It is not often that you get to work with someone in several different capacities and watch them excel in each one. It is not often that the job they do helps make your own job much easier. And it is not often that you get to work with someone who looks out for everyone around her before ever considering herself. But that is who Dawn Berndt is.
I first met Dawn when she was named to the National Council on Education (NCOE) committee 12 plus years ago. Although quiet and reserved, you could see that she was extremely intelligent, committed, and thoughtful. The latter of these 3 traits is the one that I will remember most. At the time, my youngest daughter, Kim, had just graduated from college with her BSN. She was in the middle of a job search when she came with me to an NCOE meeting to get a flavor of what went into developing an INS Annual Meeting. Fast forward a year to another NCOE meeting. Before we got the meeting started, Dawn stopped and asked me if Kim was working, and if so, where and in what area of nursing. When I told her she was working at Cleveland Clinic in pediatric bone marrow transplant (BMT) and oncology, I could see Dawn’s face light up. She was genuinely happy for a person she had met only once. That is when I realized how special Dawn was.
Dawn’s next step in her INS career was as a member of the INS Board of Directors. She brought her clinical skills and business acumen with her. She had excellent instinct and nursing knowledge. She was a perfect fit for the Board. INS next found itself in search of a nurse for its education department. This position would require many skills in addition to nursing expertise. We were thrilled when Dawn submitted her resume. She was another perfect fit!
It would take me numerous pages to list all that Dawn has done for INS in her career. Her contributions are many and her dedication is apparent in everything she does. Dawn now finds herself in the next stage of her career – retirement. From a personal standpoint, I could not be happier for her! She helped make my job easier and was always there to answer a question for me. I can’t thank her enough. I will miss her, but I am so pleased and thrilled for her. Dawn will now get to spend more time with her family and friends as well as her dog, Gus! On behalf of INS and our staff, we wish her a happy, healthy, and fulfilling next chapter! Let the new adventure begin!
P.S. Dawn – Kim sends her thanks and wishes you the very best in retirement!
