Last year, I had the honor of receiving Sain’s Spirit of Lauren Award. I am truly grateful that my peers would consider me for this honor. It is a recognition that means a great deal to me, but it also makes me think more deeply about the person behind the award and the kind of impact one person can continue to have long after they are gone.
I joined Sain after Lauren Nickles’ time here, so I never had the opportunity to know her personally. Instead, I have gotten to know Lauren through the stories. I hear about the way she cared for her coworkers, stayed committed when things were difficult, and brought a positive attitude to the people around her.
I do feel a kindred spirit with Lauren, to have known the battle with cancer and feel blessed that I made it through. The weight of that journey never leaves your mind. Lauren had a tremendous impact on our company. Despite her circumstances, she always encouraged others. She worked at Sain for thirteen years before she passed on March 1, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer. While she lived her life here with courage and purpose, she is now blessed to be with our Lord in Heaven. What stands out to me is that those stories are not simply memories, but another way that we celebrate our culture at Sain. The qualities people admired in Lauren are still visible at Sain today. Keeping her memory close to our hearts.
That is what makes the Spirit of Lauren Award so meaningful at Sain. In determining who genuinely deserves this award, we think of the person who lifts others up, treats others with kindness, persistence, putting others first and making a difference. Fine characteristics of the kind of person that we all strive to be. Lauren embodied all of these.
Recognizing Erin Curry
This year, I am excited to celebrate our 10th Annual Spirit of Lauren Award recipient, Erin Curry, P.E., R.S.P.!
Erin serves as Sain’s Assistant Director of Road Safety and Planning and is an Associate Shareholder. She has been with Sain for over 23 years. She may not think twice about how she serves her community, always takes time to help and assist, and always with high standards, but those are exactly the kind of actions people notice and remember. Erin genuinely cares about the betterment of her colleagues and the company.
One of the things I have learned from receiving this award is that making a difference does not always require a grand gesture. Often, it looks like noticing when someone needs help, taking the extra time to encourage a coworker, following through when something needs to get done, or simply making the people around you feel valued. That is something Erin does particularly well.
Erin’s impact on her coworkers is reflected in the words of those who work alongside her:
“I’ve known Erin for seven years now, and she has grown so much; She has become a leader among her peers.”
“Erin is the type of person who inspires you to want to be better!”
Those comments say a lot about Erin, and they also say something about the lasting influence behind this award. Many of us at Sain never had the chance to work alongside Lauren, yet we can still recognize her spirit because the people who knew her have continued to share it with the rest of us.
Now, each recipient has an opportunity to carry a little of that forward. As part of the Spirit of Lauren Award, Erin Curry will receive a $500 gift card and a $500 contribution to a charity of her choice. Her name will be placed on a company plaque with Lauren’s picture and is displayed at the front entrance of our Birmingham office.
Erin has selected The Shelter, Inc. for this year’s charitable contribution. The Shelter, Inc. provides crisis care, counseling, and continuing support for victims of domestic violence.
Congratulations, Erin! Thank you for the many ways you care for the people around you and for helping carry the Spirit of Lauren forward at Sain.