When you talk to Emily Makell, it doesn’t take long to notice her optimism. She has a warmth that makes people feel at ease, and a natural curiosity about people that has guided her career. For more than 20 years, Emily has dedicated her work to Cedar Lake Lodge, where she now serves as both Behavior Education Assistant and Behavior Services Supervisor. Her journey is one rooted in compassion, family influence, and a deep desire to help people thrive.
A Family Connection
Emily grew up in Louisville, where Cedar Lake Lodge was more than just a name – it was part of her family. Her mother worked there as an LPN and often came home fulfilled by her work. Watching her mom find so much joy in her career inspired Emily. “I saw how satisfied my mom was with her job, and I thought maybe Cedar Lake would be right for me too,” she recalls.
She started at Cedar Lake Lodge in 2004 as a habilitation aide; which is now called a direct support professional (DSP). Not even two years later, she transitioned into a DSP trainer position, where she discovered her love for teaching and guiding others. From there, she was approached about becoming a behavior technician. Although hesitant to leave a role she loved, Emily felt drawn to the opportunity—and it turned out to be a perfect fit.
A Calling in Behavior Services
Emily has always been fascinated by psychology and people’s motivations. “I like to understand why people do the things they do,” she says. That curiosity, paired with her people-first personality, has made her an invaluable member of the Behavior Services Department at Cedar Lake Lodge.
Her work centers on supporting individuals with challenging behaviors, but Emily is quick to point out that behavior is often a form of communication. “Most people are not trying to be challenging – they are trying to advocate for themselves,” she explains. Behavior services, she notes, is about motivating the right choices, praising successes, and building encouragement so that each individual’s needs are understood and supported.
The department has six team members who round daily to check in with individuals, provide guidance, collect data, and respond to staff needing extra support. Emily coordinates the work of the behavior technicians while also enjoying interacting with the individuals throughout the day. “One of my favorite parts of the day is checking on people when they aren’t having a lot of challenges. That’s when I can build rapport and relationships,” she says with a smile.
Training, Teaching, and Teamwork
Beyond her supervisory role, Emily also serves as Cedar Lake Lodge’s Professional Crisis Management Instructor. She has been doing this solo for years but now gets to share responsibilities and ideas with an additional instructor. She has enjoyed mentoring Danielle Cundiff, who is also passionate about giving people tools for success. In this role, she leads a four-day training program that teaches staff how to prevent challenging behaviors by building strong relationships, de-escalate situations positively, and support individuals after incidents occur. She primarily trains DSPs but is open to training any staff member who wants to learn.
The work, she acknowledges, can be emotionally demanding – but also profoundly rewarding. “In order to be successful in behavior services, you have to be optimistic, compassionate, and patient,” Emily says. “Seeing people accomplish goals, large and small, is rewarding. We love to celebrate victories together.”
She has countless memories of those victories, but one stands out. She recalls helping an individual experience live music from his favorite singer – Shania Twain. “Upon entering the concert doors and the music started playing, he said, ‘I think I’m going to cry. I am just so happy.’ Moments like that remind us why we do what we do. I get to see people be happy every day.”
Encouraging Growth On and Off the Field
Emily’s commitment to empowerment extends beyond the classroom and the behavior services office. She is also one of Cedar Lake’s Special Olympics coaches, a role she treasures. For her, practices and competitions are not just about sports. They’re about confidence, belonging, and pride. “The best part is seeing individuals proud of themselves, celebrating what they’ve accomplished,” she shares. I love watching their enthusiasm as they celebrate and lift each other up. Coaching gives her another way to encourage growth, foster joy, and cheer on the people she supports as they shine in new areas of life.
A Holistic Approach
Collaboration is central to behavior services at Cedar Lake Lodge. Emily and her team work alongside clinical services, direct support staff, and therapy departments to provide holistic care. For example, if a behavior is tied to communication needs, they may collaborate with speech therapy to expand an individual’s use of a communication device. If additional sensory input is needed, they partner with occupational therapy to create calming strategies that can prevent behaviors from escalating. “We’re all working toward the same goal,” Emily emphasizes.
Life Beyond Cedar Lake
For Emily, balance is key. Away from work, she enjoys spending time with her beloved basset hound, Penelope, and is a proud dog mom. She loves animals of all kinds, recently visiting Wilstem Wildlife Park to see exotic creatures. She’s also a fan of scary movies and Halloween, a holiday she and her colleagues often celebrate in style with group costumes – superheroes, Mario Cart, and the Golden Girls were some memorable themes well received by individuals at Cedar Lake Lodge over the years.
Her positivity extends into all she does. “I strongly believe in the power of positivity and praise. It’s important in all aspects of life, especially here. You never know how much a kind word can brighten someone’s day,” she says.
A Lasting Impact
Emily sees her role not just as a job, but as a calling – one that changes lives on both sides. “This job is truly life-changing for both the people we support and for employees,” she reflects. And after more than two decades at Cedar Lake Lodge, her optimism hasn’t wavered. If anything, it’s grown stronger, powered by a belief in people’s potential and the joy of watching them succeed.
