Maria Tabarez,
Director of Exodus Recovery Safety Landing Facilities
Maria Tabarez's job is unusual: maintaining, cleaning and disinfecting 172-bed homeless shelter.
Unlike most other Crothall facilities, keeping five building facilities clean and disinfected 24/7 challenges facing challenges. Some residents who came to Exodus to restore safe landings struggled more than homelessness. Mental health issues, respiratory comprehensive virus (RSV), or other health issues. Not long ago, 35 residents caught the Covid-19 virus. In this case, Maria's team worked 24/7 to disinfect the facilities and quickly lower the Covid population to zero.
“Our goal is to help those homeless people by making campuses safe for them,” she said. “It is crucial that we have a clean facility to ensure that the virus does not spread while maintaining and improving all of our facilities.”
To provide residents with clean facilities, Maria conducts it daily with a safe login senior director, temporary housing and nursing director. Working with employees of 11 electric vehicles and three facility management partners, she has also improved the facility by growing new grass and adding other amenities to upgrade its dog park from a piece of dirt.
What makes this character different
Maria holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Prior to joining Crothall, she worked as Senior Facilities Manager at the National Facilities Administrator Coordinator Healthcare Clinic and has also worked in hospitals and behavioral healthcare facilities. Now, compared to her previous work, there is now a difference in being able to establish relationships with every inhabitant living in Exodus.
Each resident has his own living space, which includes a bed, lockers and light, so Maria speaks to everyone during the team’s daily deep cleaning process.
“I have a relationship with everyone who comes here,” she said. “For those who have been through tough times, it’s comforting to see their behavior change in a stable environment. If I see someone who is not performing well, I talk to a safe landing team and guide them to the right people. That’s something we’ve been doing.”
Valuable mentor
Maria has benefited from a strong manager since joining Crothall in May 2024. She received regular coaching from Ian Timothy, regional operations director for facility management, and Carmine Dicicco, regional vice president. Both taught her the importance of building a strong working relationship with the safe landing staff. On the scene, Maria developed a relationship with senior leaders of the safe landing, thus adding a key bond between Crothall and the safe landing.
“I learned a lot from the management team. Ian has been training and educating me and helping me understand how to grow a career. He and Carmine have been inspiring me to do the best of my job.”
As part of the training, Maria completed the Foundation training course for the new manager. Since she started at Crothall, she has received valuable help from HR Director Bernadette Medina.
“When I started working here for four to five months, Bernadette took the time to schedule meetings with me every week. She helped me understand how to work with my staff and leadership team. Whenever I needed to help her, she could help me.” Even now, Bernadette meets Maria every other week to guide her in any problem.
Life outside of work
After get off work, Maria spent most of her time with her dogs: the French bulldog Kratos; Hannibal, Duberman; and Nike, a samoy.
She also focuses on continuing education and growth in facility management. She is studying certification for certified healthcare agency managers and is nominated for a leading edge, which will begin in March.
