Sherry McKenzie

I have been working with individuals with intellectual disabilities for the last 10 years. My priority has been to ensure they have the best life they can have. This entails the ability to multitask and be involved with the various aspects of a person’s life. Not only the client’s life, but the staff‘s life make a difference in the care of someone that can not care for themselves. I enjoy being available to all of them, but it can be emotionally taxing. It is time to try something different. 

My career started with the Department of Human Services in eligibility determination for 10 years. I finished a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and went to work for the nonprofit organization, Good Samaritan Center in fundraising/public relations. Much like working for the state, working for a nonprofit keeps you busy with documentation and data entry for the Secretary of State office. The bingo was the major fundraiser, so I was involved with all the regulations required by the Gaming Commission. While there, I completed a Masters Degree in Human Service. I took a break to follow a long time dream and became a news reporter for a small town paper. Dream fulfilled, I found myself working for the state again providing employment training for clients with intellectual disabilities. Working on a Master’s Degree in Education gave me the opportunity to pursue teaching in a school environment, but once certified I was disappointed, so I returned to the nonprofit for awhile. Currently I am a program director providing services, such as housing and day center activities for clients with intellectual disabilities. 

The Bachelor’s degree in Journalism prepared me for checking facts, verifying detail, meeting deadline and using different programs to provide those details in a format easy to read and understand. The Human services degree included counseling and therapy techniques for relationship building and listening skills. Being in the education program showed me the school environment is very complicated and challenging. The degree was one of the hardest I worked to accomplish.