It weighs heavy on our hearts to see one of our greatest part ways with us, but it gives us great hope for the future to see her move on to far better things and to finally have the time to spend with her family and travel the world in her RV.
Such is the case with someone who has been with us for 23 years and who has left a mark in all of those she served and worked with – from the families that receive treatment, to foster parents, to children in need of therapy, and to all of her colleagues – Pam Smith is a source of light to anyone who crosses her path.
Those who have been lucky to get to know Pam know that outside of work she spends nearly every hour with her 5 beautiful grandchildren and her 3 children Denise, Kelly & Jason. She and her husband of 45 years, Kenny, live in the county outside of Penn Yan. Pam is a woman of faith and always believed that God has carried her and her family through any difficulties.
Pam is retiring from Cayuga Centers on January 21st and we want to honor her long history with our organization by remembering some of her greatest moments and achievements.
History:
Taking on a couple of different roles, Pam first started working with us in 1999 as a Family Support Social Worker. In this initial role, she worked in our Family Resiliency Program and stayed in that position for the next 10 years, building the program from the ground up and ensuring its sustainability.
But once Pam pushed the program to evolve into something different and better, so did she.
Wanting to take on a new challenge Pam switched roles and became a supervisor in 2008 for our Seneca Mental Health program. She stayed in that role for five years and ensured that in that time, the services offered by the program were fully developed and implemented in the best interest of the families. Being the overachiever that she is, she succeeded.
After the contract for this program was over, Pam became a family therapist for a short time before moving onto a role that defined her and our history.
In 2014 Pam became a therapist for our Multisystemic Family Therapy (MST) program in Ontario and stayed in that roll up until her last day with us. The MST model has now become the cornerstone of everything we do here at Cayuga Centers and it is thanks to the hard work of people like Pam and all the experience she acquired during her time in resiliency, that we have been able to sustain and expand the program to other regions, making the lives of those we serve better and more successful.
Sometimes known as Pamarazzi, some other times known as Pam Swizz, her undeniable humor and sense of partnership have made her one of a kind and a person that represents everything we value and stand for here at Cayuga Centers – loyalty, partnership, and service to others. No matter what role she was in, no matter what program, she ensured to do the job to the best of her ability and to pave the path for all of those coming after her.
We are sure going to miss her, but we look forward to seeing her enjoy her journey towards retirement.
Anecdotes and parting words:
Some of Pam’s closest colleagues have sometimes clever, other times funny anecdotes to share about their time working with her, all of which reflect the amazing person that she is and how much joy she has brought into the workspace in her 23 years with us:
“Pam’s nickname was Pamarazzi. She always had a camera in hand and was there to capture all of our memories”
- Jessica Whitwood LCAT ATR-BC, Assistant Vice President for the Finger Lakes Region
“One of the psychologists we worked with thought her name was Pam Swizz – ever since that moment she joked that she should be called Ham and Swizz since it sounded better”
- Cindi Pagan LCSW, Vice President of Community Based Interventions
“There is so much to say about Pam. She was my first supervisor and she taught me how to be the employee I am today. She was my mentor who turned into a co-worker and friend. She supported me in many good and bad times and exemplified what it was to work at Cayuga Centers. She was everything she needed to be to do her job and never stopped teaching others how to follow her path. I can’t begin to thank her for what she has done for me as she watched me grow and develop and progress at Cayuga Centers. She was my biggest cheerleader. She is the epitome of everything good. My only anecdotes are “easy peasy” and making her blush as we told each other stories of our very different lives. She rocks and will forever be a part of who I am today”
- Marilyn Palumbo MSW, Director of Resiliency Programs
“Pam is the most compassionate person able to reach people in a special way, she truly cares for others and what she does. It has been my honor to work and learn from her”
- Sonya R. Maenza, MA.ED, Director of Multisystemic Therapy
“It has been such a pleasure to work with Pam. One of the anecdotes that come to mind, during group supervision she would always offer her experience and then chime in by saying it is “collective wisdom” that would carry us through. She is so loving and nurturing to the families she worked with and her team. Pam loves forms, we would joke that she likes paperwork. She is so detailed and organized.”
- Alíke Mister MSW, Assistant Director of MST
“I remember Pam’s first day – she was part of our new Seneca County team together with other four staff members who we hired to do our first program ever outside of Cayuga County and our Auburn offices. At the time we did not have an office, so the trunk of her car was her office. The work she, Cindi and the others did in Seneca created a reputation that propelled our growth for years to come. Thank you Pam”
- Edward Myers Hayes, President and Chief Executive Officer
“If I had to describe Pam in one word, it would be genuine. She is one of the nicest and most thoughtful people that I have had the pleasure of knowing. She has a BIG heart and her desire to want to help others is apparent upon first meeting her. I’m so happy for her but I’m sorry that we are losing one of the greatest.”
- Holly DeLong, Assistant Director of Habilitation Programs
“When we first started doing home-based therapy in Seneca county, Ed walked into the office while she was getting her hair permed by another staff member – I think he found it hilarious and was glad that team members showed such a sign of solidarity to each other”
- Cindi Pagan LCSW, Vice President of Community Based Interventions
“Pam shaped our Resiliency programs and has always been an amazing example of how to partner with families. Her warm and nurturing personality shines through in all that she does. We are so lucky to have had her as a colleague and friend.”
- Jessica Whitwood LCAT ATR-BC, Assistant Vice President for the Finger Lakes Region
“She has always been one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. She is always smiling and positive and always puts a smile on my face after seeing her. I was always happy to see her and chat for a few minutes. I hope she gets to enjoy many years of relaxing and time with her family and friends”
- Jennifer Keogan, Manager of Accounts Payable
