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.”
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.
