Ace of Trades: Andrea Wentz has everything she wants or needs
WARSAW – To her, family is important – even at work.
“Growing up, we didn’t have social media or cell phones, so I played outside a lot,” recalled Andrea Wentz. “My parents would have family over often and spent the day playing cards, drinking coffee and enjoying time together. As I grew, my goal was to have a family that loved me and to be healthy, happy and content.
“I honestly had never heard of Echoing Hills,” she added, “until a family friend reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in a nursing position. I was nervous and hesitant, but I’m happy I made the decision to work here. I don’t see myself anywhere else.”
Today, Wentz is licensed practical nurse supervisor at Echoing Hills Village, an organization, or ministry, “for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities,” as their website states.
“I have several roles,” Wentz explained. “I assist the director of nursing with many tasks. I assist the nursing and direct support professional team whenever they need me. I lead meetings, input data, audit, order supplies and train in CPR and therapeutic behavior management courses.
“I love all the individuals we serve,” she noted. “And my coworkers are a huge plus. They’re all my second family.”
Wentz grew up on a farm near Newcomerstown and graduated from high school in Coshocton in 2003, then COTC in 2008 with an LPN certification.
“My family has a long line of church leaders and nurses,” she said, “so I chose the latter. When I graduated from nursing school, I started working at a nursing home right away. My first nursing job, as well as the people I worked with, taught me many things that I think were necessary before I found my way to where I am.”
Jeanette Wells is a nurse at Echoing Hills.
“Andrea is a great teacher and mentor,” assessed Wells. “She has always been helpful to me, in whatever I need. She jumps right in and helps whenever and wherever it’s needed. She is always willing to lend a hand in any way. She is very dedicated. We’re blessed to have her on our team.”
“I’ve had many ups and downs in life,” Wentz responded, “but I could not be happier, though I’m always a work in progress. I have an amazing workplace with so many wonderful people. I have a hard-working husband and five beautiful children that I love. I feel like I have everything I want and need, from my work family to my personal life. I would take nothing back.”
Echoing Hills Village, Inc. is located at 36272 County Road 79. For more information, call 740-327-2311 or log on www.ehvi.org.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at ctnews@coshoctontribune.com.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Andrea Wentz has everything she wants or needs
