WESTON, W.Va. – The 36th Annual Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital (SJMH) Awards Ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 7, at the Hospital in Weston. The 2020 Employee of the Year – Chelsey Goddard – was announced, and other staff members were honored for years of service.
Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Stalnaker hosted the event and in opening remarks, honored those SJMH employees who had passed during 2020 and those who had retired.
David Goldberg, CEO and President of Mon Health, spoke about the problems faced by SJMH during 2020, notably COVID-19. With a dedicated SJMH staff, the Hospital rose to the occasion. He noted that SJMH had been awarded a number of honors for quality and service to the patients and community. He also pointed out that with the Mon Health affiliation, Mon Health Heart and Vascular offers cardiac care five days a week. The addition of Dr. Abrahams and Dr. Walsh has also made a difference in patients’ lives.
Stalnaker and emcee Rusty Simpson then honored employees with “Years of Service” pins. Maintenance’s Richard Moneypenny and Business Office employee Brenda Stewart received their Forty-Year pins. Twenty-Five-Year pins were awarded to Matt DeGarmo, Kristi Gannon, Connie Riffle, and Judy Riley.
Sharon Cuppett, Debbie Lipscomb, Traci McGill, Melody Ridgeway, Donna Snyder, and John Weber accepted Twenty-Year pins. Fifteen-Year pins went to Erin Adams and Kathy Daley. Lisa Barrett, Wanda Coulthart, Paula Donaldson, Tracy Samples, and Dr. Doyle Sickles were awarded Ten-Year pins.
Five-Year pins were awarded to Tiffany Berry, Stacie Cooley, Taj Farrow, Angela Harper, Amanda Jeffries, Karen Kefover, Lee McDaniels, Abbie Lowther, Beena Mazza, Amy Metz, Dr. Dana Pauley-Persinger, Vickie Shuman, Marissa Simione, Hanna Sias, Thomas Smith, and Benjamin Wall.
Stalnaker announced those employees who were honored as Employees of the Month during 2020, and in the running for Employee of the Year, including: Donna Snyder (January), Mary Ann Williams (February), Amanda Riffle (March), Cassandra Hinzman (April), Brittany Shuttleworth (May), Tiffany Lowther (June), Chelsey Goddard (July), Franny Heater (August), Kyle Warner (September), Sophia Bennett (October), Anna Gaines (November), and Sarah Rolenson (December).
In his remarks for the Employee of the Year honor, Stalnaker noted, “Occasionally, you have years when you just know that the vote is going to be close. This was one of those years. We have tremendous employees and we had an absolute showcase this year. This COVID-19 year was one of constant change, dynamic care, stressor upon stressor and our employees excelled.”
He continued, “What makes this person special is the way that other people see them and the way in which they see the world. Their positive outlook is absolutely contagious and breathes life into their coworkers. I have seen it. Bad days just do not seem quite as bad when this person is working their shift.
“Our winner is special not in the way they dress up their dogs, but in the way they dress up their life and the lives of their patients. Six years ago, after graduating from the LPN program and then joining our team, she probably did not realize the impact she would someday have on the lives of others. She probably didn’t realize the impact she would have on her fiancé or her coworkers, or her even her patients but her impact has been nothing short of amazing. Six years ago, she probably did not realize that she would be going back to get educated as an RN, nor that she would be the first recipient of the Mon Health Scholar program at Stonewall.”
Stalnaker announced, “Our 2020 ICARE Employee of the Year is Chelsey Goddard.”
Chelsey was extremely happy with the honor, and afterwards said, “I was truly surprised by this honor, and it is a great honor. I enjoy what I do and love my patients and my co-workers. I could not be happier.”
She received her LPN degree from Pierpont Community Technical College. She started nursing school at Fairmont State University in January and will graduate in November. Her interest in healthcare started early in her life while her grandfather was hospitalized several times due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
“In the past, the healthcare system didn’t always treat my grandfather the way I wanted him to be treated, so I tried to help him as much as I could,” she explained. “He told me that I would be a good nurse, which inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.”
Chelsey is originally from Rainelle, WV, the daughter of Mike and Peggy Goddard. She currently lives in Jane Lew with her fiancé Kent Hager, and their two Australian Shepherds, Koda and Copper. Chelsey said that she grew up in the country, so she has an interest in hunting, fishing and gardening. She also enjoys working out at the gym.
