MHCA’s Finance and HR Manager Wendy Freund Summerfield celebrates her 30th year with the association this month.
Summerfield started in April, 1993, as administrative assistant with responsibilities in accounting, assuming increasingly senior responsibilities. As manager of finance and HR, she stewards all the MHCA financial, accounting and reporting matters, serves as support to the Executive and Board Committees and handles all human resources and administration matters.
“To say that my decision to hire Wendy was a rock of Gibraltar solid, no-regrets-ever hire would be an understatement frankly of historically epic proportion,” said MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc, at the Board of Directors meeting April 4, where Summerfield was presented with gifts to help celebrate the anniversary.
“She has provided professional, thoughtful, insightful, prescient advice to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and at every meeting of any and every committee of the association on which she has served.”
Lorenc said the MHCA is stronger in its business and reputation because of the professionalism, loyalty and dedication Summerfield brings to her responsibilities.
Summerfield was toasted by MHCA Chair Dennis Cruise and past Chairs and former board members:
Dennis Cruise – “I wanted to use just the right word, and I looked up the meaning of icon and here’s what it said: a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere. I think that’s the perfect word to describe Wendy’s place at MHCA.”
Barry Brown – thank you for keeping Chris Lorenc in check
Colleen Munro – you bring to MHCA what we all try to do in the industry, that is to bring heart to our work
Barry Arnason – your professionalism is evident always, and you get the cheques signed!
Greg Orbanski – “I call her the glue; she keeps it all together”
Bob Reidy – you are integral to the operation of MHCA
James Kaskiw – thank you, Wendy, for your guidance during my tenure