ORLANDO, Fla. – Jose Aulet is this week's Getting Results Award winner.
For the last two years you could find Aulet manning the information desk at the Orlando VA Medical Center.
The Navy Veteran decided to volunteer shortly after retirement.
"I retired and though why not give back for the time I did in the military," he says between helping visitors who come to the desk. Patients and visitors continually approach him looking for directions.
The state-of-the-art medical center is 1.2 million square feet and while plenty of signs direct visitors to different locations, many find comfort in speaking with someone who knows their way around.
Aulet would be that person. He says he knows the complex like the back of his hand, adding that friends from the facility call him "The Governor." "Yeah, they call me 'The Governor,'" he laughs. "It's kind of funny. I've always been called something."
Spend a few minutes with him as he walks the halls, and you would think he knows everyone who works there.
"My family always says, 'You would make a good car salesman,'" he says.
Moments later, he's shaking hands with a patient he's met before. "How you doing? Did you find what you needed?" It goes on like this, greeting after greeting for nearly an hour.
If he's not shaking hands he's pointing out directions to just about everyone he passes.
Aulet is one of about 1,200 volunteers who help at the Lake Nona location. Adelina Sowell, chief of Voluntary Service, says they could use more. Sowell says you don't have to be a veteran to help, adding that you must be at least 14 years and committed to volunteering regularly.
Aulet recently accepted a paid position with the medical center, but continues to work at the information desk.
"It's self rewarding, it's always been. If you help one out of a hundred, that's one that you helped," Aulet says.
If you would like to volunteer you can find more information here at the Orlando VA Medical Center website.