WS Chronicle

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

It’s not every day that Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry comes to town to present an award. From the guests in attendance at Trinity Glen, it was obvious that Jan. 24 was a special occasion. It began with the presentation of the flag by the Atkins High School JROTC and the singing of the National Anthem by their national award winning a Cappella chorus, “Simon Says.” Cissy McCoy, administrator of Trinity Glen, welcomed special guests including Jocelyn Johnson, former city council member and a current member of the board, Ted Goins, CEO, and Kesha Smith, COO, of Lutheran Services Carolina.

Commissioner Berry congratulated the staff of Trinity Glen for achieving the high honor of receiving the SHARP award. It is given to companies for their safety and health achievement, experiencing no accidents or health issues for the past year. Berry said, “This is the fun part of my job, getting to meet the folks who make a difference in our community.” She continued, “ … to receive the SHARP award means you understand that not only the loved ones in your care are safe, but that you are taking care of each other. Everything is a team effort.”

Berry remarked that the staff would not be able to do the job they do if they were not committed to helping others. She said, “I can feel when I walk in, you have that deep and abiding love for everyone in this community.” When presenting the award to Cissy McCoy, administrator, she said, “It is hard to earn this award and it belongs to every single person who works here.”

McCoy smiled as she accepted the award and said, “I am honored and privileged that you have found us worthy to receive this award.” She noted that her safety team worked hard to qualify for the award, but that it was truly a team effort among all the staff.

Ted Goins, the CEO of Lutheran Services Carolinas, congratulated the staff and said “We could not do it without each staff member and each board member.” He introduced Jocelyn Johnson and said that they were in this location due to the help Johnson offered when she was serving on the City Council, helping procure the property on which the facility was built.

Roseanne Morgan of Industrial Hygiene Consultants, and Robbie Zimmerman of Safety Consultants, both part of OSHA, were also integral to Trinity Glen receiving the award. They worked with their staff for three years to establish safety procedures and minimize opportunities for injuries. Morgan said that the staff was eager to correct any issues they noted and worked hard to qualify for the award. She said that less than 200 companies across North Carolina receive the SHARP award. She also said that the services of both Morgan and Zimmerman are available at no charge to any company that is looking to increase their safety record. They can help companies establish a safety committee and provide an annual safety audit.

Commissioner Berry remarked that both residents and staff deserve a safe environment that keeps the illness and injury rate low. “There’s nothing better to hear at the end of the day than, ‘Honey, I’m home.’”

For more information about Trinity Glen, located at 849 Waterworks Road, visit www.trinityglen.net.