Many words have been used to describe 2020, none more frequently than “unprecedented.” It is widely thought that this moment will hold an asterisk (*), indicating “special circumstances.” An asterisk next to record-breaking toilet paper sales would be an example! Each December, Superfresh Growers selects one outstanding team member as “Employee of the Year.” So, adding an (*) next to this year’s honoree(s) is only fitting. Our COVID-19 response team’s timely action and problem-solving skills guided us through this extraordinary year.
Our COVID-19 response team convened at the beginning of the pandemic to keep our teams safe and implement state and federal regulations. This team continues to work tirelessly for the benefit of our teammates, customers, and consumers. The team consists of 7 exceptional leaders who have all made company history as part of the first year to have more than one Employee of the Year. These members include Alma Arias, Farms Human Resource Manager; Aaron Arndt, Production and Operations Manager; Ben Barnes, Operations and Food Safety Manager; Chafeka Abdellatif, Human Resource Manager; Derek Tweedy, Director of Compliance and food Safety; Erika Espinoza, Human Resource Administrator; and Leo Gonzalez, Compliance & Food Safety Manager. It is also important to note that in addition to 2020 being the first-ever multi-winner year, it is also the first time an employee has won more than once! This is the 2nd consecutive year that Derek Tweedy has been named Employee of the Year, and Aaron Arndt was the 2015 winner. You can read the 2019 blog piece on Derek and the 2015 one about Aaron here.
From left to right, Employee of the Year winners include Ben Barnes, Derek Tweedy, Erika Espinoza, Aaron Arndt, Chafeka Abdellatif, Leo Gonzalez, and Alma Arias.
In early spring of 2020, socially- distanced meetings were implemented to communicate safety information to teams. The COVID-19 team recalls that as one of these meetings was being adjourned, a woman who worked on the packing line approached the microphone and expressed gratitude for everything the COVID-19 team, managers, and supervisors were doing to protect them with barriers, informational meetings, and lunches. When she finished, they clapped to celebrate the hard work done by all to protect each other. The COVID Héroe shirts given to those same essential employees who continued to work throughout the pandemic were also highly appreciated in her speech.
Derek and Aaron, our two time Employee of the Year winners volunteering at the Second Harvest Turkey drive in November.
When asked what made this team special, Derek explained, "We all have our strengths, and by putting together this team, we have been able to use those strengths to complement each other. Whether it is reading and interpreting convoluted rules, understanding challenges in notification with HIPAA, training, housing, aftercare, transparency in communication, or rapport with cases in trace contact investigation, this team has handled it all and handled it well". When asked about specific challenges they faced, Chafeka says "the biggest feat in the last ten months was staying on top of our regular day to day duties with all the added work of staying active on the COVID front to keep our workforce safe."
The team has recently been renamed the "COVID Dream Team" or the "CDT*." After analyzing how many extra hours have been put into creating a safe environment for our teams, Employee of the Year and Dream Team member Aaron Arndt had this to say to the team: "There is no other group of humble, admirable, selfless humans I would want to spend that much time with. Thank you all for the extra shoulders to cry on, the extra brain power helping with all the critical and analytical thinking and the support".
Thank you to every member of the CDT* for your accomplishments in 2020 and your continued efforts in 2021!
*There are multiple Employees of the year listed for 2020 due to the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic that led to an entire team of employees going above and beyond the call of duty for the Superfresh Growers family.
