| << Back |  |
Meet Your Neighbor: Meet The Neighbor – Kelly DeGuzman
By Callie Thomas
After you get to know 89123 resident Kelly DeGuzman, you’ll ask yourself, “Is there anything she can’t do?” We look up to those who view life as an adventure, learning and growing along the way. DeGuzman has learned much from an early age and used those experiences to help others. She began volunteering at age thirteen, working at a rehab hospital for children with life threatening medical conditions. She taught swimming to kids with intellectual challenges and those that had lost a limb or gone through chemotherapy in an effort to rebuild their muscles. Her experiences have also led her to the construction field, working with her dad, who was an electrical contractor. She spent summers working by his side at places like the Pomona Fair Grounds and Magic Mountain, where any kid would want to visit. DeGuzman can also add jelly making and retail sales to the list, along with studying child psychology, and she’s also worked at a law firm in Los Angeles and for Hughes Aircraft. DeGuzman finally landed in Las Vegas with her husband to be and had the opportunity to go back to her first love, helping people.
After working up the ladder to become a program director with a private company that supported intellectually challenged individuals, she was approached by New Vista Ranch, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide intellectually challenged individuals of all ages with a home-like environment that enables them to live as independently as possible. That was eleven and a half years ago, and to this day, DeGuzman still loves coming to work every morning. She believes she has the best team who really go above and beyond the call of duty, and they continue to work tirelessly in ensuring that the mission remains intact and the goals are met. DeGuzman shares her passion for fighting for those who can’t, her accomplishments at New Vista and a few little known accomplishments that others might just be surprised to learn.
Tell us about New Vista and how it assists those in the community.
“We develop programs to meet the needs of each individual by providing a stable foundation that empowers the people we support. Since people with disabilities require different levels of support, we tailor programs to meet their goals toward independence. We inspire self esteem that helps to build the skills they need to get through everyday life.”
Although you’re the Chief Executive Officer at New Vista, you enjoy working with the individuals in your programs?
“Yes, although I oversee senior management and support the volunteer members that make up the Board of Trustees in financial resource development, I love working with our intellectually challenged individuals who have taught me important life lessons by being around their laughter, acceptance, love, compassion and devotion.”
You’ve accomplished a lot at New Vista.
“I started with twelve employees and eighteen intellectually challenged adults in four homes. We now have over 120 employees and twenty homes in the community supporting individuals. We have a senior program in development for this year, along with a medical clinic that will be open to all who have an intellectual or developmental disability. We’ve also partnered with Touro University, which will send students through a rotation at the clinic so they have a better understanding of our population.”
You are passionate about fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.
“I stay involved not only in our community but through efforts that assist our nation for those intellectually challenged. One voice can still make a difference, but you have to be there to get there.”
Of your accomplishments with New Vista, what might be your most memorable?
“It would have to be accepting a large donation from Celine Dion on her stage after her 500th performance. Also, working with so many people, staff and volunteers who pick up the challenge and give so much of their time and devotion, it is the one thing that truly humbles me”.
Is there anything else you have accomplished that others might not know?
“When I was in my twenties, I was involved in Karate Do and reached the rank of brown belt. I also took and later helped teach knife/weapons defense, which had both military and other government agency people as students. Also, although no one believes it, I really am very quiet and shy outside of work. My greatest accomplishment of all time is being a mom to my two sons, Alex (8) and Joshua (6), who make everything worthwhile. Being with my husband Jerry for twenty-four years, who keeps me grounded when I get a little out of control – they are the reason I can do what I do and keep me focused on what is truly important in life.”
