Employee Owner of the Month: May

May 01, 2021

Introducing IPMG's Employee Owner of the Month of May: Marie Wheeler!

Marie was nominated for this award by the parent of an Individual she serves. The nomination stated, "Marie is full of knowledge, ideas and love. She has helped me navigate the systems for my son, Kevin. She encourages my son with his hopes and dreams. Her concern and love is abundant. We hope to see her smiling face in the future when this COVID is tackled."

Marie writes, "It is truly an honor to be nominated for IPMG Employee Owner of the Month and appreciate the privilege of being part of so many amazing teams. Being able to witness the growth and confidence that I have seen so many on my caseload experience throughout my career with IPMG motivates me not only in my professional life, but my personal life as well. Knowing that this nomination came from a mother means a lot to me. Because I as mother myself, I feel extremely honored that she trusts me to support her son.

When I started in this field at the age of 19, I had no idea that case management even existed. I took a job as direct care staff at a facility in my hometown of Marion, IN and I fell in love with the world I was introduced to. After spending several years in the field, I met my first IPMG case manager. I had felt for years that there was something more I could be doing for the clients I supported, but I did not know what or where to even start. Learning that I could not only help my clients in their daily lives, but I could also become their voice when no one else would listen, set me down a path to return to school with the sole purpose of becoming an IPMG case manager. I reached that goal in February of 2013 and have spent the last 8 years being lucky enough to get to do something that means this much to me. There were times that I thought I had taken on more than I could handle, working full time, going to school full time, and raising 3 kids on my own. But what I have gotten from these last 8 years made all of those late-night term papers and extra shifts very much worth every minute of it.

My favorite part of this job is forming the bonds with my teams and families. They have all become a big part of my life and the sense of pride I get from seeing my clients succeed, pushes me to work that much harder to help them reach the goals they set for themselves. I am blessed to get to be a part of their journeys."

Congratulations, Marie! We are so blessed to have you on our team!