TARCOG Employee of the Year — 2025
Employee of the Year 2025
December 31, 2025
TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gilliam-Jordan announced at a year-end meeting that IT Specialist Ruby Banks was selected as Employee of the Year for 2025.
Michelle said it was difficult to select a winner from the Employee of the Month winners because each of the candidates are highly skilled and dedicated to their jobs.
A recap of the 2025 Employee of the Month winners includes:
January — Resource Coordinator Teresa Hazard
February — Alabama Cares Coordinator Lydia Weeks
March — Gateway to Community Living Transition Coordinator Alexis Baker
April — Nurse Case Manager Jelisa Simon
May — Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Kecia J. Jones
June — IT Specialist Ruby Banks
July — Case Manager/Personal Choice Counselor Shanika Moore
August —Medicaid Waiver Case Manager Supervisor Ashley Johnson
September — Finance Director Gerald Carter
October — Resource Specialist Jeane Gibbons
November — Nurse Case Manager Rosa Sanchez
December — Medicaid Waiver Administrative Assistant Lameisha Wright
Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS again, to each of you!
IT Specialist Ruby Banks is TARCOG’s Employee of the Year for 2025 with Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan.
Winter Wishes 2025
Winter Wishes 2025
December 24, 2025
The smile on 61-year-old Wayne’s face reflects the joy he felt upon receiving a stack of WINTER WISHES gifts for the holidays.
For 80-year-old Ms. Carol, even a package of toilet tissue brought happiness when she found it among her WINTER WISHES presents this year.
“She said she would love for us to express to her sponsors how incredibly blessed she feels and how thankful she is for every item she received through Winter Wishes. She says y’all have made her wishes come true,” her case manager said.
Wayne and Carol were among 285 recipients of this year’s WINTER WISHES campaign, which included more than 1,000 gifts delivered by TARCOG’s Medicaid Waiver case managers throughout December.
We are deeply appreciative of all the sponsors who helped make these wishes come true. The impact of these acts of generosity and kindness cannot be overstated.
Our case managers have shared story after story of the happiness these gifts brought to our clients during a season that could have been especially sad and lonely for many.
TARCOG’s Medicaid Waiver Program serves more than 1,000 clients of all ages across DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties. The holiday campaign began in 2002 as a simple gesture to share kindness and joy with those in need.
Employee of the Month — December 2025
Employee of the Month — December 2025
December 1, 2025
Lameisha Wright is an administrative assistant for the Medicaid Waiver Department who has a wonderful personality, and her demeanor is welcoming and inviting.
In a nomination for TARCOG’s montly recognition, a coworker said “every time I’ve needed assistance, she has helped me with a smile, and she has made me feel like I am a part of the team.
The coworker said Lameisha’s “suggestions have been amazing,” and it shows “that she enjoys her job.”
Lameisha has been the coordinator of this year’s Winter Wishes campaign, which involves coordinating with case managers to develop the “wish list” for each client who chooses to participate, and the sponsors who generously help fulfill the wishes.
Name: Lamiesha Wright
Job Title: Medicaid Waiver Administrative Assistant
How long have you been at TARCOG and what do you do? For the past 9 months, I have worked as a Medicaid Waiver administrative assistant, assisting with deeming applications for program participants, handling billing, and helping case managers when needed. She also supports the Medicaid Waiver program manager. She is also the coordinator of the Winter Wishes campaign this year, coordinating aging and disabled client’s needs and community sponsors who fulfill them during the holiday season.
What did you want to be when you grew up? A singer.
What do you hope to accomplish within the next year? I want to start my PhD. Program.
Who is your hero and why? My mother is my hero because even while maintaining a full-time job, she always made sure to be present and nurturing in me and my sisters’ lives.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Relax with my dog and read a good book.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? Don’t be so hard on yourself.
What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Ride a jet ski in Costa Rica. (I don’t know how to swim)
Who knows you the best? My family knows me best.
TARCOG Medicaid Waiver Administrative Assistant Lameisha Wright