From left, Forrest Preston, Life Care chairman and founder; Dr. Michael Mazzolini; Tanya Mazzolini, vice president of accounting; Beecher Hunter, Life Care president; Jenni Giannourakis, senior corporate accountant and daughter of Danette Henry; and Terry Henry, senior vice president of accounting and former husband of Danette Henry.
Life Care Centers of America presented its Danette Henry Servant Leader Award to two associates: Tanya Mazzolini, vice president of accounting, and J.D. Hawkins, maintenance assistant.
“It is unusual for Life Care to have two winners for this award, but both Tanya and J.D. deliver such outstanding customer service that we are pleased to recognize each of them,” said Beecher Hunter, Life Care president. “They understand the importance of serving our field associates in their mission of caring for our patients, and they respond promptly and with consideration, efficiency and determination to please their customers. We are blessed to have both in the Life Care family.”
The awards were given during the company’s annual Corporate Christmas Party. The Danette Henry Servant Leader Award recognizes an associate at the corporate offices in Cleveland for outstanding customer service to Life Care’s more than 220 facilities nationwide. It is named in honor of Danette Henry, Life Care’s former director of payroll, who passed away in early 2008. Ms. Henry was a two-time winner of the Corporate Support Award.
Ms. Mazzolini, who has worked for Life Care for 29 years, was praised for her willingness to take on the leadership of the state and local tax department this year. She was also nominated for her professionalism, encouraging leadership style and caring heart for the community.
Ms. Mazzolini currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors for United Way of Bradley County and as a member of Life Care’s Wellness Committee. She is also involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s and several outreach activities with First Baptist Church of Cleveland. In 2013, she travelled to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan to minister to children at an orphanage.
“I loved Danette and miss her,” said Ms. Mazzolini. “It’s such a great honor to be given an award in her name. One of my life verses is Ecclesiastes 9:10, ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.’ That’s what I’ve always tried to do, and that’s what Danette did.”
Mr. Hawkins was praised for his reliability, flexibility and selflessness, often coming in at a moment’s notice to assist associates. He frequently goes out of his way to serve associates in person rather than over the phone.
“He doesn’t find the easiest route to do a task,” said D.J. Slivka, current executive director at Lynchburg Nursing Center in Lynchburg, Tenn., and former administrator in training at Life Care Center of Cleveland. “Rather, he finds the correct way to complete something regardless of how long or how hard he will have to work.”
Mr. Hawkins was out of state on an assignment during the dinner when the award was presented, but it didn’t take long for him to hear about the honor.
“I received probably 30 text messages right around the same time, letting me know,” said Mr. Hawkins. “I feel greatly honored and truly humbled. I was kind of surprised – we just do our jobs no matter what.”
J.D. Hawkins