Finding Her Niche: Maryanne Kreuz’s Empowering Journey at Bell
“Our number one job is to make sure our individuals are happy, healthy, and living their best lives,” Maryanne shares.
“I really have found my niche in this job,” Maryanne happily says.
As the Assistant Training Coordinator in Bell’s Intellectual/Developmental Disability Services, Maryanne has discovered a role that fits her perfectly.
After years of working directly with individuals as both a Direct Support Professional and a supervisor, she now draws on that experience to train the next generation of staff.
But it wasn’t always obvious that this role would be the right fit. After taking some time off, Maryanne spotted an online posting for the Assistant Training Coordinator position at Bell and decided to take a chance.
“I honestly didn’t know if I could do this job,” she shares. “I had been in this profession for a while and thought, ‘Let’s try it.’”
What she discovered was a place where her experience mattered and where support was always within reach.
“I knew I could draw from my life experience working in the field and put it into training new hires,” she explains. “The folks on this floor are incredible when it comes to support. I’ve never had any negative interactions. Any questions I have, and I have a million, there’s always someone with the patience and time to answer them.”
For Maryanne, the culture at Bell stands out just as much as the work.
“I think the work culture at Bell is absolutely fantastic,” she says. “Everybody is accessible.”
She recalls a simple moment that stuck with her.
“I was walking out with my hands full of things, and Tony, the Executive Director, held the door. We talked on the elevator. Interactions like that make everybody relatable.”
Maryanne quickly found herself wanting to learn and do more—something she welcomes.
“In this position, I’ve taken on more responsibilities than initially because that’s who I am,” she shares. “I don’t like a lot of downtime.”
She’s currently serving on three committees and is preparing to become both a CPR and medication trainer. Maryanne smiles as she discusses the various roles that staff members take on.
“Everyone here wears a pile of hats,” she explains. “And I’ve been adding to mine.”
But at the heart of her work are the people Bell serves and the staff who support them.
“Our number one job is to make sure our individuals are happy, healthy, and living their best lives,” she says. “Our second job is to make sure we’re okay, too. If we have things going on in our personal lives, it isn’t healthy for them or us.”
She also makes it a priority to stay connected.
“I try to check in with everybody regularly—even after they complete the training and are working in the houses,” she explains. “It’s been nice maintaining that level of communication.”
Through her role, Maryanne has also grown more confident in her communication and in speaking up when it matters.
“This position has allowed me to feel comfortable enough to grow and to set boundaries,” she explains. “I’ve gotten better at saying, ‘I need fifteen minutes,’ or ‘I won’t be able to get to that today.’ That honest level of communication has helped me streamline processes and make improvements.”
She regularly seeks feedback from Direct Support Professionals and supervisors.
“I’m always asking, ‘How can we get better? How can I help you?”
For Maryanne, learning and growth never stop.
“My parents taught me to lead by example, to check myself regularly, and to be open to critique,” she says. “There is always an opportunity to grow.”
Sometimes that growth leads to special moments outside of work.
“My kids and I went to New Orleans—our first ever vacation—because of this job,” she says excitedly.
At Bell, Maryanne has found her niche and continues to learn and grow while helping others discover their own strengths and potential.
Thank you, Maryanne, for your dedication to empowering new staff and for leading with heart. Your commitment to learning, supporting others, and creating a positive culture at Bell truly makes a difference every day.