Our Values
Our Values
At Midwest Transplant Network, our core values are B-REAL – Belonging, Respect, Excellence, Accountability and Leadership. As a team, we live these values everyday, fostering a work environment we are all proud to celebrate. We also believe in recognizing our employees for embracing and exemplifying our values with our B-REAL awards. B-REAL winners, like the ones shown below, are nominated by their peers for outstanding performance in the B-REAL categories.
Belonging
We believe in creating a culture where all employees feel safe and genuine at work. We value the importance of seeking to understand beliefs, values and opinions that are new or different from our own. Diverse perspectives make our team stronger as we serve our mission.
Brande’ Johnson
“I feel like I could nominate Brande’ for every B-REAL category! However, I selected Belonging as she makes everyone around her feel valued and appreciated. Every day she spreads happiness to each and every person she meets, going out of her way to engage and brighten the day. She is a dedicated member of the DEIB Strategic Planning Committee where she takes on new challenges to excite MTN staff about inclusion and has shared her personal viewpoints through her commitment to sharing diverse perspectives. Brande’ uses the phrase “I got you!” often and it makes whomever she is talking to feel safe and cared about. She is a genuine and caring soul that models our Belonging value and makes us stronger in serving our mission.” – Nominated by Sarah O.
Respect
Our team members have built a strong foundation of support and compassion. We foster a sensitive and accepting environment that promotes honest communication, active listening and a deep sense of trust. By embracing our differences and sharing our strengths, we promote individual empowerment and team rapport.
Matt Tener
“In Wichita, a 6-year-old donor hero tragically passed away after a car accident. When the family requested a viewing after donation, Matt went above and beyond—taking extra care to ensure the donor hero looked her best, including bringing pink pajamas with him, which happened to be her favorite color. His compassion brought peace to her family, and his dedication to our donor heroes is truly remarkable. I’ve also witnessed Matt’s patience and professionalism firsthand during a recovery, where he took the time to thoughtfully answer all my questions. We are fortunate to have him on the MTN team!” – Nominated by Jennifer S.
Excellence
We attain a high rate of achievement and success for our organization by meeting and exceeding proactive goals that we set together, centered on the overall mission and vision of Midwest Transplant Network. Our employees elevate and challenge each other, setting a positive tone as we strive for the highest standards. Collaboration is key to continuous growth and finding workable solutions that benefit our teams and partners.
Matt Giangrosso
“Our IT team began receiving tickets from remote users experiencing a range of issues, with no clear pattern, and the software proving remote desktop control failed to connect on the users’ end. Matt went above and beyond by staying late over several evenings to troubleshoot the problem. Through his persistence, he identified a faulty graphics driver in the laptop image, requiring full laptop rebuilds for affected devices. Simultaneously, a Dell update rendered some laptops unusable, resulting in critical work stoppages. Matt stepped up by working long hours to rebuild laptops, provide loaners, and ensure users remained operational, all while managing his regular IT responsibilities. Throughout a demanding and understaffed six-week period, Matt delivered exceptional customer service with empathy, generosity, and kindness, turning multiple challenges into positive outcomes.” – Nominated by Nancy H.
Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, always interacting with honesty and transparency. As we are answerable for our actions and those of our teams, we honor our commitments to each other and our professional partners. We take ownership of the organization’s mission with personal responsibility, integrity and resourcefulness.
Kimberly Morris
“Kimberly is a wonderful teammate. She is always eager to help, listen, or step in when coverage is needed. She is a seasoned professional with so much grace, knowledge, and compassion for this role. While I was on PTO, a hospital partner reached out about honoring a proud transplant recipient who had recently moved to KCMO. Kimberly not only came up with a thoughtful idea to deliver a Donate Life flag but also personally delivered it to the unit for this family. Her selflessness and service mindset inspire all of us, and I’m so thankful for her.” – Nominated by Lisa H.
Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, always interacting with honesty and transparency. As we are answerable for our actions and those of our teams, we honor our commitments to each other and our professional partners. We take ownership of the organization’s mission with personal responsibility, integrity and resourcefulness.
“Brad Marten is always an amazing advocate and miracle worker for organ donation, particularly demonstrated in a recent case involving one of our funeral home partners whose son was a first person authorized eligible organ donor. Brad did not hesitate to jump on the plane with the team and fly to Joplin to offer in-person assistance and support to the family ultimately leading to the family’s agreement to proceed with donation and an honor walk. This may not have been possible without Brad’s longstanding relationship-building over the last 15 years. His ongoing dedication to working collaboratively with our funeral home and coroner partners and honoring donor heroes is seen many times throughout the year. This is just one specific example of how he continuously goes above and beyond in his compassionate care of families, exemplifying his commitment to the MTN mission.”
Leadership
Our leaders offer meaningful feedback and support to mentor and encourage their teammates. We cultivate relationships and strengthen teams with effective, professional communication, and by providing the tools and resources to help others reach their highest potential. Leadership sets the example for the entire team with their dedicated work ethic and their respectful personal interactions.
Nichole Asquith
“Nichole Asquith is an exceptional choice for the B-REAL Leadership Award. She consistently demonstrates professionalism, strong communication, and dynamic leadership with MTN staff, volunteers, and the public. Nichole exemplifies the B-REAL core values, making it difficult to choose just one category to recognize her. She fosters teamwork through honesty, respect, and open communication, and leads with compassion, especially when managing challenges. As the lead behind one of MTN’s largest events, the Donate Life Legacy Walk, she manages countless details with efficiency and grace. Nichole is also a trusted resource to new team members and external partners, always offering support and guidance to help others succeed. Her passion for MTN’s mission and ability to inspire those around her make her more than deserving of this recognition.” – Nominated by Joyce A.