Noah Shumpert
Employee of the Year
Frankly, it’s overwhelming. It’s also humbling, Mostly, the whole concept of Employee of the Year is rather contrary to Noah Shumpert’s belief about the work he does, since the essence of it — the whole joy in what he does — lies in the connection to others, the collaboration among staff members, clients, and their families.
Still, after more than 15 years as a chemical dependency counselor at the Clint Eastwood Youth Program at Community Hospital’s Recovery Center and nearly 25 more working elsewhere in the field, Shumpert appreciates the distinction.
“I find my own way to make a contribution,” says Shumpert, “but everybody plays a role in our success. It is hard for me to embrace any individual notoriety because it’s ‘we’ who do this, not ‘me.’ Because of my own recovery, which got me moving in this direction, this is more than a job. It’s a passion.”
For the most part, Shumpert works with teens. But he turns his attention to anyone in the family needing service. As a result, regardless of who the client is, Shumpert focuses on his or her health and well-being and the support of the whole family.
“I love young people,” he says. “They’re at that age when you can give them direction. And even though you may not see immediate results, at some point they can grab what you gave them and use it. It’s a time when you can have some impact.”
Shumpert’s path of service to others began in his native Michigan in 1967 when, as a volunteer with the Big Brother program, his eyes were opened to his life’s purpose. He later worked in the Adolescent Recovery Center at Marin General Hospital and also provided recovery counseling to professional athletes and their families.
“I think if I have anything to offer,” he says, “it is the gift to connect, to bond with teens to the point where there is trust. I ask them all the time if they want the 10-second lecture or the 10-minute one. I’ve never yet heard one say he wanted the 10-minute talk. It’s about getting their attention and getting them to trust you. That’s the strength in doing the work.”
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