10/08/2026
What an incredible blessing it was to gather for our annual all staff meeting last night. We enjoyed a delicious meal catered by The Farmhouse (highly recommended) and then reviewed a HUGE list of accomplishments and Heritage Home wins from the past year, discussed some goals for the upcoming year and highlighted our outstanding staff! We ended the evening by announcing and honoring our Employee of the Year, Makayla Berkenmeier! It’s very hard to capture her awesomeness in words but we gave it a good college try! MaKayla Berkenmeier
Also, yes, Teagan said it best, simple but effective, Teagan. AWESOME!
The Heritage Home
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2026
NAME OF WINNER: MaKayla Berkenmeier
POSITION OF NOMINEE: CMA
We are honored to present Makayla for Employee of the Year. Makayla is the kind of employee who makes a difference every single day, and especially throughout the quiet hours of the night when residents depend on our night-shift staff to provide not only excellent care, but also comfort, reassurance, and a sense of security. Makayla holds herself and others to a high standard and is someone that can be counted on to do things right EVERY single time. She is convicted and confident but also accepting, loving, and humble. She consistently demonstrates genuine compassion for the residents she cares for. She treats each resident with patience, kindness, dignity, and respect, and it is clear that her care comes from the heart. She takes the time to listen to residents, recognize their individual needs, and make sure they feel safe and cared for, even during the overnight hours when they may be feeling lonely, confused, uncomfortable, or afraid. Makayla understands that nighttime care is about so much more than completing tasks—it is about being present for our residents when they need someone the most. One of Makayla’s greatest qualities is her dependability. When she is working, you know the residents are in good hands. She consistently follows through with her responsibilities, can be counted on to help her coworkers, and never hesitates to step in when something needs to be done. She is someone the team can rely on, and that reliability brings a great deal of comfort to those working alongside her. Makayla also has a calm and reassuring demeanor that is especially valuable on night shift. Even when the night becomes busy or an unexpected situation arises, she remains composed, patient, and focused. Her calm presence can make a difficult situation feel more manageable, and that quality has a positive impact on both residents and her coworkers. She never seems to seek recognition for the things she does; she simply comes to work, does her job, and gives our residents the care they deserve.
The work done on night shift can sometimes happen quietly and behind the scenes, but it is incredibly important, and Makayla is an outstanding example of someone who gives her very best to that responsibility. She brings compassion into every interaction, dependability into every shift, and a sense of calm that helps create a safe and peaceful environment for our residents. Makayla truly embodies the qualities of an exceptional caregiver and coworker. She is dedicated, trustworthy, compassionate, and genuinely invested in the well-being of the people entrusted to her care.
Makayla walked into The Heritage Home office several months before we ever opened and asked about a job. It felt a little surreal at that time but I have no doubt that it was God’s hand and that she was an answer to many prayers. From the moment I first met her, her beautiful spirit, humble nature, and caring heart was evident and she has surpassed every expectation from the start. She has been with The Heritage Home since before we admitted our very first resident and has continued to be steady, true, trusting, and believing and kept the faith through all of the firsts, many ups and downs and multiple changes and has offered valuable insight and suggestions and respectfully voiced concerns or areas for improvement as well as celebrated many achievements and milestones. She is without a doubt one of the reasons The Heritage Home is all that it is and feels like home.
For all of these reasons, we believe Makayla is incredibly deserving of being named Employee of the Year. She is an invaluable part of our team, and we are grateful for the care, kindness, and heart she brings to our residents every night.
Co-worker Remarks:
MaKayla is a humble servant in the purest and best ways possible. She is strong and steady in a quiet, powerful way, leading with grace and compassion. From day one of opening our doors, she continues to leave a lasting impression and impact. She has grown in her leadership, confidence, and faith and is someone we all learn from. Philippians 2:3 states: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves." This verse fits MaKayla perfectly.
RESIDENT COMMENTS!!!!
“She is so sweet. She is the best and I think she should get Employee of the Year. “
“I hope she never leaves me.”
“Whenever I see her name on the board I do a fist pump.”
“She is never cross, cranky, or impatient.”
“When I see her, I know it’s going to be a good night.”
“She deserves a trip to Paris and I will go with her!” Ruth Cassity
“Good luck with your chicken endeavor. “Dale Cook
“terrific, super super good”- Dale Cook
“She’s a nice lady. She made my daughter a necklace” Jupe TenEyck
“She’s a great person, great aide, generous, and always has a smile and is liked by everybody” Lila Hafenstine
“She’s always very kind & thorough- makes you smile” Duane Hund
