Trending
MILESBURG -- Caring for their residents could be considered a family affair at Eagle Valley Personal Care Home in Milesburg. And with Mother's Day so close, it's hard not to take note of it.
CEO Travis Stem and his sister Sara Bennett, who serves as the business's administrator, currently employ multiple families that -- in some instances -- include many generations.
The pair took over operations of the business, after their parents -- Lisa and Steve Stem -- started the personal care home in 1997.
"Having employees with family ties works really well in our facility," Stem said. "It helps our mission of treating our residents like family. So this is what makes our group of employees so special."
According to Stem, this family oriented atmosphere began at the start of the business.
"Joannie Struble has been employed with us since the very beginning," he said. "Her daughter Nikki has been employed for 10 plus years, and now her son also work for us. Joannie's son is also one of our employees."
The family ties don't just stop there with Struble, or Stem's very own family. They employ a total of 10 families that include:
-- Sharon Hockenberry and daughter Brandi Struble. Struble's children James and Mikayla also work at the facility.
-- Bridget Rossman and daughter Olivia Shreffler.
-- Molinda Daughenbaugh and son Stanley Daughenbaugh.
-- Stephanie Flynn and daughter Cassandra Flynn.
-- Teisha Guenot and daughter Regan Guenot.
-- Barbara Mitchell and daughter Kimber Mitchell.
-- Erin Salvanish and daughter Heather Salvanish.
-- Kaleno Dixon and daughter Bridget Lutz.
-- Alisha Moore and daughter Hele Urbanik.
Stem says roughly a quarter of these families work together on a regular basis.
"The others either work different shifts or in different areas," he explained.
And why is there such a large number of families choosing to work at Eagle Valley?
"I believe this is due to our reputation of being a family owned and operated facility, that treats our residents and staff as part of our family," Stem said.