I am the Summit DD - Dawn
As a Summit DD Board Account Clerk, Dawn Petrick’s work reaches well beyond numbers and spread sheets. Dawn’s enthusiasm for the Summit DD Board community and her work are evident. Her convictions are demonstrated in her dedication to the people of the Summit DD Board and she is eager to offer a helping hand where she can. As a part of her work with an affiliated agency, Dawn was singled out for her work in the DD field.
Dawn started her career with Summit DD in 2000; however, her contributions to the agency began many years before. Dawn is the daughter of Michelle Mills who worked in Children’s Services for many years. As a young girl, Dawn volunteered at Weaver School with her mom and it is where she met her husband, Matt, who was an instructor assistant at the time. Dawn continued to volunteer with Special Olympics and agency special events while raising two beautiful daughters.
When it came time to make a career move, Dawn decided to apply for the Account Clerk I position in the Fiscal Department. With her vast accounting experience at other businesses, Dawn was hired in the Purchasing division of the Fiscal Department.
Dawn is responsible for processing purchase requisitions for every department of the agency. When you need to purchase something, Dawn can be counted on for her knowledge and expertise to get you what you need. She not only does this with efficiency, but she takes the opportunity to help you understand the process which assists you in making more knowledgeable decisions in the future. Dawn is a team player and you will never hear, “That’s not my job” from her. She goes above and beyond to get the answers needed whether it is in her jurisdiction or not.
Dawn has a true passion for the people we serve and although she works in an administrative department she knows and understands the services we provide and has developed personal, ongoing relationships with people we serve.
For all of these qualities, Dawn was recognized by Summit DD in 2004 with the Inspiring Excellence Award. And during the 2009 annual conference of PAR, an Ohio-wide training association for professionals working in the field of developmental disabilities, Dawn was recognized as the organization’s Member of the Year. For the past several years, she has volunteered on the weekends at the PAR office and assisted the PAR staff and Board of Directors in conducting a successful annual convention. As the PAR staff states, you always hear from Dawn, “What else needs to be done?” Dawn is the Summit DD!