April Thomas may just march her way into your orbit someday soon. If this were to be the case, you should consider yourself fortunate. For April showers her employees with care, unwavering support, and education as it pertains to health and wellness.
April has been with UPS for thirteen years. For four of those years, she has been the Great Lakes District Occupational Health Nurse (OHN). She began working at UPS as a package loader at the DTW Gateway airport. April, like many UPSers, also attended college at night. She graduated with her nursing degree in 2013 and quickly accepted the position as the Occupation Health Nurse.
April knew she wanted to be a nurse after experiencing the heartbreaking loss of her grandmother, Helen Thomas. Helen adopted and raised April and her two brothers after raising five children of her own. Losing Helen was like losing a grandmother and mother at the same time. The grieving process was long and arduous, but April turned this heavy-hearted experience of loss into something positive.
The nurse who cared for Helen during her short battle with cancer was, as April put it, “beyond wonderful.”
“Listening to my grandmother talk about how amazing her nurse was, and seeing it for myself firsthand, influenced me greatly,” April said. “I decided then to become a nurse and be ‘that person’ for someone else in need.”
April has indeed become “that person” for many people in her UPS family.
Quite often, the efforts of our district OHNs go unnoticed by employees because their talents shine most during tragic events or serious injuries. They are the calming influence amid all the chaos. It’s their invaluable leadership during these trying periods that support our operations and employees.
“The Great Lakes is a large district to cover,” April said. “But I really enjoy educating and spreading the word through insight and collaboration with my fellow Wellness Champions in the district.”
For April, it’s all about training, wellness education, and living safely. She is also keen on making an impact in the community. April is a member of the American Heart Association, the UPS Millennial Business Resource Group (BRG) Co-Chair, and a member of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN).
AAOHN promotes occupational health and well-being, and helps define the scope of the best health practices in the workplace.
In her spare time, April likes to stay active by playing softball, tennis, and snowboarding.
Human Resources Manager, Nancy Nole, had this to say about April.
“She’s the greatest,” Nancy said. “April’s cheerful personality, compassion for others, and sense of humor are all infectious.”
She has been described by many of her fellow employees as one who goes above and beyond what is expected—a true professional who takes great care of her employees by offering support when needed, coupled with the ability to identify potential issues before they become a problem.
UPS Regional Occupational Health Manager, Jill Cutaiar has worked with April for four years.
“April is energetic, passionate, and engaging,” Jill said. “Her dedication, smile, and comforting personality are why people are drawn to her when they have concerns.”
Perhaps the (AAOHN) said it best: “While most people understand the function of a nurse in a clinical setting, not everyone is aware that there are thousands of OHNs who work in promoting and projecting the health of workers in the U.S. and around the globe.”
April may uniquely march to the beat of her own drum—but it’s a stellar tune that the Great Lakes District is more than happy to sing along to—day in and day out—because April Thomas has succeeded in becoming “that person” for so many.
