Maria Gonzalez is a special employee at our Burlingame Villa community. Maria humbly began her work with seniors in housekeeping at a CiminoCare community over 20 years ago. To Maria, her housekeeping tasks were merely a platform for her to interact with and touch the lives of each and every one of the residents. Her attitude and enthusiasm changed the course of her career with us.
Although Maria didn’t have the opportunity to gain a formal education, we admire her deep sense of loyalty and innate desire to learn, grow, and expand her impact on those around her. With sheer inner strength and a desire to better her skills and service to seniors, Maria enrolled in English classes sponsored by Burlingame Villa, earned her C.N.A. certification, and later earned her RCFE Administrator’s Certificate. Today, she is a natural leader on the floor, inspiring us daily, having first worked as a housekeeper, then caregiver, shift leader/MedTech and now, a Life Enrichment companion.
Mission and values are meant to be lived and put into action every day, and Maria has championed that sentiment daily for over 20 years now. Our CiminoCare Communities were also created from humble beginnings. Our founder, Wilma Cimino, like Maria, arrived in the United States, not speaking a word of English.
You could be describing Maria when you read the CiminoCare values: lead with integrity, humility, and openness; make a difference; respect everyone; and promote a culture of “Old World Hospitality” and family ties.
Burlingame Villa’s goals not only stand for care and compassion for residents, but also for bettering the lives of our team members. When asked, founder Wilma Cimino states that “Maria is a special and inspiring team member in that she not only cares deeply for residents, but she inspires the other team members. She embodies the spirit of the workplace feeling like family.”
Enhancing quality of life, and, even more importantly, enhancing end-of-life quality, is Maria’s life purpose. And this is true not just for her residents, but for their families as well.
“Maria has a special gift in diffusing stressful and challenging situations,” says Burlingame Villa Administrator Ana Medorio. “What’s even more appreciated is that she doesn’t avoid such situations but actually offers to take them on,” continued Ana.
We are so proud to have Maria as a member of the CiminoCare family. We are forever grateful for your years of dedication and service.
