Letitia (Tish) Yates is integral to the success of Quest’s Training Center in Tampa. Originally from Maryland, Tish relocated to Orlando six years ago and began her journey with Quest after running a day service back home. She wanted to find an organization that would prioritize client’s needs, and Quest immediately put her mind at ease.
Putting Clients First to Ensure Success
“We are the best. The [services] we provide to the clients for quality care and productive days in a safe environment are important,” Tish says. “I’m very happy and proud to be part of an organization that puts those things first.”
As Staffing and Operations Coordinator, Tish fulfills many responsibilities, including taking care of clients and overseeing staff to ensure everyone’s success. She wears many hats, from organizing meetings to fixing wheelchairs and unclogging toilets, while maintaining a positive attitude. Flexibility is key.
“People change. Their needs grow and change,” she says. “If we’re short, automatically, I’m on the floor. Clients are first, and I ensure ratios are kept and met.”
Promoting Acceptance, Accomplishing Goals
Tish embodies Quest’s mission, ensuring clients at the training center experience a full life. She reminds clients and staff alike to celebrate differences and remember that there is no one way to reach a particular goal.
For instance, clients recently painted during one of their art projects, and everybody couldn’t hold a paintbrush. So, the staff came up with the idea of pendulum painting, where they could swing the paint back and forth to achieve the end goal of painting a picture.
The Power of Encouragement
When temporary setbacks occur, she encourages clients, saying, “We’ll find another way for you to express whatever you need to express and achieve the same outcome. It’s okay that it doesn’t look like someone else’s. It’s not supposed to look like someone else’s. It’s supposed to look like yours.“
Her positive attitude and constant encouragement to clients and staff make a difference every day. When you walk into the Tampa Training Center, people are smiling. The energy is magnetic, and the team is supportive.
“We uplift one another. Staff can go to other staff. I have an open-door policy; people can come in and talk to me at any time. If someone is going through something, we all work hard to encourage them,“ she shares.
Tish is proud that the team’s work ethic helps clients reach their goals. Whether it’s assisting someone with writing their name or helping them learn their address, seeing their progress is genuinely inspiring. It makes her happy to wake up and report to Quest daily, and she recognizes that she is fortunate to be a small piece of the fabric that makes Quest successful.
Progress, Passion and Positivity
“I have amazing people working with me,“ Tish says. “When people tell me, ‘You’re doing a great job,‘ it is not just from my own efforts; it’s a group effort. So, if I shine, we all shine.“
Tish’s unwavering commitment to excellence, passion for helping others and positive attitude make her an invaluable member of the Quest team. She reminds us to embrace our differences and recognize the unique qualities that make us all special.
