At Aspire, we support neurodiverse children and adults as they discover their passions, build new skills, and thrive in their communities. None of that happens without the employees who show up every day with care, consistency, and genuine commitment to the people they support. Our employee spotlight series is where we introduce you to them, the people behind the work.
Talk to Shereen Greene for five minutes and you’d swear she’s been at Aspire for years. In reality, she joined a little over a year ago, but the relationships she’s built in that short time say everything about how she leads.
As senior director of program operations in Maryland, Shereen oversees residential homes across Baltimore and Harford County, the day program at the main office in Bel Air, and the teams that make them possible. No matter which building she’s in, she makes a point to walk through every day just to say good morning and catch up. She wants to hear how someone’s weekend went. She wants to know if an employee had a hard moment during their shift, and whether they need help or just need to vent.
She notices things, too. When a coworker is expecting a baby or just moved into a new place, chances are Shereen has already started crocheting something for them. That’s the kind of connection she tries to build with everyone she meets, whether it’s a coworker or someone Aspire supports.
We sat down with Shereen to hear more about her journey.
Can you tell us a little about your role in Maryland?
What inspired you to pursue a career in human services?
“I’ve always been someone who wanted to help people, always. As a teenager, I thought I wanted to be a nurse. After I graduated high school, I started nursing school. I think at that time, God was telling me, ‘You’re going to work in health care and help patients, but not in the way you think you’re going to.’ So I went back to school and thought, ‘Well, what am I going to do?’ Somebody said, ‘How about business?’ I was like, ‘Business? I don’t want to run a business.’ And they said, ‘No, you can run businesses that help people.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I can do that? That’s what I want to do!’”
What keeps you motivated by the work you do each day?
“I recognize that the work I do every day impacts how we make sure we’re providing for the people we support. It makes me feel good when I’m here in the office and someone says, ‘Hi, Ms. Shereen! How are you? Look at my new shoes.’ That’s what gives me joy.
I say this all the time: the people we support are VIPs. They have a choice. They don’t have to choose us as their provider. So the fact that they did. That’s what keeps me going. At the end of the day, whether it’s been a bad day, a good day, or somewhere in between, I remind myself that we’re doing this for the people we support, because that’s what it’s all about.”
What’s your approach to building strong relationships?
“I try to go around and say good morning to everybody, just to see how they’re doing. To me, it’s a little pulse check. I know all of us have a life outside of work, and sometimes you might have had a bad morning. Just having someone acknowledge you and say good morning might change your whole day.”
What would you say to someone thinking of joining Aspire?
“If you are someone looking for something more fulfilling than just a paycheck and you’re truly looking to feel like you’re a part of something bigger, then you should come work for Aspire.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself outside of work.
“I love thrifting and I also love crocheting. I’ve been crocheting since I was a little girl. Right now, I’m working on a blanket for my husband. But in the last six months, I’ve made blankets for a couple of employees. We had one who was having a baby, so I made a baby blanket. Another had gotten a new couch and needed a throw for it, so I made that.”
Shereen sees leadership as something you keep growing into. She encourages her team to step outside of their comfort zones, speak up when they have a question, and take advantage of training opportunities, because she’s doing the same for herself. That kind of investment, in her team and in her own growth, is what helps everyone around her become the best version of themselves.
If that’s the kind of team you feel drawn to be part of, explore current opportunities on the Aspire job board.