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Pierre Amadis excels at customers service

SUMTERVILLE — Pierre Amadis enjoys working at Thomas E. Langley Medical Center in this rural area.

He is a switchboard operator for the center and is well appreciated for his ability to handle difficult calls.

Being on the front line of customer service for the center, his role is pivotal and gives him the opportunity to demonstrate his considerable customer relations skills.

Angela Varnum supervises Amadis and she praises his ability to handle difficult phone calls and keep pace with the hectic switchboard.

"Pierre always has a very positive attitude and everyone here gets along great with him. I'm so proud of him,"Varnum said.

Amadis was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. He receives services from Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time when APD and other agencies are showcasing the workplace achievements of people with disabilities and celebrating the employers that hire them.

Amadis, 30, also likes delivering the mail, as well as performing many other office-related tasks at Langley Medical Center.

He has many friends at the facility and knows most of the people it serves in this small community.

Amadis is celebrating his seventh year of employment this month at the medical center; the first two years he worked as a volunteer.

"This is my first job, and I have to say I do enjoy it," Amadis said.

The very independent Amadis has just returned from an extended California vacation to visit friends.

Amadis doesn't let anything get in his way. He even challenged Varnum to a game of chase during a company social. Amadis took off in his wheelchair and she on foot; Varnum never did catch him.

Varnum says she is amazed by Amadis' ability to always stay focused on the positive. "He sets a good example for all our employees," according to his supervisor.

"Pierre comes in whenever we need him and he volunteers to help out wherever he can. He is a great asset to this medical center and we are so happy to have him on staff."

APD supports people with developmental disabilities to live, learn and work in their communities. The agency annually serves about 50,000 Floridians with developmental disabilities. For more information about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit APDcares.org.