I was hired at McNabb in May of 2008. We had pagers, paper timesheets and used SALs to bill for Psych Rehab services. Staff members organized events for clients served at the Friendship House and Adult Center. Events included were Pizza in the Park, FSH Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser (paid for client holiday gifts), Case Management Holiday Party and Community Day on Market Square.
I love being a part of the McNabb family! The work done by McNabb employees changes and improves lives every single day. I know I am part of an organization that stands behind its mission and that staff truly care about the people they serve.
Jewell Minnich, Recovery Services Coordinator
Employee since 2008
I was hired at McNabb in May of 2008. We had pagers, paper timesheets and used SALs to bill for Psych Rehab services. Staff members organized events for clients served at the Friendship House and…
I was never more proud of my team when I received the phone call from our provider through the state, who said that we were being awarded more money for additional services to our program. Our program had shown the need for our services and had the productivity to receive the additional funding. I shared this with all our staff and thanked them for their hard work to build our program through the pandemic and show how needed our services were!
Brandon Byrd, Juvenile Justice Services Coordinator
Employee since 2008
I was never more proud of my team when I received the phone call from our provider through the state, who said that we were being awarded more money for additional services to our program….
I have wanted to work here at McNabb Military Services since I came here in 2019 to assist with a Military Marriage Seminar hosted by Military Services through the Knoxville Marriage Initiative (KMI). I became affiliated with the KMI, now Healthy Connections Knoxville (HCK) in 2018 while working with one of their key members, who happened to be my clinical supervisor and thought my wife and I would be a good fit. Naturally, with my wife and me both being 30-year Air Force and Air National Guard veterans and being very interested in helping other vets, we were asked to participate in a military couples event. Immediately upon understanding what McNabb Military Services was after participating in this event in their conference room for three days, I knew this was what I wanted to do and where I wanted to work!
A couple of years after I retired from a very successful career with the Air Force, I decided to use the rest of my GI Bill benefits and studied psychology, which eventually turned into a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate institute in Santa Barbara, California, about an hour away from where I was last stationed at Point Mugu Naval Air Station. Moving from California to Tennessee in 2018, I had no idea what was in store for me, especially finding this unique fit as a military and veterans therapist with the McNabb Center here in Knoxville. It took a few years for there to be a vacancy but my dream was finally realized last year in April 2022. Since then I have had the pleasure of working with some of the military and veteran population here in Knoxville who have either been referred by their command or have reached out for help with us in the past 9 months.
To choose any one client to talk about would be too difficult. Every one of the clients I see has a unique issue(s) and we usually are able to cultivate a therapeutic bond fairly quickly, at least at first due to our service connections. Even though I am not from the area, I was assigned here at McGhee-Tyson Air Base for a few years back in the early 1990s, so I am very familiar with the area and the local Reserve and National Guard units as well as most of their missions. It also helps quite a bit that I had a four year assignment at the Pentagon working Army and Air National Guard missions, which helps me understand what types of things occur within the lives of our clients as well as being intimately familiar with the stresses of reserve and national guard daily life and operational deployments; living these things for most of my life is a definite plus. Additionally, having travelled to or deployed long-term to most of the locations our clients have deployed to as well, puts us in a unique situation in the therapist/client relationship that nothing has to be explained in detail, no terminology is misunderstood, nor is there a value misjudgment with required circumstances of war or other quandaries or stresses of military life.
Lastly, many of the clients I have the honor to work with are family members of current military or veterans who have been negatively impacted by the challenge of military service such as separation, post-traumatic stress, the anxiety of thinking about their loved-ones’ dangerous work, or many other challenges within this arena. Having been both a military member and the spouse of a military member also with two young boys who grew up in a military family, again provides a unique perspective in order to identify with these family struggles and assist them through their issues. Sometimes I have no idea how I ended up here doing this type of work, although at the same time, I couldn’t imagine having a better calling or background. Thanks to the McNabb Center, our donors, and the state grant that helps fund the Military Services program, I am allowed to follow this calling and able to help our veterans and their families in need.
-Louis Danner, Masters Clinical Counselor, Military Services
Employee since 2022
I have wanted to work here at McNabb Military Services since I came here in 2019 to assist with a Military Marriage Seminar hosted by Military Services through the Knoxville Marriage Initiative (KMI). I became…
January 1, 2008 I was working for an upscale custom log home manufacturer in Kodak. The economy was booming. Life was good and going according to plan. January 30, 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon after, the housing market began to falter. This was not according to plan. So I began a 16-month cancer journey. It was a tough road. I worked all I could between surgeries and Chemotherapy. At that time I was wondering how I was going to get to radiation treatments in Knoxville and still work in Kodak without missing a lot of work.
As the economy got worse, I worried about everything. Then on June 20, 2008, I was told I would be getting laid off work. Well, no need to worry about missing more time from work. I was eligible for unemployment payments under President Obama’s policies. This was a life saver. I was able to have time to complete my treatments and have some money coming in to the household.
Being unemployed, I also had more time to think and reflect about how I had spent my life so far. I had worked for one of the richest families in Sevier County. This served to make a living, but it really just helped them get richer. After that I had worked at the most exclusive Country Club in Knoxville. This also served to make a living for myself, but really just made rich people more comfortable and entertained. The common thread between these two jobs were they only helped the rich people.
I started praying that if I survived this cancer and could return to working, could I do something for a greater good? Could I find a job that made some one’s life better? Something that would benefit the community. So I started praying to God “Please lord, let me find a job that will make a positive impact in some one’s life.” Now I knew I was not brave enough, nor did I have the qualifications to directly help most people. After I was just an accounting nerd. I could balance their check book if they needed, or help form a business plan. But how could that be of any help? But I still kept praying my prayer.
Fast forward to July 9, 2009. I have survived all the treatments and have finally been told, “YOU HAVE FINISHED ALL YOUR TREATMENTS! YOU ARE DONE!”
It was time to look for a new job. The log home manufacturer I had worked for had closed. So I started looking in the newspaper, on line, job service and any other way I could think of to find a new job. I found several accounting job available. But I still wanted that perfect job, for a greater good. Since I was still receiving unemployment, I could take my time to find the right job.
As I looked at the listings, I would research the employer to see what their business was. At first I only sent out two resumes. One to the Patricia Neal Center, and one to this place called Helen Ross McNabb Center. I knew what the Neal center was, but I had to look up McNabb. All it took to know that I would like to be part of McNabb was they work with foster children and have a Therapeutic Preschool (whatever that was). Both called me for an interview. Wow, both called! After my interviews I felt good about Neal and McNabb. So I prayed “Lord lead me to where you want me.” But after a week I had not heard back from either one. I started to look again. I was getting nervous because I only had two weeks of unemployment left. I needed a job quick. Another week passes, and I have not heard anything from either of these jobs. I may have to go to work at Dollywood so I won’t starve.
I had given up and was going to just find a job that would pay the bills. The next day as I was getting ready to go out to pound the Pigeon Forge pavement for a job, my phone rings. It was The Helen Ross McNabb center offering me the accounts payable job. I was given a start date, that just so happed to be the day after my unemployment ended.
I started my McNabb story on August 19, 2009. The first five years here I was in accounts payable. Then when I found out there was a new position in Human Resources that would help the employees with FMLA and workers comp, I realized that is how I can actually have an impact on a person’s life. And trust me, I begged for this job. I thought about all the people that have helped me when I have been sick or hurt and I want to be that person for someone else.
I hope that I can help support all of my fellow McNabb co-workers. The work you do in the communities and for our clients to “improve the lives of those we serve” makes me proud to be a small part of McNabb. After almost 13 ½ years, I never want to work anywhere else. I love this place.
Pam Williams, Leave Specialist
Employee since 2009
January 1, 2008 I was working for an upscale custom log home manufacturer in Kodak. The economy was booming. Life was good and going according to plan. January 30, 2008, I was diagnosed with breast…
I joined the McNabb team initially as an intern. The experience of the staff and welcoming atmosphere was infectious. I received hands on learning and skill development I never would have in other places. My internship turned into a full time positon with McNabb Center. Almost three years into full time I am ever grateful that I joined the family of McNabb. I see every day the selflessness of McNabbers and appreciative to call you all family. I am now privileged to imbue my learned skill set to interns who followed seeking a career in social work.
Kaviandra James, Co-Occuring Services Coordinator, Hamblen County
Employee since 2020
I joined the McNabb team initially as an intern. The experience of the staff and welcoming atmosphere was infectious. I received hands on learning and skill development I never would have in other places. My…
My first year of working at McNabb I found out I was pregnant and would be having a child in June 2010. In April 2010, I received a phone call from Melissa Cupp asking me to come to the office because she needed to do supervision with me. The entire way back to the clinic I was thinking “what have I done?” I was so nervous because I didn’t know why I was called to come to the clinic immediately. Once I arrived to the clinic, I went and met with Melissa. She got a supervision log out and just started talking about clients on my caseload. In the middle of our supervision, Melissa requested that “I go in the room next door and help her move a big table.” I said ok, but was thinking that maybe I shouldn’t move the table because I was seven months pregnant. When I walked into the room, I turned the lights on and all of the staff were in there and surprised me with a baby shower. I felt so blessed then, and now almost 14 years later, I feel even more blessed to be a part of such a wonderful agency and a clinic that have become my family.
Rebekah Robinson, Team Leader, Hamblen Healthlink
Employee since 2009
My first year of working at McNabb I found out I was pregnant and would be having a child in June 2010. In April 2010, I received a phone call from Melissa Cupp asking me…
It was my first time as a supervisor with CARF. It had been a tense day of small talk and program discussion with the auditor. The feedback at that point was neutral and not significant. So it gets to the day of the exit, and I’m bracing for something BIG. We all go into the conference room for the virtual exit interview and the auditor starts sharing suggestions. After a long reading of praises and suggestion, I’m holding my breath. That’s when our auditor says, “Hamblen County, you all are the JEWEL of McNabb”. I did a mic drop and celebrated with my coworkers. Best McNabb Day EVER.
Josh Vincent, Hamblen County IST Program Coordinator
Employee since 2012
It was my first time as a supervisor with CARF. It had been a tense day of small talk and program discussion with the auditor. The feedback at that point was neutral and not significant….
Having the opportunity to learn and grow as a new supervisor for the McNabb Center the last few months has been a memorable opportunity for me. I’m blessed to have colleagues that are seasoned McNabbers, and have helped to encourage, challenge and share in this new adventure with me.
Chelsea Taylor, Hamblen CSU Master’s Program Coordinator
Employee since 2016
Having the opportunity to learn and grow as a new supervisor for the McNabb Center the last few months has been a memorable opportunity for me. I’m blessed to have colleagues that are seasoned McNabbers,…
McNabb has been providing services to improve people’s lives for 75 years. I have had the honor and privilege of being a part of the McNabb Center, and providing services to children, their families and our community for 26 years of McNabb’s 75 year history. One of the greatest honors of my career thus far at McNabb is to be a part of improving people’s lives who come to us for services. I know we make a difference in people’s lives we serve, because I see it every day!
There are two things I love about working at the McNabb Center. First, it is an honor to be a part of an organization that makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve each and every day. Secondly, to work alongside my peers at Blount County who have the same passion and dedication to those we are serving! Being around co-workers who have become friends and many who have become more like family is such a blessing!
Barry Rorex, Blount BRIDGES Master’s Level Liaison
Employee since 1996
McNabb has been providing services to improve people’s lives for 75 years. I have had the honor and privilege of being a part of the McNabb Center, and providing services to children, their families and…
In my first 5 years at McNabb, I learned (and stumbled) quite a bit. I helped HR to roll out the new Handle with Care training for the 450+ employees we had at the time. I really enjoyed the training aspect of my former position and the experience of working with and training so many different McNabb staff members. I decided to apply for one of the Staff Trainer positions that had opened up after working as a Team Leader at the CSU. I actually applied for the staff trainer position three different times during my ten and a half years at CSU. You know what they say: third time is the charm! So in April of 2021 I left clinical / direct care and joined the HR department. I’ve been with McNabb for over 12 years now, and I’m planning on being here for much longer.
-Josh Owens, Staff Development Trainer and Personnel Support
Employee since 2010
In my first 5 years at McNabb, I learned (and stumbled) quite a bit. I helped HR to roll out the new Handle with Care training for the 450+ employees we had at the time. I really…
