Employee of the Month – January 2022

In the new year, Vikor shines light on one of our most respected and beloved colleagues, Louanne Newton, as Employee of the Month. Louanne, Director of Communications, is often praised for her diligence, kind heart and willingness to serve.

Louanne responds to winning January’s Employee of the Month award in her own words:

“I am extremely surprised and certainly honored to receive this award. I am grateful to have worked alongside such fierce and committed leaders as Scotty and Shea since the beginning of Vikor. What a journey and thrill to watch the company grow and scale!

During my time at Vikor, I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful colleagues across many departments. At Vikor, teamwork is everything; collaboration is key. We treat one another with upmost respect and kindness, helping one another along the way. I owe my success to my teammates, as it is not possible to achieve at Vikor by climbing mountains solo.

For those colleagues based at our headquarters in Charleston to all our remote employees across the country, I appreciate being nominated more than I can say. This is an unexpected blessing I will treasure for years to come.”

Vikor proudly recognizes Brantley Elllis as Employee of the Month. Hard-working, reliable and positive, her team mates recognize her strengths as a leader for the month of November. Brantley responds to the earned award:

“Thank you, team members, colleagues, and peers, for your commitment to excellence and for recognizing me as Employee of the Month. My success – on any scale – would not be possible without my Vikor team members.

First and foremost, I believe a great leader cannot exist without a great team. Therefore, I hope to lead by example while learning from those around me. Ideas, strategies, and input are all integral to my decisions as a Specimen Processing Manager.

Second, I believe the cornerstone of leadership is service. Service is the lifeblood of any organization, as each of us strive to come to work with our hands willing to give and share. So much at Vikor stems from a focus of service, and we employees strive to practice this principle daily.

I also believe that humility is a key part of leadership. Remaining humble in difficult challenges by remembering the cause of greater good and by remembering there is no I in team — are foundational musts for accomplishments, large and small.

Finally, I believe in daily growth and goal setting, doing better today than I did yesterday. I also strive to encourage my team to take on the same mentality. By staying involved and inspiring my team on projects and mental focus, I lead with a hands-on approach to help them succeed here at Vikor.

When I applied at Vikor, I was somewhat hesitant because my experience was in the environmental field. But as my brother coached me, “Tell me one thing great in your life you’ve ever achieved from a place of being comfortable. You can’t!“ I am glad I took the risk on Vikor and Vikor took a risk on me. I’ve grown as a learner and a leader, striving everyday to show up to give, not to get.”

“Brantley plays a crucial role across multiple departments. She is always willing to help her team succeed and meet the company’s goals. The work and talent she brings to the table will always exceed my expectations. Having her on the team makes all the difference!”

– Mary Katherine DiFilippo

Matt Privette’s contributions to Vikor Scientific are unmatched. He is an integral part of our Reconciliation Team and a true leader. Accessioning Manager, Caroline Alman, notes that “Matt goes out of his way to help his coworkers. His reliability, intelligence and dedication are key parts to his, thus our team’s, success.” Director of Clinical Operations, Mary Katherine DiFilippo, accolades his great attitude and work ethic. “Matt sets a great example for his coworkers, and we are lucky to have him!”

Upon receiving the Employment of the Month Award (July 2021), Matt responds,

“Thank you so much to everyone who nominated me for this prestigious award, I am truly honored! Working at Vikor has been such a wonderful experience. It is so nice to work for a company that looks out for the well-being and success of its employees. Not only have I had the opportunity to grow professionally, I have also made many amazing connections with my mentors and colleagues. I have learned so much during my time here, most significantly the importance of organization, communication, and adaptability. These three skills are essential to our daily lives here at Vikor, especially adaptability. In order to thrive as a company and as individual employees, we always need to be open to change. My advice to my fellow employees is to be diligent in all you do, be open-minded, and always be friendly to everyone you meet. As Albus Dumbledore once said ‘It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.’”

Supply Chain Specialist, Karim Eootm, is unanimously voted by his peers for the Employee of the Month Award (May 2021). In his position at Vikor, Karim is responsible for printing and expediting supply orders with speed and accuracy. Logistics Manager, Natalie Bruce, reflects on Karim’s growth, character and work ethic, “It has been a privilege to see him grow with our company. Karim’s happy, fun-loving attitude is infectious and brings such joy. He constantly makes us laugh. His dedication is priceless, and we are so excited his peers see the same attributes that we see in him daily.” Teammates accolade his promptness, noting that even though Karim is a downtown dweller without a car, he arrives at work on time every day, “no matter rain, shine or hurricane.” Jerad Chandler, Supply Chain Manager, reinforces that Karim is more like a family member than a colleague, “We have a tight knit atmosphere here in our Supply Chain Department and Karim seems to mesh right in.”

Karim responds to winning May’s Employee of the Month Award with the same humility and graciousness of which his colleagues appreciate and admire:

“Receiving the honor of being named the Employee of the Month was something I always strived for and found myself surprised when my fellow peers and family chose me. It truly was an honor to know that this family I work with on the daily chose me to represent the award for this Month. The emotions that I felt being recognized with such an award was immense, especially coming from a group of people I consider an honor to work side by side with. I truly love and enjoy my job, and it felt amazing to be recognized in something I love so much. There are not very many words I could use to show my true appreciation for this reward and the emotion I felt when I received such an award. I personally want to thank Natalie, Tyler, and Jerad for giving me the opportunity and believing in me with their guidance and help truly made me love and appreciate this job so much more.”