08/19/2026
Last week, three PICS employees were recipients of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Spirit Awards. The recipients were nominated by their peers and supervisors for their demonstrated commitment and dedication to LSS’ mission and vision, as well as their outstanding commitment to the people LSS serves and their spirit of generosity.
Here's what their colleagues had to say:
"Engen will go above and beyond every day to make sure that our families get the support they deserve. He will do anything in his power to make sure that payments are made on time and correctly. He is the first to volunteer to help with projects and has incredible attention to detail. Engen is very involved in ALIVE Workplace activities and always does his best to get the rest of the PICS team involved. I don't think there has been a team building event that he has missed since he started." — Angela, Payroll Manager
"Giazhia is fair, deeply compassionate and trustworthy, qualities that allow her to build the meaningful rapport necessary for families to feel truly supported. Her colleagues rely on her as a knowledgeable resource; she is always responsive to questions and remains highly collaborative, ensuring that her insights are shared freely to lift the entire team. Giazhia is an invaluable asset to our team, consistently demonstrating a high level of professional discipline and a deep dedication to the families we serve. Beyond her impeccable organizational skills, she embodies the true meaning of a team player." — Melody, Service Coordinator & Becca, Program Manager
"As a member of the enrollment team, Joua is always working on building strong relationships with those that we serve. Joua always has a smile on her face and a kind word for those that she supports. Joua assists with onboarding new families with PICS. Her compassion, empathy and work ethic can be seen every day, and she builds relationships with her colleagues in a wide variety of ways. She is the first to volunteer to help someone, she will answer questions from the team, and will share her tools and resources with others. She is always kind, caring and greets everyone with a smile." — Ashley, Program Manager
Congratulations Engen, Giazhia and Joua! Thank you for all you do to support the individuals and families we serve. 💜
