In his own words, “it’s been a long journey” for this year’s Harriet Schaffran Award of Excellence winner, Raul Jolly-Miller.  Originally from Jamaica, Raul was a merchant seaman and a world traveler for many years until friends convinced him to lay down roots in California in 1991. 

Arriving in San Francisco, he was shocked by the change in climate.  He wore multiple jackets and three pairs of pants, yet the Bay Area weather was still so cold that he wanted to retreat to warmer waters.  “I’m a warm climate guy, a tropical guy,” he says.  Fortunately for Satellite, Raul’s friends convinced him to stay. 

Since joining Satellite in 1993, Raul has provided exceptional service as a maintenance specialist – always lending a helping hand to Satellite Central’s senior residents in Downtown Oakland.

“I find joy, I have fun, I like working with my hands,” Raul says of his position.  Most of all, he likes helping people and getting to know the residents.  He has made many friends over the years and advises young people to appreciate the older, wiser generations.          

Raul is almost too good at what he does.  His manager sometimes has to remind him when it’s quitting time – he has a habit of wanting to finish his task at hand before leaving for the day, regardless of the extra time it might take.

Many staff members and residents know him as “Roberto” because he decided to assume the uniform of the outgoing employee who came before him – name badge and all.  Once people started calling him “Roberto” for the name on his shirt, he decided to adopt the name rather than correct them.

As a long-time staff member, Raul remembers the days when Satellite was much smaller and had only one centralized custodial crew to attend to all of the properties.  “We’ve come a long way since then,” he says.  “Looking back on the past and the present, it’s been a long road.  The staff have been very, very good to me.”

The Harriet Schaffran Award goes to the year’s most outstanding employee and is named for the late Harriet Schaffran’s commitment to excellence and her embodiment of Satellite’s mission.  Satellite congratulates Raul Jolly-Miller on his well-earned recognition.