Left to right, are: Joy Abraham, vice president of application development and support; Terry Leonard, chief information officer; Forrest Preston, Life Care chairman and founder; Greg Smith, Becky's husband; Becky Smith, director of clinical systems; Jenni Giannourakis, senior corporate accountant and daughter of Danette Henry; Terry Henry, senior vice president of accounting; and Beecher Hunter, Life Care president
Life Care Centers of America presented its Danette Henry Servant Leader Award last Thursday to Becky Smith, director of clinical systems in the Information Technology department.
“Becky’s creativity, her management skills and her desire to deliver what the customer needs and wants make her the prototype of a servant leader,” said Beecher Hunter, Life Care president.
The award was 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 200 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.
“I knew Danette, so it is truly an honor to receive this award in her name,” said Ms. Smith.
Ms. Smith, who has worked for Life Care for more than 23 years, was praised for her dedication and ability to manage multiple projects in her department, overseeing them from start to finish.
"She brings a facility perspective to the department as well, having worked as a business office manager at Life Care Center of Athens before coming to the corporate office," officials said.
“Becky is very conscientious and willing to take responsibility,” said Joy Abraham, vice president of application development and support, who has been Smith’s supervisor for the past 10 years. “She is acutely aware of the mission that Life Care is engaged in and motivates her team to do their best to support the mission. It has been a pleasure for me to be associated with her and to see her take on greater responsibilities.”
Her nomination also shared that Ms. Smith puts a lot of creative and problem-solving thought into her projects and has helped create new ideas for IT software projects. That, officials said, has aided associates at the company’s facilities.
“Our department has a lot of bright stars,” said Terry Leonard, chief information officer. “Becky’s the brightest of the bright.”
“I love this company and what it stands for,” said Ms. Smith. “I like coming to work every day, and I have a great team. This award is just as much about my team and the IT department as it is me. The teamwork within the department is great. That is what makes our projects successful, and it makes what I do enjoyable.”