Who: Nate Vivona, an environmental services technician at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital.

What: Nate is known for his outgoing, friendly personality. He has never met a stranger, only a friend he didn’t know before, while working in the hospital, cleaning floors, helping in the emergency department, taking care of trash or tidying rooms.

A single dad of a 6-year-old daughter, Nate lives within walking distance of the hospital and enjoys his job with his team, which shares his upbeat vibe. One of four kids growing up, he says he had great parents, who valued kindness.

If it’s a holiday, you may find Nate dressed as a Christmas tree, wearing a green leprechaun hat and bowtie, clad in an Easter Bunny outfit or decked out in red, white and blue. Sometimes he hands out candy.

Anytime, you might encounter him using one of the floor cleaning machines, which the team has given both googly eyes and nicknames (they are known as Bubbles, Buster and Beau…their vacuum goes by Bruce).

Words to live by: Anita Gettel, day shift lead housekeeper who works with Nate, says, “He has a bubbly personality. He is always willing to help if someone is lost or needs help.”

Orie Chambers, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital’s interim president, vividly recalls the first time he ever met Nate.

“He came into my office with a level of energy that was infectious right from the start,” he says. “We had great conversation about who he was and how excited he was to be part of the team. Over the course of the time I have known him, he is all in for making people feel welcome.”

From left, Nick Frolio, senior director of operations at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, Nate and Orie. 

For Nate, this just seems to come naturally, whether he’s interacting with team members, patients or visitors.

“I have a sense of trying to say hello to everyone I see and be as much of a light as I can be,” Nate says. “It’s awesome to make a connection and brighten up someone’s day. I can’t help it. I am an extroverted person. It’s fun!”