Paula Holm, a nurse at Optalis Health and Rehabilitation in Whitehall, was one of six West Michigan frontline workers honored Monday with 2025 Beverly A. Drake Essential Service awards at The Economic Club of Grand Rapids.
West Michigan Works! hosted the gathering and presented the awards, which highlight non-managerial employees who consistently exceed expectations, demonstrating integrity, dedication, and commitment to their workplaces and communities.
“Strong communities and strong economies are built by people like this year’s honorees,” said Mark Bergsma, workforce development board member, West Michigan Works!, in a press release. “At a time when our communities can feel divided, the Beverly A. Drake Essential Service Awards recognize the people who keep West Michigan moving forward every single day.”
Essential Service Awards are presented across a range of frontline fields, including administrative and office roles; cleaning, housekeeping and groundskeeping; childcare; food service; government; health care and elder care; hospitality; nonprofit; retail; skilled trades; and transportation.
“Paula’s not just a nurse, she's also their family. She's worked here for over 20 years, so the residents see her as that. She treats them as such,” said Lindsay Cooper, Optalis nursing director, in the release. “She's gone from the housekeeper to CNA to nursing. She's worked up through the ranks, so she's a very valuable employee here.”
Holm said that perspective guides her work every day.
“Sometimes I have up to 25 patients for one nurse, so it can be time-consuming,” said Holm in the release. “I guess I look at them as my family members. How would I want my family taken care of? And that is how I do my duties.”
The other five honorees at the event were Grace Clark, operations specialists, STEM Greenhouse; Leemon Johncock, banquet lead cook, Bay Pointe Inn; Cole Marschall, project superintendent, Owen-Ames-Kimball; Melissa Thatcher, youth services specialist, Hackley Public Library; and Dan Vandermarkt, team member, Health Care Associates Transport.
