Talent Tribute: Vickie Pence

Our Talent Tribute Monthly Feature is designed to celebrate the phenomenal staff that serve our Members.

There is simply no denying that helping people is a core part of who Vickie Pence is. Before coming to VALLEYLIFE, Vickie had built a career out of helping others, bringing 19 years of HR experience, three years of nursing, as well as an additional three years as a Certified Nursing Assistant. When she joined the VALLEYLIFE family as HR Manager in August of 2020, after moving back to Arizona for the first time since she was a teenager, she has continued that passion through her work with both staff and Members alike.

When Vickie is not using her talents to keep staff informed or to resolve workplace conflicts, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and their two dogs. Whether it’s traveling to a new place or simply just staying in and catching up on their favorite shows, the pair can find joy in any activity, so long as they are together. Since she was a child, Vickie has always had an interest in sports, having participated in martial arts and even joining the men’s wrestling team in high school. Now, she is just as avid of a sports fan, never shying away from an opportunity to support the Arizona Cardinals or the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. She has also been known to enjoy playing fantasy football. Vickie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Weber State University, as well as an MBA from California Coast University.

We sat down and asked Vickie about her VALLEYLIFE experience as a whole, and this is what she had to say.

1. How would you describe your ideal day at VALLEYLIFE?

My perfect day at VALLEYLIFE would be any day that I leave knowing that I helped everybody that I could possibly help. Whether it’s an employee and it’s something small, like helping them reset their ADP password, or it’s a supervisor or program manager having an issue with something. I enjoy feeling like I’m able to help navigate them through what we can and cannot do with their situation.

2. What has your time at VALLEYLIFE taught you over the years?

VALLEYLIFE has taught me to be patient and appreciate life because not everyone is dealt the best hand. Seeing our Members every day is a nice reminder that everybody is different and everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

3. Can you tell us what you enjoy most about interacting with Members?

I just enjoy seeing our Members on a regular basis. I’m close to a few of the girls in DTA 2, so it makes my day when I go down there and they’re like ‘Hi! How are you today?’ or when they tell me what they ate for breakfast. The other day, I was wearing a Cardinals shirt and Cherrie down in DTA 2 was also wearing a Cardinals shirt, so we were twins and that made her day. Just to see them smile, laugh, and how their eyes light up when they see somebody they know, it’s pretty awesome and probably my favorite part.

4. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for success in your position?

“I think time management, being approachable, and understanding different people’s managerial styles are all important in my role. Communication is also really important and being able to make sure I have every piece of information about a situation so that I can make a decision to make sure VALLEYLIFE is protected.

5. Lastly, what do you hope to accomplish or learn in your future at VALLEYLIFE?

I believe there is always room for growth in my field. There are always new laws that come up, so I’d like to continue to keep up on the education and law part of my role. Other than that, I just hope to be here for a very long time because I love working here.