When Tanya Balsamo was promoted to site manager, placing her in charge of a home, she felt nervous.
“I felt a huge responsibility on my shoulders,” she recalled. “BCArc has very high standards—it’s up to me to make sure that the five individuals in my house have a high quality of life.”
The transition for her from unsure to confident happened far quicker than she expected. “It wasn’t long before I found my rhythm,” she said.
Often for BCArc site managers, the position stirs a passion that elevates the job beyond work. “I’m always stopping in on weekends just to say hi, see how everyone is,” Tanya said. “I love these ladies, they have such strong personalities.”
“We expect our managers to deliver at a high level, and I knew Tanya had the passion and the skills needed, and she proved us right,” said Erwin Figueroa, a veteran supervisor who oversees several programs for the past 10 years. “Tanya is the kind of manager who is great with the individuals and great with managing the house. The five individuals in the house benefit from this.”
Recently Tanya took one individual to her favorite restaurant, another to a bookstore – “she loves to read” – and all of them to a dance. The group also bakes goods for the local police officers, attend art classes, and participate in the Red Hat Society—a group for women to grow together through fun and friendship.
“Everything runs smoothly because I have a great staff who care about the people in this house as much as I do, every day and every night,” Tanya said. “I feel lucky to have these women in my life and that I found this path of work.”
“I’m always stopping in on weekends just to say hi, see how everyone is,” she said. “I love these ladies, they have such strong personalities.”
