04/25/2026
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Samantha Garcia 🌟
Day Services Coordinator | Council Bluffs
Samantha brings dedication, compassion, and a strong sense of leadership to her role every day. Her ability to connect with consumers while managing the many behind-the-scenes responsibilities makes a meaningful impact on both individuals and her team. She plays a key role in creating a supportive and positive environment for everyone she works with.
Q: If you could hang out with any cartoon character, who would it be and why?
A: “The Thornberrys, I loved that show growing up!”
Q: What inspired you to work at Vodec?
A: “I was a manager at Dairy Queen when my sister, who worked here, told me it would be a great place to work. I was recruited by Gina and started when I was 20. It was really my first ‘grown-up’ job.”
Q: What does your role involve?
A: “A lot of behind-the-scenes work that people don’t always see. It includes meetings, working on goals that best fit each individual, and yes, putting out a lot of fires. We really get to know our consumers well, which helps us deescalate situations and support them effectively.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in the vocational program?
A: “The interactions with our consumers. There are so many amazing people here, and you get to build relationships with all of them. We get to joke, talk about their lives, and really get to know them.”
Q: What’s something people might not realize about your job?
A: “As coordinators, we don’t always get to spend as much time with consumers as we’d like because of everything happening behind the scenes. There’s a lot to manage, and we have to prioritize our time, but we always treasure our time working directly with our consumers.”
Q: Can you share a moment when you felt especially proud of a consumer?
A: “Recently, we had a consumer who has struggled with conversations and reactions. Last week, he walked me through his morning and how he was planning his day to be more positive. He knew exactly what he needed to do, it was incredible to see that growth and progress.”
Thank you, Samantha, for your dedication, compassion, and the impact you make every day for our consumers!