Staff Educator Connie Montgomery Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

(Nov 22, 2019) Transitions LifeCare’s staff educator Connie Montgomery receives Lifetime Achievement Award at 2019 North Carolina Triangle Home Health and Hospice Awards

Connie began her career at Transitions LifeCare in March 2005 and has been the lead education coordinator welcoming and guiding more than 1,300 new employees through their orientation. Additionally, she has been the lead educator of our certified nursing assistants (CNAs), providing personalized orientation to 95 CNAs and creating more than 200 continuing education classes over the past 14+ years! She took the lead in developing a five-week certification training program which led 34 CNAs to become nationally certified as Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistants. She was also instrumental in developing and conducting a training program to equip existing staff to improve their skills and expertise to serve in the Hospice Home. Currently, there are more than 100 CNAs serving at Transitions LifeCare and, without exception, every one of them would say that she has been their inspiration and the number one cheerleader throughout their career development process!

Connie is one of the most beloved and respected educators her colleagues have known. She is an inspiring individual on many levels. In addition to her considerable clinical experience and knowledge, it is her gentle warmth and engaging spirit that sets her apart. Every day, she greets her work family members with smiles, hugs, and genuine kindness that endears her to all. Even strangers typically find themselves drawn quickly to her soft-spoken gentleness.

What makes Connie’s inviting spirit particularly amazing is that for the last several years she has undergone her own health struggles. Yet, this has only made her more empathetic. She looks upon every day as a blessing – as another day to help others and share kindness. She is a remarkable person and a wonderful role model. Never too busy to lend an ear and a big, lingering bear hug, she has fed the souls of so many, both professionally and personally. She is a true inspiration to everyone at Transitions LifeCare and they appreciate her every day. A team member shared that from their very first day, she was a presence of comfort, kindness, and compassion. She immediately remembered their name, and ever since that day has always welcomed them with open arms. She has the brightest smile and gives the absolute best hugs that provide such healing. You can’t teach the kind of empathy she embodies every single day. She is not just an asset to Transitions LifeCare but to the entire community.