemen with three very different personalities during the overnight shift.  While some would see this as a difficulty, Jean boldly accepts and welcomes the challenge. Jean has a way of making each gentleman at Colebrook feel important, validated and loved. Jean has a special way of inviting and engaging each of the men in a variety of activities including crafts of their choice, cooking, baking and decorating for every holiday and season. 

Jean prepares the men to have their best day possible; ensuring that they are dressed and prepared a well balanced meal. Regardless of how many minutes/hours she spends with the guys, Jean is actively involved in their overall well-being, advocating for them to achieve their personal outcomes.  Jean is a high performance team player who communicates with utmost professionalism. Jean sees the individuals as an extension of her family, happily inviting them to her home for holidays or cookouts so that they do not feel alone.

Jean makes a difference in the lives of those she supports, every day in every way and SPIN is honored by the selection of her for the Philadelphia Alliance’s Creativity Award.

Gwen Adams – Diversity Award
For a teacher there is no greater reward than to make a difference in the life of a child.  Gwen Adams, a Paraprofessional in SPIN’s Children’s Services Head Start program has the opportunity everyday to do just that!  SPIN’s program is located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia a diverse neighborhood rich in culture and ethnicity. Gwen’s inclusive class of twenty bright-eyed children with and without disabilities ranging in age from 3 to 5 is reflective of this multicultural community. There are children of a variety of cultures and ethnicity for whom many this is their first school experience.  She has incredible positive energy which she willingly and joyfully shares. Gwen can be found playing, hugging, singing, dancing and supporting the children in the most loving way.  She has the ability to make everyone feel special and important.  Gwen is also a role model for her colleagues.  Her incredible demonstration of professionalism is a standard for which many of them measure themselves.

SPIN’s Early Childhood Program welcomes and celebrates children of diverse backgrounds and we congratulate Gwen Adams for being nominated for the Philadelphia Alliance Diversity Award for promoting and valuing diversity among the children she supports.

Dan Fuller – Leadership Award
Leadership is defined not only by taking people to places they have never been before but by showing others the way. Dan Fuller not only carves a new path for others but brings them along with him. This is the essence of leadership.  Dan is a born leader.  He has demonstrated through his drive and determination his commitment to supporting Tom, Aaron and Sean to live self-directed and meaningful lives.  He values and respects the role of Direct Support Professional and shares this passion with his colleagues as Team Leader on-boarding new employees in SPIN’s Leadership Opportunity Program.

For Dan’s exceptional demonstration of leadership SPIN is honored by his nomination for the Philadelphia Alliance’s Leadership Award.  

Melissa Mroz – Team Spirit Award
Melissa has an innate joy for the Norcom Community Center (NCC) and the work she does. She shares her enthusiasm, creativity, positivity and “can-do” attitude with everyone she meets. As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Melissa brings many creative talents to the NCC.  She has an eye for art and she loves to create paintings and art pieces.  Melissa shares her talents with the people of the day service making art that is displayed throughout the NCC. Melissa has the skill to bring a group together and have every individual participate to the best of their ability.  She has the personal charisma to motivate and drive people to strive for greatness.

We proudly and loudly congratulate Melissa Mroz for being nominated for the Philadelphia Alliance’s Team Spirit Award.

Chris Thompson – Leadership Award
Chris clearly demonstrated leadership skills upon his hire, but has grown to be one of our most prominent Direct Support Professional leaders. Chris’s Supervisor, Limin, describes him as someone who takes initiative, never needs reminders and ensures the home he works in runs smoothly. Knowing that his job required him to demonstrate leadership, creativity, flexibility and commitment -- he was ready to show SPIN and more importantly, the gentlemen he supports his “game on” attitude.  Chris’s leadership skills have provided him with the distinguished opportunity to work in SPIN’s Leadership Opportunity Program once a week in the Human Resources Department.

We are proud of his nomination for the Philadelphia Alliance Direct Support Professional Leadership Award.

Jean McGuckin