United Helpers CEO Presented with Leading Age New York's Highest Honor

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight was the recipient of the Lawrence E. Larson Memorial Award of Honor at this year’s LeadingAge New York Conference.

According to a description of the honor on the organization’s website, this award is LeadingAge New York’s highest honor.

“LeadingAge New York’s highest award honors the late Larry Larson, the organization’s first chairman and pays tribute to his distinguished service, dedication and foresight in aging services. This award is given to a member who has made outstanding contributions to the field and is a recognized leader at the state and national level with a reputation for humanitarian achievement and professional vision.”

Mr. Knight was nominated for the honor by United Helpers Vice President of Quality Improvement & Clinical Services Stacey Cannizzo. In her nomination she wrote, “Steve is a tireless advocate of his community, co-workers, staff, and those we serve. He embodies the definition of a trusted leader in health care.”

Many of the qualities Mrs. Cannizzo attributed to Mr. Knight are also the same qualities behind United Helpers’ new “Always Caring” tagline. “I truly believe that Always Caring is much more than a tagline and accurately describes United Helpers and all of our employees from maintenance to food services, from nursing and direct support professionals to therapy staff. It does not matter who you are. If you work for United Helpers, you are always caring.”

Mr. Knight’s advocacy often extends well beyond St. Lawrence County; in fact, in the days leading up the conference, Mr. Knight was in Albany speaking with elected officials and Department of Health staff about the challenges facing many of the companies and organizations providing services similar to United Helpers.

“I have a vision of pay and benefits equity for all health care and community services workers, not just a few. The chasm between reimbursement for state and public workers and those doing the same job for private, not-for-profit community-based organizations is an injustice that can no longer be tolerated,” he said. “United Helpers has a responsibility to take care of the people we serve and we can’t take care of them, if we can’t take care of the people who work for us.”

As CEO of United Helpers, Mr. Knight oversees operations at United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care, which operates two skilled nursing facilities; United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills, which oversees several programs for those with mental illness, as well as programs and homes for those with developmental disabilities; United Helpers Independent Senior Living, which is St. Lawrence County’s lone independent retirement community; and United Helpers Management Company, which oversees the administrative, financial and clerical work associated with those operations.

“I am proud to say that I work for United Helpers,” Mr. Knight said. “I am also proud to have spent the last 30 years of my career serving seniors and those in need in my community. I am grateful to work with more than 1,000 amazing and committed men and women. I am a lucky person.”

To learn more about Leading Age, visit www.leadingage.org.

To learn more about United Helpers, visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight was joined at this year’s Leading Age New York Conference by several members of his administrative team, as well as volunteers from the United Helpers Board of Directors. From left, United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Ogdensburg Vice President Timothy Parsons, United Helpers Vice President of Quality Improvement & Clinical Services Stacey Cannizzo, United Helpers Board of Directors Past President Nancy Rehse, Mr. Knight, Board of Directors Secretary & Treasurer Francine Naccarato, Board of Directors member Martha K. McArthur, United Helpers Director of Rehabilitation Terry Micelli, United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care Canton Vice President of Operations Kimberly Blair, and United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care Ogdensburg Director of Nursing Brittany Thornton.