Corrections_Today_November_December_2019

2019 E.R. Cass Award Banquet

significantly improved corrections as we know it in this country and around the world.” Donahue continued to speak about how he first came to know about ACA in the 1980s from reading Corrections Today, which he said, “began the road to understanding the ‘why’ behind, policy, procedure and the practice with corrections.” He also thanked various organizations including the Bureau of Pris- ons, the Kentucky Department of Corrections, the Indiana Department of Corrections and The GEO Group for “[providing him] with the opportunity and the encouragement to do all [he] could in the pursuit of providing a safe and secure environment — promoting prosperity, hope and community.” Donahue ended his acceptance speech with a humbling message about treating life as a series of adventures that one should always be open for. “I strive to do better, I strive to treat people with respect, as I want to be treated. I have always promoted accountability to the taxpayer, co- workers and those we serve,” Donahue said. “I’ve always viewed our employee work group as the most important asset and find significant profes- sional joy, seeing the growth of staff.” After Donahue concluded his speech, Dr. Liv- ers, the Owner of Livers Corrections Consulting LLC and Part-time Adjunct Professor at Louisiana State University, took to the stage to accept her award. After sharing some humorous anecdotes 149 th Congress of Correction

about her family and thanking people she knew who were in attendance, she spoke about the spe- cial bond between people who work in corrections. “I look around and I see people who are con- nected by what we love. I see people who are different in life experience, in political views, but we are bonded by what we love,” she explained. “We do what we do because we care, and because we want to get better as a profession, and we want

56 — November/December 2019 Corrections Today