--- title: OnShift Applause Awards - Cheering On Those Who Serve Our Nation's Seniors description: OnShift Applause Awards - Cheering On Those Who Serve Our Nation's Seniors image: https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/OnShift_Applause_Awards_Logo.png --- # Congratulations 2022 OnShift Applause Award Winners ## A Standing Ovation for Our Winners The OnShift Applause Awards recognize and support the people who make a difference in caring for our nation’s senior population. This program celebrates individuals across many facets of the long-term post-acute care and senior living industry, highlighting their creativity, innovation, leadership, determination and compassion. In addition to OnShift’s long-standing Scheduler of the Year program, the OnShift Applause Awards include three additional awards: Innovator Award, Impact Award and Best in Care Award. ![OnShift_Applause_Awards_Logo](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/OnShift_Applause_Awards_Logo.png) ## Best in Care Winner Recognizing Dedicated Caregivers [![John Clark_Surrey Place](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/John%20Clark_Surrey%20Place.png) John Clark Transport Driver & CNA at *Signature HealthCARE at Surrey Place Care Center* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#JohnClark) ![John Clark_Surrey Place](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/John%20Clark_Surrey%20Place.png) John Clark Transport Driver & CNA at *Signature HealthCARE at Surrey Place Care Center* John's primary responsibility at Surrey Place Care Center in Florida is as a transport driver, taking residents to their appointments, and as a CNA, providing ADL assistance to them as needed for the duration of the trip. John designed and helped implement a “Transport Hero of the Month” program at Surrey Place to help incentivize floor CNAs to assist with having residents ready for appointments in a timely manner so that the residents feel and look their best when leaving the facility and do not feel rushed out the door. Each month, John awards a CNA a gift card that he personally purchases to recognize their efforts and interactions with residents. Staff, residents, family members, and doctor's offices alike continuously praise John’s work, efforts and compassion, and he is an inspiration to the entire Surrey Place Care Center community. ## Innovator Award Winners Honoring Administrators & Executive Directors [![Tasheena Duncan](https://www3.onshift.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Tasheena%20Duncan_innovator.png?width=296&height=354&name=Tasheena%20Duncan_innovator.png) Tasheena Duncan Administrator, *Chosen Healthcare at Summerfield Health Care Center* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#TasheenaDuncan) ![Tasheena Duncan](https://www3.onshift.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Tasheena%20Duncan_innovator.png?width=296&height=354&name=Tasheena%20Duncan_innovator.png) Tasheena Duncan Administrator, *Chosen Healthcare at Summerfield Health Care Center* Tasheena uses her creativity to adapt to an ever-changing environment while keeping the feelings and lives of Summerfield’s residents at the forefront. With the use of OnShift, she has efficiently and effectively navigated an ever-changing employee atmosphere, staffing challenges due to COVID-19 and the shrinking labor force so that staff can focus on the happiness and wellbeing of their residents. [![Liz Howard](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Liz%20Howard_Innovator.png) Liz Howard Administrator, *Touchstone Communities at Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#LizHoward) ![Liz Howard](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Liz%20Howard_Innovator.png) Liz Howard Administrator, *Touchstone Communities at Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home* When Liz joined Frank M. Tejeda and Touchstone Communities last year, she brought with her a deep passion and knowledge of OnShift and workforce management. Under Liz's leadership the community finished 2021 with a 40.2% reduction in projected turnover to actual turnover and today is projecting an 18.8% annualized turnover for 2022. [![Cosmas Saina](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Cosmas%20Saina_Innovator.png) Cosmas Saina Administrator, *Neuvant House of Lawrence* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#CosmasSaina) ![Cosmas Saina](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Cosmas%20Saina_Innovator.png) Cosmas Saina Administrator, *Neuvant House of Lawrence* Cosmas has worked at Neuvant House since its inception and has worked every shift, position, and nearly every job duty there and thus understands firsthand how to meet employees’ needs to perform their role, manage teams, and the importance of flexible scheduling. His work ethic, kind heart, and compassion are recognized by everyone from staff to residents and their families. ## Impact Award Winners Recognizing Outstanding Human Resource Professionals [![Heather Backlund](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Heather%20Backlund_Impact.png) Heather Backlund National Director of Human Resources, *The Goodman Group* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#HeatherBacklund) ![Heather Backlund](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Heather%20Backlund_Impact.png) Heather Backlund National Director of Human Resources, *The Goodman Group* Heather has made a tremendous impact on all the Goodman Group’s communities, including implementing a tuition assistance program through Rasmussen College that is now available to all employees and their immediate family members. Heather also successfully drove the applicant tracking system (ATS) switch to [OnShift Employ](https://www.onshift.com/products/talent-acquisition-software) to make it easy for candidates to apply and complete the hiring process and fill roles. [![Alex Dato](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Alex%20Dato_Impact.png) Alex Dato Business Office Manager & Human Resources, *Five Star Senior Living at Tuscany Villa of Naples* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#AlexDato) ![Alex Dato](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Alex%20Dato_Impact.png) Alex Dato Business Office Manager & Human Resources, *Five Star Senior Living at Tuscany Villa of Naples* Alex helped establish a caring culture at Tuscany Villa of Naples and helps new hires feel accepted and valued. He understands the need to fill open shifts and personally assists employees in understanding the OnShift platform, which is now used by 100% of staff and has reduced overtime from 6% to under 3%. [![Rita Winston](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Rita%20Winston_Impact.png) Rita Winston Director of Human Resources, *Forest Hills of DC * ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#RitaWinston) ![Rita Winston](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Rita%20Winston_Impact.png) Rita Winston Director of Human Resources, *Forest Hills of DC * Rita has spearheaded several efforts during her 7 years as Director of HR at Forest Hills including keeping the health insurance program and wages competitive. During the pandemic, she helped implement OnShift to improve staff communications, recruit candidates, and distribute biannual employee satisfaction surveys to shape best practices and address challenges. ## Scheduler of the Year Winners Celebrating The Hard Work Of Staff Schedulers [![Sanford Gray](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Sanford%20Gray_SOTY.png) Sanford Gray Staffing Coordinator, *Vicar's Landing* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#SanfordGray) ![Sanford Gray](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Sanford%20Gray_SOTY.png) Sanford Gray Staffing Coordinator, *Vicar's Landing* Sanford works closely with the Director of Nursing and front-line staff to understand their needs and the needs of the facility. Sanford uses OnShift to communicate open shift needs, send targeted messaging, manages overtime, and maneuver staff to best serve the facility, the residents, and employees. [![Paula Lane](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Paula%20Lane_Scheduler%20of%20the%20Year.png) Paula Lane Administrative Coordinator, *Carol Woods* ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#PaulaLane) ![Paula Lane](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Paula%20Lane_Scheduler%20of%20the%20Year.png) Paula Lane Administrative Coordinator, *Carol Woods* Paula takes her job to heart, jumping in wherever needed and taking it upon herself to know every detail about each employee’s availability and where, within the community, they know the residents best. She ensures Carol Woods Retirement Community has consistent staffing in each area to provide superior care for residents while still allowing employees the ability to recharge and relax, which, in turn creates a positive environment for residents. [![Monica Randsome-Forde](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Monica%20Randsom-Forde_SOTY.png) Monica Ransome-Forde Scheduler & Payroll Coordinator, *Aurum Post-Acute Network at The Boston Home * ](https://www3.onshift.com/onshift-applause-awards-2022#MonicaRansome-Forde) ![Monica Randsome-Forde](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Landing_Pages_and_Background/Body/Monica%20Randsom-Forde_SOTY.png) Monica Ransome-Forde Scheduler & Payroll Coordinator, *Aurum Post-Acute Network at The Boston Home * Monica has worked for The Boston Home since 2000 and manages the entire schedule and payroll process in this busy, complex skilled nursing facility. Monica expertly navigates [OnShift Schedule](https://www.onshift.com/products/workforce-management-software/employee-scheduling) to build a strong and responsive team, maintaining constant communication with staff and fostering relationships through compromise and accommodation, often working tirelessly to ensure round-the-clock staffing needs are met. ## See OnShift In Action See for yourself why thousands of providers rely on OnShift’s innovative software for recruitment, hiring, workforce management, pay and engagement. Request your personalized demo today.  [ Request A Demo ](https://www3.onshift.com/demo-onshift-suite-senior-care-staff-shift-scheduling-software) ![888352905-tech-stack-image-_v2](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/images/Website/Schedule%20X%202025%20images/888352905-tech-stack-image-_v2.png) ## The OnShift Platform [ Contact Us ](https://www.onshift.com/company/contact) ### Subscribe to the OnShift Blog [800.385.1494](tel:800.385.1494) - [![linkedin-footer-white](https://www3.onshift.com/hubfs/linkedin-footer-white.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/company/onshift) © 2026 by OnShift, Inc. 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