Living Shared Values
Spotlight: Sherie Paplow, Environmental Services Representative
Some people build a career. Sherie Paplow built a home. For 35 years, she’s been part of the team keeping Alomere Health clean, welcoming, and ready for the patients who walk through its doors every day. Along the way, she’s become a living example of what it means to live out Alomere’s values.
Sherie grew up in Durango, CO, but fell in love with the lakes area during childhood vacations to visit her stepdad’s family. After finishing a humanities degree at Fort Lewis College, she moved to Alexandria in 1990 looking for a fresh start—and a job with good benefits.
“I needed a job. I needed insurance,” she said. “I just needed to get my foot planted somewhere.” Her grandmother had worked here as a hospital housekeeper decades earlier, and family recommended Alomere (then called Douglas County Hospital) as a great place to work. Sherie applied, and applied again—persistence that paid off.
She started in housekeeping at the hospital, moved into sterile processing for several years, and eventually transferred to the Alexandria Clinic as evening Environmental Services Representative. “I just really enjoy it,” she said simply.
For Sherie, cleaning isn’t just a task—it’s patient care. “I think cleaning is really important,” she said, “When patients come, they feel like they’re in a clean environment.” It’s a quiet but essential behind-the-scenes work that makes trust in a healthcare system possible.
Ask Sherie what’s kept her at Alomere for 35 years, and she doesn’t talk about a paycheck, she talks about people, and the values she says the organization has lived out with her every step of the way.
She credits Alomere’s managers with helping her grow throughout her career—always offering guidance, always willing to listen. “I always felt like I’ve had such good managers,” she said. When she’s faced a tough decision or situation, she says leadership has been there for her: “I’m a person that always asks for other people’s advice. I think over the years, just getting a second opinion has helped me stay grounded.” That kind of support, she says, is part of why Alomere has always felt less like a workplace and more like family.
Outside of work, Sherie loves kayaking, hiking, and gardening. She’s an avid reader and spends her free time with a tight circle of friends, many of them Alomere retirees, taking weekend trips together around Minnesota.
Alomere Health is proud to have team members like Sherie who bring dedication and heart to every role, every day. If you’re interested in joining our Environmental Services team, see the full job description and apply.
