DSPs are team members we value and appreciate year-round. [caption id="attachment_1672" align="alignright" width="300"] Gregory MillerPresident/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services[/caption] From September 7–13, the nation will be observing Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. When launching this special designation, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) emphasized that “Direct...
“I was born to oversee a fleet but didn’t even realize it”  Kelly Lorenzen earned her college degree in art history and expressed her creative talent on personal projects while she stayed home for 20 years raising her family. In 2017 she was ready to try...
Credits Godmother for her influence and “voice of reason.” Detra Craig, a Residential Supervisor at one of Penn-Mar’s community homes in Baltimore County, spent her early years in foster care. When she was 7, she and her brother and sister went to live with their...
Focus on tech, growth and support opportunities[caption id="attachment_1672" align="alignright" width="300"] Gregory MillerPresident/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services[/caption]Our mission at Penn-Mar is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live courageously in pursuit of their best life.Our success in fulfilling this promise relies on thoughtful strategic...
She wishes everyone could “know what we know” about people with disabilities.With her helpful nature and love of animals, people were always telling Megan McLaren that she should pursue a career in education or veterinary medicine.Three years ago, while working in retail management, she knew...
Strong leadership is more important than ever in uncertain times.[caption id="attachment_1672" align="alignleft" width="300"] Gregory MillerPresident/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services[/caption]ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources), the leading voice in Washington for community-based providers like Penn-Mar, held their Annual Conference in San Diego last month.This year...
“Transforming a person’s life is not easy.”His given name is Wilberforce Osei Yeboah, but his Penn-Mar family simply calls him “Willie.”A native of Ghana in Africa, he came to the States in 2011 with his three children, then aged 11, 8, and 4. His wife...
Tropical Smoothie led to “forever job”Penn-Mar DSP Susan Wagner supports a gentleman at Penn-Mar who loves to stop in at Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Westminster for a frosty treat. It was there that they met Lydia Haines, a part-time worker who often took their order.Over...
As a member of the Holiday Committee for the Maryland Day Program, DSP Christal Lovelist has had a busy December. She recently accompanied the people she supports to the Dollar Store where they thoughtfully selected “Secret Santa” gifts for their December 20 holiday luncheon in...
“My faith tells me that you need to help people.”[caption id="attachment_11369" align="alignleft" width="225"] Katrina at the Penn-Mar carnival, ready to serve.[/caption]Katrina Cooper started cutting people’s hair when she was 17 and went on to build a cosmetology career and several related businesses. By the age...