Veteran’s Day 2024

Every year on November 11, we proudly celebrate our amazing Easterseals PORT Health (ESPH) veterans! This year, we are honored to recognize the service of Ann from our VA REACH team and Anna from our Information Technology Team.

Ann from our VA REACH team

Ann from our VA REACH team

Meet Ann! She’s a Residential Office Manager for VA REACH (Virginia Regional Education Assessment Crisis Services Habilitation). Ann is a former U.S. Air Force Nurse who enlisted in 1986 as a computer programmer before transitioning to managing her base’s security programs. During her service, she was sent to college, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Ann served honorably until her discharge in 1997. Her experiences as both an active-duty service member and a military spouse instilled in her a strong sense of purpose and community. Throughout her family’s travels in Europe and Asia, Ann and her family developed a deep respect for diverse cultures and learned the importance of prioritizing the needs of others. Ann shares that her military experience, which taught her “a sense of community, teamwork and service above self,” has greatly supported her role at ESPH.

Meet Anna! She is a part of our Information Technology team as a Service Desk Specialist. Anna enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school in 2013. During her service, she participated in the trial for women in infantry school, which played a pivotal role in integrating women into combat roles. After serving as a Motor T mechanic and training NCO (non-commissioned officer), Anna transitioned into administrative roles while pursuing a degree in Information Technology. She worked at University of North Carolina Health in end-user support for nearly two years.

Anna from our IT team

Anna from our IT team

Drawn to Easterseals PORT Health for its community-focused mission, Anna identified with our IT team’s goal of supporting members to better serve the community.

Easterseals PORT Health is committed to IDEAL principles (Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Authentic and Learning). Ann believes her military experience has created a strong appreciation for each of these principles, stating, “All the IDEAL principles resonate with me, which is why I applied to work with ESPH and continue to stay.” The IDEAL principle that Anna relates to most is Diversity. “During my time in the military, I saw firsthand how including people with different experiences positively changed how things were done.” Anna believes diversity is crucial in fostering creativity and inclusivity in the workplace.

We are proud to have both Ann and Anna on our team, embodying the spirit of service and dedication. Join us in recognizing their contributions this Veterans Day!

ABOUT US
Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, behavioral health and addiction treatment services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,600 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.