Rising Stars, Dedicated Staff, and the Success of Arc Mercer’s Cleaning Services

The August Team Atmosphere Committee Awards Luncheon was filled with pride, joy, and recognition as Arc Mercer celebrated staff milestones, honored this month’s award winners, and spotlighted the remarkable success of our commercial cleaning services.

Rising Stars of the Month: Anthony & John Brooks

This month’s Rising Stars of the Month were brothers Anthony and John Brooks, who both work on Arc Mercer’s janitorial team serving Hamilton Township. Anthony joined Arc Mercer in 2021, and John followed in 2022. Together, under the leadership of Senior Site Supervisor Jaiwanti Bharath, they work five nights a week cleaning key township buildings such as the Hamilton Municipal complex, Health Clinic, Public Works, Veterans Parks, Call/Training Center, Wilson, and Bromley Centers.

Their father, John Brooks Sr., and several Hamilton Township employees were in attendance, cheering them on as Mayor Jeff Martin presented the brothers with challenge coins—an honor rooted in military tradition recognizing exceptional service.

Mayor Martin praised them, saying:

“It’s people like Anthony and Johnathon, who come into work every single day and leave people entering our town with that positive first impression… I’m proud to nominate them.”

The Brooks brothers were nominated by Mayor Martin himself, who highlighted their dedication, professionalism, and the pride they bring to their work. Their recognition reflects not just their individual commitment, but the strength and quality of Arc Mercer’s cleaning program as a whole.

Executive Director Steve Cook emphasized the scale of the program, sharing:

“The Arc Mercer cleans over 2.7 million square feet of office space a day, with over 75% special needs workforce... and they are scoring higher than the industry average [quality assurance scores].”

Garth Hutchinson from Access NJ reinforced this success:

“The commercial cleaning industry is very competitive and the standards are pretty high. In our program, and the CRPs that work with us, we don’t make excuses and we don’t make exceptions, we are professional cleaners. Our people in the CRPs perform as well or better than multimillion dollar companies. We’re very proud of the work that Arc Mercer does, and you guys are among the top performers.”

Employee of the Month: David John

The Employee of the Month award went to David John, a DSP at the Campus Day Program and proud member of the Sierra Leone Cultural Group. David’s partner, Ms. Mariama Ansu, was present for the celebration, witnessing firsthand the impact he has on both his coworkers and the consumers he serves.

Nominated by Anne-Marie Dye, David was praised for his calm, supportive presence and the positive energy he brings every day. As Anne-Marie noted, David is always the one consumers want to walk with, talk to, and lean on.

Overwhelmed with joy, David expressed his gratitude simply but powerfully:

“I want to say thank you so much, and I will keep on pushing.”

Kirk Ponton, celebrating his 20-year work anniversary, also spoke to David’s impact:

“David is always on. He is absolutely one of the most positive people I have ever met in my entire life… David brings the spirits out of everybody in the program, and he’s just a wonderful, wonderful guy.”

Work Anniversaries: Honoring Years of Service

The luncheon also recognized three employees for their long-standing dedication:

• Winifred Smith, Principal Manager, Residential – 5 Years

• Milo Segura, Area Site Supervisor, West Trenton – 15 Years

• Kirk Ponton, Director, Campus Day Program – 20 Years

  
  

Reflecting on his two decades at Arc Mercer, Kirk shared:

“What kept me twenty years… it is really about the people we serve. When I see these guys with the camera and going out and doing great things, and getting on stage, and going on roller coasters, things they probably thought they were never going to be able to do, and I get a part in helping them see those goals, that’s enough.”

A Celebration of Impact

The August TAC Awards Luncheon brought together staff, family, township leaders, and consumers to celebrate not only individual achievements, but the collective success of Arc Mercer. From the Brooks brothers leaving a lasting first impression in Hamilton, to David John’s quiet but powerful presence at Campus, to long-serving leaders like Winifred, Milo, and Kirk—these stories reflect the heart of our mission.

As Mayor Martin said in closing:

“I appreciate everything that [the Arc Mercer] team does, because it’s keeping people near their loved ones, near their friends, and having full lives. And so we try to do our small part as part of this bigger piece, but you are living it every day.”

Thank you to our special guests and congratulations to our winners!

Don't forget to nominate next month's winners by clicking here!