Originally from Siskiyou County, Asbury has made Humboldt her home. Most clients from other Northern California counties return home after going through Waterfront Recovery Services but her family came to her. “They all moved up here when I moved. My mother, my daughter and grandbaby moved upstairs from me. Then my brothers moved here shortly after that with both of their significant others. We are a really tight family so we all just stay close. 

Looking back at that first position in the front office, Asbury says that she liked it because she could “see what really goes on in the building like everything starts there.” The pace definitely picked up working days in Admissions where Asbury is required to multitask in an environment with several other busy people, also multitasking. “I am the one who is answering phones all day. Everything is mainly the phone so that’s the big part of my job, answering phones, scheduling people, getting everybody called back within 24 to 48 hours. I’m the one who is entering people into the computer and taking people off the computer. I’m uploading files, breaking down files . . . I’m the errand runner,” she smiles. She notes that it can be challenging “to communicate with someone on the phone without interrupting someone else’s conversation. You can’t not answer the phone.” Despite the fact that this can be stressful at times, Asbury says, “My direct supervisor is Kasee. She’s great to work with. She’s an amazing woman and we just piggyback each other and we get the job done. Our communication is very neat.”

Good communication and caring are the mark of most relationships at Waterfront between staff at every level. “We talk to each other, we like to see where each other is at, we go to lunches . . . It works out perfect because they put family first and to me, that’s really important.” She talks about feeling supported. “We have Stacy and we have everybody here that if something is going down, all you have to do is say can we talk and they’re all open arms, open door, open ears. They’re just there for you and they don’t judge you. It makes it worth coming to work every day, so awesome. The Friends you make here are lifelong friends.” 

Between her supportive relationships at work and her supportive family, Asbury has all the makings of a happy, productive life. When asked what she would tell someone considering coming to Waterfront, she says, “I would tell them that it would be a great choice, that this place does save lives, that it’s not for everybody but if you can get in a program here, it works and it gives you a chance because it’s worked for me.” Perfect.