Last Updated on March 20, 2016 by cassnetwork
Bunker Hill, IN – Miami Correctional Facility (MCF) honored several correctional leaders with quarterly “Leadership Challenge Awards” recently.
Those recognized were:
Inspire a Shared Vision (Search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow, and improve) — Joseph Stetz, Casework Manager of Logansport. He began his career at MCF at a correctional officer in August 2001. He was promoted to Caseworker in November 2002 and casework manager in August 2006. He has since transferred to Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility as a psychiatric services specialist. “He is always willing to step up and assist fellow staff when help is needed. For the last several years he has been consistently assigned as the only Unit Team staff for an entire dorm. In addition, he has also assisted in the implementation of the new JPAY Visitor application process. He is utilized to train new unit team staff in addition to his normal job duties. He is well-respected among his peers because they all know if help is requested, he will do whatever is in his power to assist them. ”
Enabling Others to Act (Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion)—Joyce Holland, Casework Manager, of Peru. She began her career with MCF in March 2009. “Her work ethic, team work and positive approach have been essential during the current staffing deficit within Unit Team. She has created a spirit of teamwork. She was also selected to facilitate MCF”s Administration’s vision of specialized housing; requiring numerous bed moves and coordination in order to ensure that her regular duties were not delinquent. Despite managing a housing unit on her own, she has provided coverage in a vacant housing unit, assisted her staff who have also been affected due to staffing issues, and has been a vital resource.”
Challenge the Process (Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes) – Sergeant Aisha Brandy, of Kokomo. She was hired in November 2007 at MCF as a correctional officer. She promoted to sergeant in May 2015. “Although she hasn’t been a sergeant for long, she has been an exceptional leader thus far. Her dedication is exemplary. She works as hard, if not harder than her employees. The offenders’ respect her and she comes in and makes things happen. She does not question why, and she never says ‘I can’t’.”
Encourage the Heart (Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence) – Sergeant Kipp Long of Logansport. He began at MCF in December 2004 as a officer and promoted to sergeant in March 2013. “Recently Mr. Long was instrumental in saving the life of an offender who was trying to harm himself. The offender was did not suffer a severe injury. Due to his training and quick action, the facility and the offender were saved from what could have been a very traumatic event.”
Model the Way (Set the example by aligning actions with shared values) — Robert Twining, Maintenance Repairman of Bunker Hill. He began his career as an officer at MCF in January 2003. He promoted to Maintenance Repair 2 in April 2014. “He has accepted many roles since coming to the maintenance department. Silently with very little recognition he handles new assignments every day. His attitude remains positive no matter what is asked of him. He has made himself available 24/7 to the facility by being on emergency call for several departments. He has demonstrated that he is a valuable asset to the maintenance department and the facility.”
The Leadership Challenge Awards were started in an effort to address and recognize positive leadership practices at the facility and came out of a National Institute of Corrections 10-day Correctional Leadership Development training course. The awards are given quarterly to staff members who demonstrate exemplary leadership.