2025 SEA Retreat Awards
Awards Overview
In a world where innovation, hard work, and dedication drive success, awards serve as a meaningful testament to the remarkable accomplishments of individuals and organizations. Recognition not only acknowledges outstanding performance but also motivates others to reach for greater heights. Whether in business, education, sports, or the arts, being honored with an award fosters pride, enhances reputations, and builds trust within communities.
Recognizing this and striving to create an environment where excellence thrives, the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association acknowledges outstanding health center staff during the annual Awards Ceremony. This celebration, typically held on the final day of the event, serves as a platform to highlight exceptional individuals or teams who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and dedication in their respective fields. The purpose of these awards is to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions within the community health center (CHC) arena in the operational areas of Outreach & Enrollment, Revenue Cycle, Front Office, Customer Service, and Billing & Collections. Two additional recognitions, You Make the Difference and Personal and Professional Development Achievement Awards, are also given to further highlight CHC staff success. Its goal is to inspire others and foster a culture of recognition and motivation.
Award of Excellence
This award recognizes an employee who consistently surpasses expectations, demonstrating exceptional performance, a strong commitment to public service, and superior work standards.
The 2025 Award of Excellence was presented to Victoria Brooke Jacobs. Victoria is the Technical Advisor with CareSouth, Carolina, Inc.
Customer Service Award
This award honors an employee who consistently demonstrates an exemplary and noteworthy performance in customer service. The recipient must understand the importance of excellent customer service when dealing with external and internal customers and perform above and beyond what is generally expected when resolving customer issues.
The 2025 Customer Service Award was presented to Alondra Ramirez. Alondra is the Front Desk Representative at Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc.
Outreach Worker of the Year Award
This award honors an employee who consistently demonstrates exemplary performance in the CHC’s outreach efforts. The recipient has gone above and beyond to improve health outcomes, shown exceptional support to outreach contacts, brought patients to the health center, and displayed initiative and strong problem-solving skills.
The 2025 Outreach Worker of the Year Award was presented to Ana Jimenez. Ana is the Agricultural Worker Health Program Outreach Representative at ReGenesis Health Care, Inc.
Agricultural Worker Health Employee of the Year Award
This award recognizes an employee who consistently demonstrates exemplary performance in agricultural health efforts. The recipient has gone above and beyond to improve agricultural health outcomes, shown exceptional support towards individuals encountered in agricultural health efforts, and displayed initiative and strong problem-solving skills.
The 2025 Agricultural Worker Health Employee of the Year Award was presented to Maridelores Valentin. Maridelores is the Director of the Agricultural Worker Health Program Outreach at Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.
Front Office Employee of the Year Award
This award honors an employee who consistently demonstrates exceptional performance in the CHC’s front office. The recipient has consistently improved productivity and efficiency, enhanced the patient experience, resolved issues to streamline data flow, and showcased a positive attitude, teamwork, initiative, and leadership.
The 2025 Front Office Employee of the Year Award was presented to Teresa Hendrix. Teresa is the Medical Office Assistant at CareSouth Carolina, Inc.
Billing and Collections Employee of the Year Award
This award honors an employee who consistently demonstrates exceptional performance in the CHC’s billing and collections setting. The recipient has consistently improved productivity and efficiency in revenue cycle management, resolved problems to increase collections efforts, and showcased a positive attitude, teamwork, initiative, and leadership. There were two award recipients for the award this year.
The 2025 Billing and Collections Employee of the Year Award was presented to Maria Tamayo. Maria is the Billing Manager at Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc.
The 2025 Billing and Collections Employee of the Year Award was also presented to Amanda Kinsey. Amanda is the Billing Manager at Family Health Centers, Inc.
Personal and Professional Development Achievement Award
This award honors an employee who has demonstrated significant personal and professional growth. The recipient has achieved noteworthy personal or professional milestones and completed a long-term training or development program, such as a college degree or professional certification.
The 2025 Personal and Professional Development Achievement Award was presented to Melisa Hammet. Melisa is the Director of Agricultural Farmworker Health Program/Director of Advance Practice Provider at ReGenesis Health Care, Inc.
You Make the Difference Award
This award honors employees who consistently exceed expectations. There were two award recipients for the award this year.
The 2025 You Make the Difference Award was presented to Katana Jones. Katana is the Farmers’ Market Manager at Family Health Centers, Inc.
The 2025 You Make the Difference Award was also presented to Mark Medley. Mark is the Facilities and Maintenance Tech at Tandem Health SC, Inc.