On Thursday, we held our annual LRH Honor Night at the Omni Mount Washington Resort to recognize the many employees who reached anniversaries of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years of employment with LRH in 2024.
We also announced the LRH Employee of the Year, the LRH Leader of the Year, and the recipient of the CTW Award in memory of our dear colleague Carlene Whitcomb. (We will share more details on these award recipients later this week!)
In total, 52 staff members were recognized for their collective 550+ years of dedicated service to our organization. While not everyone being recognized was in attendance that evening, we extend our sincerest gratitude to each of them for their countless contributions throughout their respective tenures.
Please join us in celebrating the significant milestones these individuals have reached in their careers while thanking them for their continued commitment to serving others!
2024 Employee of the Year
We are pleased to announce the 2024 LRH Employee of the Year – Laurian Weden!
It was no surprise that Laurian received multiple nominations for the award. In the write-ups, she was described by her colleagues as someone who is always willing to lend a hand or go the extra mile. She was credited with making several improvements to optimize the workflow within the Emergency Department and our EMS program, while providing excellent patient care. Those who work closely with her highlight her breadth of knowledge and experience, noting how much of an asset she is to the departments she works with and the entire organization.
Please join us in celebrating Laurian!
2024 Leader of the Year
It was our honor to present the 2024 LRH Leader of the Year Award to Melanie Millette!
In the nominations received for Mel, she was described as an inspiring and compassionate leader, and someone who is dedicated, resilient, and has a strong work ethic. Other leaders who work alongside her commend her willingness to jump in and help at any level while working tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of quality. Those who work for her recognize Mel for being a team player, someone who is always understanding yet fair, and a fierce advocate for her team.
Please join us in recognizing and congratulating Melanie!
2024 CTW Award
In memory of Carlene Thomas Whitcomb
The final award presented at LRH Honor Night was the CTW Award, in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Carlene Whitcomb, who passed away in late 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. Carlene’s nearly 30-year legacy at LRH is a testament to her dedication and impact. Her work and who she was as a person left an indelible mark on everyone she interacted with, and her absence continues to be deeply felt each day.
The three pillars of the award were determined using Carlene’s initials, CTW: Committed, Trustworthy, and Wholehearted, three attributes Carlene herself very much possessed. With members of Carlene’s family in attendance, Carlene’s close friends and long-time colleagues, Jody, Koren, and Riley introduced the award with a beautiful and touching tribute to Carlene before presenting it to Dick Blanchard.
Dick embodies many of the wonderful qualities Carlene was known for. He is a genuine person who others enjoy being around, is passionate about his work at LRH, and has left a lasting impact of his own on our organization. Earlier this year, Dick announced that he intends on retiring before the end of the year. We can’t thank him enough for his nearly 20 years of service. His joyful spirit will be sorely missed when he does retire from LRH. Until then, we celebrate his contributions and enjoy every joke he has to offer.
Please join us in honoring our beloved Carlene and recognizing Dick as the second-ever recipient of the CTW Award.
