Inland Regional Center (IRC) is an awesome place to work! If you ask our staff, they will tell you time and time again that “the people” are what make IRC great. Our team is made up of more than 780 dedicated employees working to support people with developmental disabilities in the Inland Empire.
Each month, IRC staff nominate their outstanding colleagues in our Employee Recognition program. In this blog, we are highlighting the contributions of our July award winner, Christine Garganera!
Above and Beyond Award Winner – Christine Garganera
Christine is a Human Resources Coordinator for IRC, and is the recipient of July’s Above and Beyond Award! Here is what her colleagues had to say about her. “I would like to nominate Christine Garganera for the Above & Beyond award because she always works very hard and makes sure her work is done well. In the last two months, there have been four COVID-19 testing events at Inland Regional Center and Christine has done a fantastic job coordinating these events. She ensures everything runs smoothly, and if there are any issues, she acts fast and comes up with solutions to improve it. Overall, on a day-to-day basis, Christine is a great person to work with. Not only is she a team player, but she is always very respectful and professional with everyone she comes across. I believe Christine is a great employee and she truly goes above and beyond for IRC.”
To get to know Christine a little better, we asked her a few questions. Here is what she told us!
What do you like about working at IRC/your position here?
I am really lucky to work with a great manager and a hardworking team. We each have our own specific job duties, but we are also collaborative and supportive of one another. The 9/80 work schedule also allows for a work/life balance, which is something I am very grateful for.
Tell us about your job and your job duties are?
As a HR Coordinator, I get to work in different areas within Human Resources. My main focus is handling the recruitment process, workers’ compensation, the safety and ergonomics program, and the Working on Wellness (WOW) Program. However, my manager also encourages cross training so I may have the opportunity to assist in other areas such as employee relations or benefits. I like the fact that no day is ever the same and that I am constantly learning something new.
Do you think this award reflects your personality/work here, etc?
I really enjoy helping and working with people, and my job allows me to do that. But it is also in my nature to give more than what is expected. If someone has a problem, I will try to offer multiple solutions—whether that means providing resources or lending a listening ear.
What do you like to do outside of work? Hobbies, interests, etc.
Before COVID, I loved traveling, hanging out with family and friends, and spending my days off at Disneyland. Nowadays, I try to keep busy while staying at home by binge watching movies and shows, experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, and video calling with family and friends. With everything that is going on, I try to remind myself to appreciate and enjoy the simpler things.
Tell us a fun fact about you! A little known fact or something people might be surprised to know about you!
Not a lot of people know I have a fraternal twin (another fun fact: she is in the HR field too). About 90% of the time, I am with her so if I see IRC staff outside of the office, we get many confused and surprised looks. And the same will happen with people from her work. It is actually really funny to see! If my sister and I are not together and someone waves “hi” to me and calls me by her name, I have grown accustomed to just saying hi back. So, if you see me outside of the office, there is a chance you may be seeing my twin instead 🙂
Congratulations Christine! Thank you for helping make IRC a great place to work!
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