After 49 years, Ampla Health employee celebrates retirement

May 10—Ampla Health's longest-serving employee, Teresa Thornton, celebrated her retirement in April after a 49-year tenure.

Ampla Health offers healthcare services in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties. The company's talent acquisition coordinator, Michela Franklin, said Thornton is like a Mary Poppins figure.

"(Thornton) always has knowledge of everything, so when I'm referencing that, I'm thinking of Mary Poppins pulling out the spoon full of sugar. Things that are always just off of the wall," Franklin said. "(She's) like a jack of all trades, and knows about so many things, and is always pulling things out of her bag that can always solve problems."

Franklin said Thornton's journey with the organization traces back to its beginnings. Thornton started as an office assistant, and when she first found her job, with what later turned into Ampla Health, it was a pilot project to help farm labor and agriculture workers afford health care.

According to the mission statement on Ampla Health's website, accessibility is still a priority: "Ampla Health strives to provide high quality medical, dental, social, and educational health services that meet the unique needs of all patients, especially those who are medically underserved including farm workers and others without financial resources."

For Ampla Health, Thornton has also spent time as an office manager, site administrator, director of clinical services and corporate recruiter. Thornton said she would say that she is officially retired, although Ampla Health will continue using her for consultation and help as needed.

Ampla Health Deputy Chief Executive Officer Theresa Anaya started as a receptionist with the company about 29 years ago.

"(Thornton) was everybody's mentor, and even when I started back in '95. So she was the icon," Anaya said. "It's all her knowledge, skills and abilities, and most importantly — the mission, the passion for her patients. I don't think there's too many people that realize how much she always looked for ways to find whatever she could to provide services to whatever the patients need. It wasn't just about health care. If she knew somebody was about ready to lose their PG&E, she'd figure out a way to (see what they could do to help them)."

Anaya said that Thornton is the most artistic person. On Anaya's desk is a "pothead" that Thornton made for her. The "pothead" is a pot that is decorated like an old-school crazy lady with plant hair and fierce glasses.

Her interests do not end there. Franklin said Thornton is a fisher and hunter who also likes listening to music, playing the guitar, singing, painting and dancing.

"If you had hours to spend with her, she'd tell you so many stories," Franklin said.

During her retirement, Thornton intends to focus on her art. She said that she does a lot of oil paintings on commission, so she does landscapes and pets. For example, hunters like Thornton want her to put their dogs in hunting scenes. While Thornton enjoys painting, she still feels like she found what she was supposed to be doing with Ampla Health.

"What's your reason that you've chosen this career? And I feel like it's the reward to know that I've helped people, it's not just about the monetary value, but being able to feel like you've contributed in some way to help improve other people's lives," Thornton said. "I don't think that there's any better reward than that, so that makes me feel very proud. When I drive by the facilities and I see their expansions, I'm very proud of this agency. And I'm proud that I was a part of that."

Franklin said that Thornton is a great mentor.

"I didn't know I'd get emotional, but I'll probably cry. She's someone that kind of brought my faith back in myself, and has told me several times: you can do so much," Franklin said.

Franklin always references Thornton when they are interviewing people.

"We tell them about the longevity that she has had here," Franklin said. "For somebody that has been there from the beginning to seeing an organization grow — it's really big. But I always love watching people's faces drop when they go: 49 years! I don't think that she'd ever actually (completely) leave."