You've probably heard the saying, "When it rains, it pours."
That's what it felt like for Megan Sidebottom, a dietitian at Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center, when she took over as director of dietary services on short notice.
Sidebottom stepped in when the director had to leave suddenly for several months. For her efforts, she was named the March State Employee of the Month.
She not only took over as director but continued to complete all her duties as dietitian.
During the first two weeks she was director, the kitchen seemed to fall apart.
Two freezers went down, and a freezer truck had to be used until repairs were made.
The sewer back up in the kitchen area, and two steamers stopped working, while the sexual offender rehabilitation and treatment services program had a water outage.
Along with handling all these issues, she had to learn to use a computer software system that was completely new to her.
"Megan proved to be a confident leader and very capable of taking on the challenge," a coworker wrote in nominating her. "She stepped in where she was needed and wasn't afraid to make important decisions. She handled herself professionally at all times, even when putting out the daily "fires,' and she kept the dietary department employees working together as a team.
"Megan said she would never want the director position permanently, but she has certainly proven to everyone that she is hardworking, dedicated and resourceful person. We are luck to have her as a member of the dietary staff."