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Current News

May 4, 2010

Marquis Companies and Consonus Health Care Services Honor 34 Outstanding Individuals for Their Commitment to Enhancing the Lives of Others

Event Recognizing Staff and Residents to Take Place May 6th at Portland's Doubletree Hotel

Marquis Companies, a skilled nursing, assisted living and home health care company, and its sister company, Consonus Health Services, a pharmacy, rehabilitation, staffing and consulting company, are proud to recognize 34 outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond expectations to help serve and better their communities.  Passionate about making a difference in other people’s lives, this year’s Marquis and Consonus Legends are a group of staff members and residents from across Oregon, Washington, Montana, California, Idaho and Nevada.  

“The Legends program is designed to formally recognize Marquis and Consonus staff members who demonstrate a consistent commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the residents, their families and employees,” said Phil Fogg, Jr., president and CEO of Marquis Companies.  “Their work inspires everyone around them.  Through their actions and words, Legends bring the Marquis and Consonus philosophy to life, renewing our commitment to those we serve.”

Featured Legend Award Winners Include:

• Albert Moore – Activity Transportation Specialist, Marquis at Plaza Regency (Las Vegas, Nevada) –Al has a full-time job in addition to working three nights during the week and weekend at Plaza Regency. When asked why he wanted to work on his days off, he said, “This job I do for fun. I love our residents and I love helping them have fun.” The residents always comment on how he is not only a good, safe driver, but also how he treats them like family. One resident commented, “He treats me like I’m his mother.” Even after being diagnosed with a cancer, Al showed up to work everyday with a smile and still does to this day, now cancer free.

• Andrew Taylor – Dietary Assistant, Marquis Care at Shasta (Shasta, Calif.) – Andrew looks like a typical Generation Y musician, skateboarder and hiker. On Christmas Eve, Andrew came to the facility on his day off dressed in a shirt and tie. He went from room to room, delivering personalized Christmas cards to each of the facility’s 132 residents and taking the time to wish him or her a merry Christmas. It took Andrew three hours to make his rounds, and more than four hours to write a message in each card. Andrew knows each resident by name and knows what it takes to make him or her smile.

• Jessikah Barrios – Volunteer, Marquis Care and Vintage Suites at Forest Grove (Forest Grove, Ore.) – A high school senior, Jessikah has devoted her spare time to the residents and staff at Forest Grove. For her senior project, Jessikah organized a number of events to raise money for a young father of four in need of a kidney transplant. The man is the son of a Forest Grove certified nursing assistant. Her efforts attracted the attention from as far away as Nevada and Idaho. On Sunday, April 7th, the father received a kidney transplant and is doing well. To date, Jessikah has donated more than 200 hours of her time and has raised more than $3,000.

• Melissa Appelo– Personal Care Aide, Marquis at Home (Portland, Ore.) – On many occasions, Melissa has rearranged her own life to provide services her clients need to stay in their homes. One instance, involves a quadriplegic who wanted to travel from her home in Texas to visit family in Portland. Melissa rearranged her schedule so she could take care of her regular clients, took extra training needed to care for this person, then went to the Marriott twice a day to help the client get ready for the day and back to bed at night. Because of this, the visitor had a wonderful time and commented, “Melissa is fantastic!”

• Michael Coons– Maintenance Director, Marquis Care at Silver Gardens (Silverton, Ore.) – Michael does not know the meaning of “quit.” He has worked through many nights, working in the dirt, mud, and even water and drives more than 70 miles to work. When a resident could not leave the facility for his 40th anniversary event, Michael made an empty room into a romantic, private dining room.  He set up furniture, drove to Salem for flameless candles and even bought roses to add to the ambiance. Nothing could have brought more joy to the resident than to be able to celebrate his anniversary with his wife.

• Stacy Kangris – Certified Nursing Assistant, Marquis Care at Plum Ridge (Klamath Falls, Ore.) – Stacy’s compassion for her residents is evident to everyone at Plum Ridge, but her compassion doesn’t stop there. The facility’s Vitality Team recently approached employees who hadn’t signed up for the Spirit Club. They were hoping each employee might be able to spare $5 for the Vital Life Foundation. Stacy took the form which her to lunch. When she returned, she said, “I work at least one extra shift per month, so that’s what I’m donating.” Her co-workers were staggered at her generosity and selflessness.
  

 

Other Legend Award Winners include:

• Inacia Alexander, Marquis Care at Autumn Hills
• Norma Shirley, Vintage Suites at Butte
• Kayla Melgarejo, Marquis Care at Centennial
  
• Brgit Venters, Consonus Rehab, Washington
  
• Gella Luria, Consonus Rehab, Oregon
  
• Tammy VanDevender, Consonus Rehab, California
  
• Gina Santell, Consonus Staffing
  
• Julie Moody, Consonus Pharmacy, Oregon
  
• Vicki Spencer, Consonus Pharmacy, Washington
• Chuck Hammond, Vintage Suites at Forest Grove
  
• Tara Watts, Vintage Suites at Grand Park
  
• Marvin Inks, Marquis Care at Hope Village
  
• Libby Tolleson, Marquis Care at Home, Portland
  
• Patty Bain, Marquis Care at Home, Salem
  
• Deanna Cox, Marquis Care at Home, Salem
  
• Nikki Watson, Marquis Care at Mt. Tabor
  
• Rusty Moody, Marquis Care at Oak Park
  
• Henry Kiernan, Marquis Care at Oregon City
  
• Barbara Ekong, Marquis Care at Piedmont
  
• Dana Lee, Marquis Care at Plum Ridge
  
• Alina Staub, Marquis Care at Powellhurst
  
• Leonor Naldoza, Marquis Care at Rheem Valley
  
• Tiffany Faught, Marquis Care at Shaw Mountain
  
• Tim Epperson, Marquis Care at Springfield
  
• Nicole Sims, Marquis Care at Vermont Hills
  
• Chryl Burns, Marquis Care at Wilsonville
  
• Donna Morgani, Marquis Care at Wilsonville

Read the stories from this year’s Legends winners (PDF)

 

About Marquis Companies

Marquis Companies provide skilled nursing, long-term care, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care throughout its 26 facilities in Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and Nevada.  Marquis’ sister company, Consonus, provides pharmacy, rehabilitation, staffing and consulting to the long-term care community. Both family-owned companies share the mission to promote the vitality within everyone each company serves and its employees – and created its Vital Life Foundation to fulfill that mission.