CQL is excited to continue our Monthly Staff Spotlight series in 2023. This offers an opportunity for you to get to know our team even better! In December 2023, we’re featuring Leanne Fenez, one of our Quality Enhancement Specialists!
Michael Clausen told us: “I would like to nominate Leanne Fenez for a staff spotlight article. If CQL had a position for a ‘POM Ambassador’, Leanne would be a great candidate for the role!” He shares, “Even before her time at CQL, she shared the POM with countless partners and staff throughout the province of Manitoba. I am excited that she now gets to share this passion and expertise with others all around the world.”
We’ve asked Leanne a series of questions about her history, background, experiences with CQL, as well as some questions to get to know her better.
What is your position at CQL and what does that role encompass?
I have been a Quality Enhancement Specialist at CQL for almost three years which enables me to work with fabulous people, doing fabulous work! Much of what I do revolves around training and certification of new Personal Outcome Measures® interviewers and trainers. After being on the ‘other side of the table’ in a service provider organization that partnered with CQL for Accreditation and Certification, it is great to be able to contribute to the success of other partner organizations.
Why did you decide to get involved in the human services field?
My personal mission is to help those around me flourish. Human services was a natural fit for this work and has been an incredibly rewarding career. The passion and commitment that I see all around me is inspiring and motivates me to work harder.
What is your professional history, background, and experience?
I worked at a CQL-accredited service provider for over three decades before being seconded to work on a Province-wide project to create a quality framework to improve services to adults living with an intellectual disability. This involved researching best practices, engaging with people across the Province and recently we just finished up a pilot project in which we utilized Personal Outcome Measures® as a way to understand the impact we were having on people served across the Province. We are looking forward to next steps!
What are three skills you have that help you in your work?
- Empathetic
- Creative
- Organized
Is there anything you would like to share about yourself personally?
My husband and I live on a small farm where we grow or raise most of what we eat. When we escape the farm, you can usually find us hiking or canoeing in the backcountry. I’m also a mom of three adult children who are usually scattered across the globe but return regularly to raid the pantry!
CQL Lightning Round!
Name one thing on your bucket list.
Being a contestant on the Great British Baking Show 🥐
Sweet or savory? What is your favorite savory food?
Definitely savory – Zesty Cheese Doritos are my achilles heel!
Describe one trick you use to stay productive.
Plan for my day, the night before. Make it easy!
Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room? Why?
Funniest… Laughter makes everyone smile!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or read? Cite who gave it to you or said it.
You can choose your response to any situation…. many people have said this since but I first heard it during a workshop when I was 19… really stuck with me!
What was your first job?
Elf at Breakfast with Santa 🎅
What do you like to do for fun, in your free time?
Love playing Catan (board game)
Do you have one totally irrational fear? What is it?
Centipedes – I squirm just thinking about them! 🤢
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About CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership
Since 1969, CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership has been a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure, and improve quality of life and quality of services for youth, adults, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities. CQL offers accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to agencies that share our vision of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people.
Leanne Fenez: December Monthly Staff Spotlight