Heroes Helping Heroes: How Hopebridge Sets up the Team for Success in Their Roles

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at New-Hire Onboarding for Autism Therapy Clinicians

In every organization, there are hidden heroes working behind the scenes to help make the magic happen. At Hopebridge, a lot of these heroes work at our Home Office located in Indianapolis, IN. These teams work tirelessly to support our clinics across the country. The new-hire onboarding team steps in at the very beginning of every Hopebridge Hero’s journey and guides them through our mission, cultural cornerstones and resources to set them up for the most success in their new job. We interviewed Dani Lopez-Roque and Nicole Crabtree, both onboarding specialists, to learn more about their integral role at Hopebridge and their impressive team dynamic.

Many Hopebridge Heroes have their theories as to what makes a good team, but for these two, it helps that they are best friends and roommates in real life! In every onboarding session their energy fills the room and invites inclusivity and excitement.  Check them out in action on our Instagram or in our next Hopebridge onboarding session. 😉

How long have you been an Onboarding Specialist?

Dani has been employed with Hopebridge for 3 years. She began in the credentialing department where she worked with insurance logistics. She then transitioned into the Human Resources (HR) department as an Onboarding Specialist where she got to explore more of her passions.

Nicole had a similar journey; she began in the credentialing department and took her creative mind and social personality to join Dani as an Onboarding Specialist. Together, the two create an engaging, dynamic team to welcome every single new hire that joins the company.

How would you describe your role in one sentence?

Nicole describes her position of onboarding specialist as “a brand new, fast-paced and fun-filled rollercoaster.”

Dani “ensures that new employees have the #BridgeyBest experience when they join the Hopebridge team!”

What is your favorite part of your job?

Dani and Nicole both agree that getting to spend time with the new faces of Hopebridge is easily one of their favorite parts of their job as onboarding specialists. Dani shares that “they are so full of questions and excitement,” and that everyone comes from different backgrounds so two onboarding sessions never look quite the same. Nicole loves cheering on the newcomers or celebrating existing employees on their new promotions. She says that “the collective environment that we create and provide for the new hires is the best part of the gig for me.”

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Both Nicole and Dani explained how the exponential growth of Hopebridge is the biggest challenge for their team. Coordinating with every single new hire, answering questions, and customizing their onboarding experience to their unique circumstances can get a bit overwhelming. Their role is constantly evolving, and Dani and Nicole are always exploring new ways to engage new hires.

What inspires you to come to work every day? What is your reason why?

Of Hopebridge’s five cultural cornerstones, Dani and Nicole both resonate strongly with “Be Passionate.” The passion that they are surrounded by everyday inspires them to create an inviting and encouraging environment for their team and new hires. Nicole says, “our employees have so much passion for what they do and everyone wants to work hard because we know who we are working for – the kids.” Dani takes pride in her role as an advocate for new hires. She loves helping them find their voice in the company. She says, “lots of people talk about eliminating barriers and championing diversity, but Hopebridge makes it a priority.” Both agree that Hopebridge offers endless opportunities to learn and grow, which is such a valuable asset in their careers.

How were you introduced to the autism/ABA world?

Dani and Nicole were both newbies to the ABA world when they started at Hopebridge. Dani shares that when she started at Hopebridge, it was just a casual job, but it soon turned into a life-changing passion. “I very quickly fell in love with the world of ABA and our kiddos” she said. Nicole was introduced to the ABA world through her fellow teammate, Dani. She says “Dani knew I was looking for a company that I could make a difference in.” Nicole saw how much Dani was inspired by the Hopebridge mission and collaborative environment so she decided to join in on the fun!

What GIF describes you best?

Nicole:

via GIPHY

Dani:

Onboarding is such a critical department in the structure of Hopebridge and we couldn’t ask for a better duo to welcome and celebrate our new teammates. The work that Dani and Nicole do is never-ending, but they are able to create an inviting, educational, and unique experience for every new hire that comes to Hopebridge. Thank you for all that you do!

If you want to become a Hopebridge Hero and meet Dani and Nicole in the next onboarding session, visit our careers page to view open positions across the United States. We are always searching for enthusiastic members to join our team!

Blog content courtesy of Kaitlynn Coffman.

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC.