Lisa Jordan
The first statewide employee of the month for 2007 is "conscientious, helpful and is always willing to lend a hand towards her fellow employees and supervisors,' and "has a wonderfully positive attitude toward her responsibilities… whenever she is handed additional responsibilities she never complains…she is flexible and enthusiastic,' according to fellow staff.
Lisa Jordan, Secretary II at Central Office, wears three different hats, sharing her duties among Staff Development, the Governor's Commission on People with Disabilities, and by the Commissioner's Office as Front Desk back-up receptionist. It's a full plate that her supervisors understand is sometimes difficult to juggle but agree that, in each job, Lisa decidedly meets the challenge.
Born in Illinois but raised in Little Rock, Jordan is the daughter of retired Rehabber Connie Riffe, so she has long been aware of the agency and its mission. However, Lisa's route back into the fold was circuitous. After graduating from Hall High and a few subsequent years of work, she married and moved to Topeka, Kansas, where she studied and received her NCMA (National Certified Medical Assistant). She took her certification with her to Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked at Valley Internal Medicine as office assistant, drawing blood, giving shots, and working with the billing process. She later worked for Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine as a billing and credentialing specialist, working for the all the doctors in the office, with patients, and the involved hospitals. In both positions, she kept credentials and license submissions up to date and worked closely with the office manager, Emma Orona ("who became my closest and best friend even to this day') in whatever duties occurred.
In 2003, having recently divorced, Jordan returned to Little Rock where she worked with the Otter Creek Family Clinic for about a year, until the office underwent reorganization Remarried to Bobby Jordan, and with three children -- Michael, now three years old, William, 6, and Samantha, 12 -- she soon learned from her mother, who occasionally came in to work the front desk at Central Office, of an opening for full-time front desk receptionist. She was employed in this job this job from October 2004 to May 2005. After a short absence, she returned in September 2005 to the agency to work with Sharon Caples in Staff Development. Much has been added to the workload in this office since Caples' departure last fall, but of the full roster of her duties, Jordan says, "It all keeps me busy… no two days are the same so there's a variety to the job that I like.'
"Lisa is extremely caring,' a coworker says. "Her genuine care shines through in her attitude and willingness to accept responsibilities. She is cheerful and many times she has gone beyond the call of duty just to help [others] succeed at whatever the job may be at that moment in time.' Another points out the volunteer work she did for the United Way Campaign.
Human Resource Development Manager Terry Stevenson asserts, "Lisa has been a tremendous help to me from day one. She always has a pleasant attitude that carries over into her work. She is a hard worker who takes pride in completing all tasks the right way the first time. She is a joy to be around and I am so thankful that I have her on my team!'
Jordan responds, "I like helping others, I just love it; I'd rather spend my time doing what I can to help people… and that's what I get to do in my job. Just call me and I'll try to help you out.'
Away from work, Jordan's caring nature continues. She does what she can for her mother and grandmother, who live nearby, and who have both recently dealt with health issues. Now divorced, Jordan is a devoted single mother to Michael, who is a constant joy. "He gives me the inspiration to keep going and to never give up. He keeps me on my toes…especially when his brother and sister come to visit and stay weekends with us!' She also loves to make custom cakes for a variety of occasions when requested, work on crafts, and paint ceramics. Lately, she has also been learning to play the guitar, "something I've always wanted to do and finally decided it was time.'
Of her Employee of the Month selection, Jordan says, "I was completely surprised. I still think someone else could deserve this title, though. I do my job and I try to stay on top of it all, and that's what I'm here to do.' According to her supervisors, Lisa Jordan does much more than that.
