PSU Dining Services Recognizes Belinda ‘Bindy’ Hurd for 15 Years of Service

“Good help is hard to find!” (but not if you know where to look)

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Bindy Hurd holds a Certificate of Appreciation from Sodexo Dining Services at PSU for 15 years of service.

It’s a common refrain. The challenge of recruiting and retaining excellent, dedicated employees is vexing to many an employer. So it’s encouraging to hear about local workers being recognized for many years of faithful service. Plymouth State University recently held an event honoring 83 retirees and long-term employees. Belinda “Bindy” Hurd, who has worked in Dining Services at Plymouth State for 15 years, was among the honorees.

During the school year, Bindy can be found busily tending to her job of keeping the tables and floors at the Union Grill clean and the condiments table stocked and in good order. Is it a tough job? Well, according to Bindy, the PSU students make it easier because they’re “pretty good about cleaning up after themselves.”

LRCS began working with Bindy to help her find and maintain employment about 20 years ago. She has also worked at the former Clothesline consignment shop in Plymouth and the Child Development Center at PSU. Bindy was raised in Plymouth and her father worked in the university’s Physical Education Department when she was growing up, so the campus has always been a familiar and comfortable place for her. Bindy is well-known and liked by her co-workers, according to Melanie Mardin, who has been her Resource Coordinator at Lakes Region Community Services for 17 years. The camaraderie between Bindy, her co-workers and the larger PSU community was evident at the event as those in attendance cheered and hugged her when her name was called, as Bindy did for them.

“Sodexo (the company that operates Dining Services at PSU) has been incredibly inclusive and supportive of Bindy and all of their employees,” said Mardin. “She loves her job there.” Sodexo also operates the STRIDE internship program in partnership with PSU and LRCS. STRIDE is a 15-week sector based training program where interns learn skills necessary to work in the food service industry.

Working has always been very important to Bindy and she has generally holds two or three part-time jobs. Currently, she also works at The Readery and Kil’n Time, two Downtown Plymouth businesses owned and operated by LRCS. When Bindy is not working, she enjoys traveling with her family. She has been to Turks & Caicos and also visits her parents in Florida during spring break.

Bindy is active and engaged outside of work in a number of ways. She is a member of the Lakes Region Self-Advocacy Group and was very active in People First New Hampshire for a number of years. She also previously served on the LRCS Board of Directors. “Bindy is always willing to work with others and to help people,” said Mardin.

For more information on employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities contact a job developer at LRCS StaffWorks at 603-524-8811.

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Bindy Hurd and her mother-in-law Patty enjoy the Employee Recognition Ceremony recently held at PSU.