Talent Tribute: Irene Gonzalez

Our Talent Tribute Monthly Feature is designed to celebrate the phenomenal staff that serve our Members.

Irene joined VALLEYLIFE in March 2021 as a Finance Assistant, bringing over 2 decades of accounting experience with her. Although VALLEYLIFE was her first role working with individuals with disabilities, she quickly grew to love the organization. Not only did she have a supportive supervisor that gave her room to grow, but the welcoming atmosphere and interactions with Members made her work especially meaningful.

Irene appreciates the chance to get to know Members, even though her role is in finance. As the mother of a son on the autism spectrum, she feels a personal connection to VALLEYLIFE’s mission, which has strengthened her appreciation for the work the organization is doing every day. She describes herself as helpful, polite, and calm, qualities she tries to bring to her work each day.

Outside of work, Irene enjoys dancing, swimming, walking, sightseeing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband have been together for 29 years and have five children, two cats, and a dog. Born in Texas, Irene moved to Arizona when she was three. She later spent some time living in Georgia before returning to Arizona permanently.

We sat down and asked Irene about her VALLEYLIFE experience as a whole, and this is what she had to say.

1. How would you describe your ideal day at VALLEYLIFE?

I say my ideal day is getting my work accomplished; making sure everything is paid, accurately, and on time; and having some of the Members that we normally see day in and day out get excited or say hi to us in the administration building.

2. What has your time at VALLEYLIFE taught you over the past year?

VALLEYLIFE has taught me to appreciate what we have. That’s especially true seeing the Members and how happy they are, even when navigating struggles of their own. So yeah, I guess it really comes down to appreciating where we're at in life.

3. Can you tell us what you enjoy most about interacting with Members?

What I enjoy most about interacting with Members is when they smile and look at you with their happy-go-lucky attitudes. It puts a smile on my face to see that they're so happy. I mean, they're a big part of our job, our atmosphere, our community here. It makes it feel like home away from home.

4. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for success in your position?

I would definitely say having accountability, having the ability to make sure everything is paid on time, and being punctual. I’d also say that you must have an open mind and be able to be flexible with the people around you.

5. Lastly, what do you hope to accomplish or learn in your future at VALLEYLIFE?

I would be interested in potentially volunteering at VALLEYLIFE after I retire. It wasn’t until I worked here that I realized that I had never really learned about a non-profit that worked with individuals with disabilities so I think I would like to volunteer and help out.