Melissa Aho Named 2015 Employee of the Year

Posted on July 14, 2016
Melissa Aho
Melissa Aho

MARQUETTE – Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP) proudly names Melissa Aho 2015 Employee of the Year. Each year, UPHP names an Employee of the Year from a pool of Employee of the Quarter and “Caught ‘Cha” candidates. Each Employee of the Quarter is nominated by their manager. The nominees are then reviewed and a winner is selected by the Senior Management team at Upper Peninsula Health Plan. UPHP employees also participate in a peer recognition program called “Caught ‘Cha”. This is an employee driven, incentive program in which all employees can write a “Caught ‘Cha” note and give it to someone they caught doing something great. Along with each Employee of the Quarter, the two highest “Caught ‘Cha” recipients each year are entered as candidates in a company-wide vote for Employee of the Year.

Melissa Aho, a “Caught ‘Cha” nominee, was chosen as the Employee of the Year based on her positive attitude and demonstration of extraordinary dedication to her work. Upper Peninsula Health Plan President and CEO, Dennis Smith, noted that “Melissa is a positive and motivated individual who takes the time to learn and go the extra mile to be a helpful team player. She is a valuable asset to UPHP.”

Aho was born and raised in Marquette, Michigan and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Michigan University. She joined Upper Peninsula Health Plan in November of 2014 working for one year as the Receptionist during which time she was nominated for Employee of the Year. “I loved being the Receptionist. I was able to interact with both the staff and members, and really got to know what UPHP does for its members. Also, the employees at UPHP are amazing to work with,” said Aho.

Chief Quality Officer, Anne Levandoski was Melissa’s supervisor in 2015. Melissa has since been promoted from Receptionist to Credentialing Specialist, but she brings her positive attitude with her in her new role. “Melissa is always cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable. She is a great coworker,” said Levandoski. “While working at the front desk, she was always very personable to the people coming to the window, whether it be drivers, members, or lunch delivery for one of us. She has an infectious laugh and is fun to be around.”

About UPHP

Upper Peninsula Health Plan currently serves over 47,000 members across five product lines (Michigan Medicaid, MIChild, Children with Special Health Care Services, MI Health Link, and Medicare Advantage) and its network exceeds 900 providers.

For a printable version of this press release and contact information, click here: Melissa Aho Named 2015 Employee of the Year.