Celebrating OneWell’s October 2026 Employees of the Month

At OneWell, we’re proud to celebrate our employees and share the experiences behind their work. Some support individuals in their daily lives. Others help families navigate services or bring new team members into the organization. Across these different responsibilities, their contributions help shape the care and relationships that matter to the people we serve.

This October, we’re recognizing Anthony McArthur, Deidre Taylor, and Stacy Sharples as our Employees of the Month. Their stories offer a personal look at hiring, direct support, and team leadership, reflecting years of learning, professional growth, and commitment to helping others.

Anthony McArthur: From Nike Management to Hiring Health Care Professionals

For Anthony McArthur, an HR Administrator at OneWell, helping the community begins with finding people who have the skills to support it.

Anthony brings extensive experience in hiring, training, and team management. Alongside several years in education, he spent more than 20 years at Nike, finishing his time there as an assistant manager. His responsibilities included every stage of the hiring and training process for both employees and managers.

At OneWell, he finds purpose in connecting that experience with the needs of individuals and communities. Knowing that his work helps bring those skills into the organization gives him a sense of contribution to the support OneWell provides.

His journey also shows how experience gained in another industry can find a new purpose. The hiring, training, and team management skills Anthony developed in retail and education now inform his work in a health care organization.

Anthony credits the mentors who have guided him throughout his career. He remembers people who took the time to teach him, share their knowledge, and help him succeed. Their influence remains an important part of how he understands professional growth, and a reminder of why mentorship in healthcare matters.

Deidre Taylor: 20+ Years in the IDD Field Building Trust With Families

Deidre Taylor, a Team Lead at OneWell, has spent more than 20 years supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Her career began in a workshop setting, where she helped individuals develop and maintain activities of daily living. That experience introduced her to the value of supporting people as they work toward their goals and greater independence.

After nearly 11 years, Deidre was ready for a new opportunity to grow professionally. She transitioned into a Direct Support Professional (DSP) role and was promoted to Program Manager within just one year. She later took on a new opportunity as a Program Specialist within the Supported Independent Living (SIL) program.

As her responsibilities changed, advocacy and relationships remained central to her work. At OneWell, she values helping individuals and families connect with the right supports and building trust through respect and understanding.

One conversation with a parent has stayed with her. The parent wanted to know more about Deidre as a person, asking about her background, family, and experience in the field. As Deidre shared some of her own challenges and accomplishments, the conversation became a source of reassurance.

The parent told Deidre that hearing her story helped her realize she did not have to carry every responsibility alone. She felt able to accept support from a provider in caring for her loved one.

For Deidre, that moment reinforced the importance of genuine connection. It also illustrates why conversations about support and care planning need room for families’ questions and concerns. Understanding what someone needs to feel comfortable accepting help can be an important part of working together.

For families considering support, our guide to choosing a care provider offers questions to help start an open conversation.

Stacy Sharples: Approximately 26 Years in Direct Care and Support

Stacy Sharples brings approximately 26 years of experience as a Direct Support Professional. Over that time, she has supported people with different disabilities and personal care needs, learning from the individuals she has worked with along the way.

Her reflections place people at the center of the work. Stacy explains that she does not think of those she supports primarily as clients, participants, or consumers. She pays attention to their personalities and the relationships they build together.

Her perspective reflects a person-centered approach: taking time to know someone as an individual rather than defining them by a diagnosis or service label. For Stacy, learning happens through being around people, understanding their differences, and responding to their needs.

Her children have also had an important influence on her life, alongside the people she has supported emotionally, physically, and in their everyday lives.

At OneWell, Stacy appreciates the service and clear training she has experienced and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the team. She describes her work as more than a career: it is an important part of her life.

Career Advice From Our Employees of the Month

Our October Employees of the Month offer advice shaped by different roles and many years of experience. For readers exploring careers in home care and community support, their reflections highlight patience, a willingness to learn, and respect for the people receiving support.

Anthony encourages others to take on challenges:

“Don’t be afraid to do the hard things.” — Anthony McArthur

His career also highlights the value of learning from people who are willing to teach and guide others. Seeking guidance can help when taking on unfamiliar responsibilities.

Deidre offers a reminder for those beginning their journey in direct support:

“Every day will be different, but every day is worth it.” — Deidre Taylor

She encourages new professionals to remain open to learning and remember that the individuals they serve are people first. Her advice reflects the respect and attention to individual needs at the heart of person-centered care.

Stacy also emphasizes patience and the care people bring to their relationships:

“You have got to learn to have patience. You have got to learn to love these people that you work with as your own family.” — Stacy Sharples

Her advice reflects the personal commitment that has sustained her through approximately 26 years of work.

Growing Together at OneWell

Anthony, Deidre, and Stacy contribute in different ways, but each recognizes the importance of relationships. Anthony remembers mentors who invested in his growth. Deidre describes a conversation that helped a parent feel ready to accept support. Stacy reflects on the people who have shaped both her career and her life.

Their experiences remind us that learning and encouragement move in many directions. Colleagues can help us develop new skills, families can deepen our understanding, and the individuals we support can teach us through their perspectives and experiences.

Through our Employees of the Month series, we have the opportunity to share these insights in employees’ own words. Their stories help us recognize both the work they do and the experiences that give that work meaning.

Congratulations, Anthony, Deidre, and Stacy! Thank you for sharing your stories and for the experience, care, and commitment you bring to OneWell and the people we serve. 💙