This month’s Guest Blogger is newly retired Mary Cariola’s Human Resource Specialist, Cindy McClurg. When it comes to first impressions, Cindy may hold the world record. She was the first person to meet every new employee as she processed their new hire paperwork. Cindy’s warm personality and sense of humor has welcomed thousands of team members over the decades, and we are so thankful for that. Cindy was awarded the Paul C. Scott Mary Cariola Center Employee of the Year Award in 2023 for her commitment and contributions to the Agency.
Cindy retired on January 2, 2024 after a successful 40+ year career. We asked her to share her thoughts on her Cariola career. All of us at Mary Cariola wish Cindy a happy, healthy, and fun-filled retirement.
So, how do you sum up 41 years in the same job at the same place? I guess I could start with the changes I’ve seen. When I started, we had 75 staff. We now have almost 700. The entire School Age wing of the Elmwood location wasn’t even built when I started. I remember walking through it when it was under construction, seeing all of the studs and 2 X 4’s. I remember the Medical Motor Service Agency was located near classroom 17 and I remember when the need for more school space transformed the former AMSA conference room into a Preschool classroom.
I remember seeing Mary Cariola walking the halls every now and then, usually with an entourage in tow.
I remember that the Kid’s Kitchen used to be where the Nursing office is now and every St. Patrick’s Day the President at that time, used to offer up real Irish coffee. After the kids had all gone home, of course!
I remember having staff picnics at Powder Mill Park and it was not unusual to have a “keg” available for adult beverages!
I remember when Sigl had gas pumps outside the garages by door 6 and I remember when there was a cigarette machine outside where the ARC Deli is now. We had two smoking lounges, one in Preschool and one in School Age. Sounds ridiculous now, but back then it was a must.
We had a pool at the Elmwood Campus and the gym used to be big enough to hold our Welcome Back ceremonies every September.
Mary Cariola Center had a women’s softball league and a golf league.
One of my offices (and I have had many!) used to be the old dental hygiene office, minus the dental chair of course, but the two sinks and counter were still in there!
I remember having a typewriter with carbon paper for duplicates and I can remember when we got our first computer. It was from a company called CCI – Computer Consoles Incorporated. We had a dot matrix printer that used to be in the hallway by the preschool lounge.
I remember having my radio on in my office and hearing that the space shuttle Challenger blew up over the Atlantic Ocean killing everyone on board, and I also sat in fear as the collapse of the Trade Center shook everyone to their core.
Waterbeds were the rage as were hacky sacks. AIDS ravished the United States and the Berlin Wall crumbled. The Mary Cariola Center always participated in the AIDS walk.
Human Resources was called Administrative Services and believe it or not, I was responsible for teaching new staff how to drive a bus for individuals using a wheelchair! Yep, I had a short training from Medical Motors on the bus (we purchased from somewhere, probably from them?) and then I was on my own to teach others. Not sure what ever happened to that bus…………???
The Residential Program consisted of three houses, and today, we have six.
A lot has happened to me personally, as well as here at work over the last 40 years. I have made wonderful, lifelong friends and I have also lost some friends along the way. Would I change anything? Probably not.
In a world where people no longer stay in one place for five years let alone 40, I am grateful and thankful that I have been here this long. It’s had it’s challenges, but also so many accomplishments, and that’s life. You get the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. You just have to make the most of what is laid out before you and hopefully you learn from it.
The End…………….Cindy
