April Sherman and Crystal Cline will retire on April 11.
For the past 10 years, Supervisor April Sherman and Administrative Secretary Crystal Cline have worked side by side in Environmental Services (EVS). From welcoming new staff to managing daily operations, their dedication and hard work is evident in every corner of the hospital.
“The EVS workers inspire me every day,” Crystal shared. “It can be a hard job sometimes, and I appreciate them.”
Both women had family working at the hospital before they joined. “My aunt was a phone operator, and my cousin was in data processing,” Crystal said. For April, it was her sister [authorization specialist] Annette Sledge, who brought her to Children’s. While family brought them here, it was the sense of community that made them stay.
The women agree they’ve made lifelong friends here. “Like family,” Crystal shared.
Crystal Cline has been at Akron Children’s for 46 years.
With such long tenures at the hospital, there have been many memorable moments. Crystal, who spent 37 years in the IT department before joining EVS in 2015, recalls how the hospital has grown. “We had one computer that ran the whole hospital, and we shut it down when we left for the day,” she remembered.
April reminisces about how her role has changed throughout her 33 years here. “I started out as a temp worker, and then they hired me on. I went from housekeeper 1 to housekeeper 2 to supervisor,” she said. When asked what gave her the most satisfaction at work, April said she enjoyed learning new things.
April Sherman’s career path took her from temp worker to supervisor during her 33 years at Akron Children’s.
As they prepare to retire on April 11, the women shared advice for current and future employees. “Take advantage of all the programs Children’s offers,” April urged. Crystal added, “Every day is a new day. Having a good attitude and doing your best is always a good mindset.”
So, what’s ahead for April and Crystal? They are both excited about traveling and spending more time with their families. In addition, Crystal will have more time to make homemade candy and do crafts, while April looks forward to relaxing and watching sports.
“It’s been a great run here,” Crystal said, with April nodding in agreement.
Employees are invited to attend a retirement celebration for April and Crystal on April 11 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Considine Building.
