This past May, Ocean Reef Club recognized longtime associates at the annual Service Awards Luncheon. Each year, associates who have worked at the Club for five years or more, are celebrated with a ceremony and lunch prepared by our own Culinary Team.
Vice President of HR & Training Laura Ciampa hosted this year’s ceremony, awarding those associates who have hit a milestone year – 5, 10, 15 and so on – with certificates, personalized thank you letters, and special pins that indicate the milestone they’re celebrating. Remarkably, 401 ORC employees have been with the Club for at least five years for a combined total of 5,255 years.
According to Forbes, 43% of millennials plan to quit their jobs within two years and only 28% plan to stay in their current role for more than five years. In sharp contrast, 90 Ocean Reef associates celebrated a milestone this year – 39 five-year associates, 13 10-year associates, 16 15-year associates, 13 20-year associates, seven 25-year associates, one 30-year associate and one 40-year associate. The Service Awards truly highlights how special Ocean Reef is because it creates a great work environment where employees want to stay for so many years.
Janis Coburn has been with the Club for 18 years, and as the Associate Relations Manager, has spent many of her years planning and implementing associate recognition programs. “This is truly my favorite event of the year,” said Janis. “It shows how loyal our associates are to their work, whether they’re in the front of the house or back of the house. And to see the appreciation and pride in their eyes when they receive their certificate is a very special feeling.”
What is most impressive, is not only seeing the number of total years each department racks up, but also the number of years some individuals have dedicated to this Club. Our highest tenured employee, Director of Club Security & Safety Sonny Vasquez, has been with the Club an incredible 49 years. Not many people can say they’ve found a job they enjoy so passionately to stay for half a century. Sonny says he can still remember his first Service Awards Luncheon in 1975. The ceremony itself has changed over the years, but the message has remained the same – recognizing the loyalty and contribution each long-serving associate has made to the Club, its Members, and the Unique Way of Life.
The following departments had the highest number of years combined for 2019:
Housekeeping – 522 collective years
The Housekeeping Department had 17 associates celebrate 20 or more years
Golf Course Maintenance – 434 collective years
Engineering – 325 collective years
Stewarding – 323 collective years
Other Notable Recognitions
- Paul Jones, Greenskeeper, longest milestone recipient with 40 years
- Norcilia Alteme, Housekeeping, 38 years
- Barry Reed, Raw Bar, 32 years
- Sue Grymala, 19th Hole, 31 years
- Francisco Bonet, The Ocean Room, 30 years
- Enrique Gonzales, Bake Shop, 29 years