Appreciating IHP Employees – In Person, Finally
For the first time since 2019, the MGH Institute community celebrated Employee Appreciation Week in person, leading to a reconnection of old bonds and the creation of new ones.
An outdoor picnic. A comedy show with ice cream. A virtual Shout-out Wall and a 5k/10k challenge. Laughs, reconnections and comradery – just some of what was on display last week during the MGH Institute’s 2022 Employee Appreciation Week.
The week – designed to celebrate all that’s been accomplished over the academic year while mixing in some fun – capped off Thursday with the IHP Employee Appreciation Picnic, which featured Cornhole, Miniature Golf, Connect 4, a photo booth, cocktails, raffles prizes, passed hors d'oeuvres and lunch. The venue at 1 CW combined the waterfront vista outside with spacious room to congregate inside.
It was the first in-person Appreciation picnic celebration since 2019.
“This is an important time in the history of the IHP because we have to work to build our community after being away from each other for so long,” said President Paula Milone-Nuzzo. “This event was so powerful in recreating those bonds and creating new relationships with people who joined us during the pandemic. So, having this event for the first time in three years was important to us as we grow as a community together.”
The picnic capped off with the naming of the 2022 Staff Employee of the Year, which was awarded to Anna Cottrell in the Office of Enrollment Services. Cottrell was described as “an incredible asset” to the entire IHP community and that her work creating and maintaining a functioning class schedule over the years - especially during the pandemic – was wonderful.
“The complexity of this ongoing project presents daily challenges,” wrote nominator and Institute Registrar Jim Vitagliano. “But through her collaboration with School/Programs, staff within the Operations department, and all pertinent contacts throughout the IHP, she has created a working-class schedule and room scheduling system that has been incredibly tight while being fair and equitable to all involved. I don’t think that many people understand the broad reach that this major ongoing project has on the community or the amount of time, effort, and collaboration that is required.”
Vitagliano also wrote of Cottrell’s community involvement, and advocacy for the BIPOC, LGBTQ, and veteran communities.
Added Joyce DeSanctis in her nomination of Cottrell: “I’m pretty sure that her total management of this year’s Commencement, which went off so smoothly, is reason enough that she wins this year. Who else would be brave enough take this on???”
For winning, Cottrell will take home a $2,500 cash award and a 2022 Employee of the Year plaque.
“I’m extremely humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Cottrell. “There are many, many well-deserving people at this Institute. So, to be the person to win the award is very humbling. Thank you to all the people that nominated me. I look forward to working with everybody in the future.”
Earlier in the week, more than 100 Institute employees enjoyed some comic relief during the Comedy Show & Ice Cream event at the Anchor in Shipyard Park. Local comedians Kelly MacFarland and Kathe Farris spoke of the oddities of everyday life, which brought smiles and laughs from the appreciative audience.
The week kicked off with the Virtual Shout-Out Wall, where scores of posts were shared by employees, department heads and managers. More than 160 messages of gratitude, appreciation and thanks were posted.
As the Employee Appreciation picnic was wrapping up, bringing an end to the IHP’s 2022 Employee Appreciation Week, President Milone-Nuzzo took stock of the smiles, connections and togetherness that had finally returned after a lengthy absence.
“There were so many times over the last two and a half years that we thought about, ‘Well, this is the evening we have this event. We can’t have it.’ Or, ‘This is the day that we have that event, we couldn’t have that.’ Or “This is the week we had Employee Appreciation Week and it was all virtual.’ It was wonderful, it was enjoyable, but it wasn’t as meaningful as being all together and enjoying each other’s company.”
