Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service

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1 135TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE BILL NO. 604 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE BY PROVIDING FOR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAMS. Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service in the name of service, State employees have made great contributions to every aspect of life in the State of Delaware serving in the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of government; and the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of State government depends in large measure on its employees who provide such a broad range of services that few citizens remain unaffected by their work; and the importance of public services rendered by State employees and the exemplary manner of their performance are too often forgotten and ignored; and that the Statewide Labor-Management Committee has recommended that State take proactive steps to recognize dedication, talents and contributions made by State Employees at all levels of government; and the Recognition Umbrella Committee has developed procedures and guidelines for statewide and agency level employee recognition initiatives, May 7, 2010 NOW THEREFORE: BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: Section 1. Amend Chapter 59, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new Section 5950 to read as follows: Employee Recognition. (a) It shall be part of the function of State agencies to conduct employee recognition programs for Merit System employees and employees in positions that are assigned to comparable Merit System classes or pay grades. All such Employee recognition programs shall be approved by the State Personnel Director prior to implementation. (b) The first full week in May shall be designated Public Service Recognition Week. Employee recognition Programs shall not, however, be confined to this week. This bill was passed by the House on June 26, 1990, by the Senate on September 25, 1990 and signed into law by Governor Michael N. Castle on October 15, 1990.

2 Awards Recognition Ceremony May 7, 2010 Remarks Ann Visalli Director Office of Management and Budget Richard B. Carter Chief Administrative Assistant State Senate Representative Darryl Scott House of Representatives Justice Henry Ridgely Supreme Court of Delaware Matthew Denn Lieutenant Governor Keynote Address Governor Jack A. Markell Awards Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service Recognition of Nominees Recognition of Recipients

3 OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATEMENT IN OBSERVANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK Whereas, millions of public employees at the federal, state, county and city levels dedicate their careers to public service by contributing to professional industries, such as healthcare, education, crime prevention, fire protection, conservation and national defense; and Whereas, in the First State, public servants are the unsung heroes, who perform the work that keeps our nation strong; and Whereas, many of these public servants have taken an oath, swearing to uphold their commitment to improve the quality of life for others; and Whereas, their devotion and commitment to public service often continues through volunteer activities outside of official business hours and into retirement years; and Whereas, many public servants, such as military personnel, police officers, firefighters and healthcare professionals, put their lives at risk on a daily basis to serve their neighbor; and Whereas, the importance of public services provided by public employees and volunteers and the exemplary manner of their performance are too often forgotten or ignored; and Whereas, designating a week to acknowledge these employees provides the opportunity to honor our public servants and remind the American public of their accomplishments and the importance of public service. Now, Therefore, We, Jack A. Markell, Governor, and Matthew Denn, Lieutenant Governor, do hereby declare May 3 9, PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK in the State of Delaware and urge all Delawareans to recognize the achievements and contributions of public servants at all levels of government. Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service The Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service is an annual statewide award given to employees who exemplify the highest standards of excellence and commitment in state service. Five awards are given annually to individuals or groups of up to five employees that have been nominated by their department. With the Cabinet Secretary s endorsement, each department submits nominations for the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service. A nine-member Selection Committee reviews the nominations and selects five recipients. The Governor presents the awards to recipients at the annual Recognition Awards Ceremony. This event is held during Public Service Recognition Week in the first full week of May. Nominees and recipients for the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service are presented with certificates and Tributes from the General Assembly. Congratulations to all nominees and recipients of the 2010 Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service.

4 Robert G. Cooke Department of Correction Bureau of Prisons, MPCJF Vernon Kirk Department of Finance State Lottery Office With the department for only three and a half years, Sergeant Cooke has been quickly promoted through the ranks due to his professional attitude and respect conveyed toward others. Because of his leadership traits, Robert volunteered and completed training that qualified him to train others. He now teaches Emergency Preparedness Training in correctional facilities throughout the State. His perfect attendance record, exceptional work ethic, superior problem solving skills, and enthusiasm set a great example for others to emulate. Due to his forward thinking and initiative, Vernon led efforts to realize an additional $1.5 million dollars in new revenue for the State of Delaware from sports lottery during the last quarter of Under Vernon s leadership, multiple projects were expedited and implemented without compromising the integrity of the process. Vernon was also instrumental in leading the State Lottery Office efforts in table gaming as a complement to video lottery at Delaware s three racetracks.

5 Denise Hudson Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities Lisa Shaw Department of Safety and Homeland Security Office of Highway Safety Denise s care and concern for her clients often goes far above and beyond normal job duties. This is the case for an elderly, disabled client and his family who Denise helped during the 2009 holiday season. She organized community and business resources to make his home safe and livable, helped him obtain adequate medical care, and contacted Toys-for-Tots for children in the home. On another occasion, Denise paid for the client's prescription out of her own pocket to ensure his health and well being. Lisa s contributions are many and varied, but it is her unwavering commitment to reducing impaired driving related deaths and injuries that is at the heart of her work. Particularly noteworthy has been Lisa s exceptional coordination of the DUI prevention "Checkpoint Strikeforce" campaign. Largely due to her efforts, Delaware realized a significant decrease in alcohol-related fatalities in 2009 dropping from 53 fatalities in 2008 to 41 in 2009, an 8% drop in one year. Lisa s efforts result in lives saved on Delaware roadways.

6 Robert Butch Weakland and J. Robert Bob Daniel Department of Transportation Transportation Solutions 2010 Nominees for the Delaware Award for Employee Names Category of Nomination Robert L. Ragin Kimberly Judy William Craig Watson Outstanding perseverance Brenda J. Solloway Butch and Bob don t feel like heroes; they just did what they thought was right. While on the road completing their daily assignment near Harrington in June 2009, they observed an elderly man who had collapsed in his yard while cutting grass. They immediately responded to him and evaluated the situation. After talking to the man s wife, they immediately contacted emergency medical services. They stayed on the phone with the 911 operator and provided comfort and assistance to the man and his wife, reassuring and keeping them calm, until help arrived. *Robert G. Cooke Edward M. McWilliams *Vernon Kirk Kelli Stepler, Jowonna Thomas, Hope LaChance *Denise Hudson Joyce Adkins Bobbie L. Fisher Ben McQueen Karen Bounds John McCartney, Alan Nold, Sheng Yang, John Nauman, Reagan Paquette Mary B. Parker *Lisa M. Shaw Monica Farrell Eric Austin *Robert Weakland and Robert Daniel John Larouche * Denotes award recipient Outstanding perseverance Heroic act Heroic act

7 Excellence and Commitment in State Service Department Department of Agriculture Auditor of Accounts Department of Correction Department of Correction Department of Correction Department of State Department of Finance Office of the Public Guardian Office of Management and Budget Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Department of Safety and Homeland Security Department of Services for Children Youth and Families Department of Technology and Information Department of Transportation Department of Transportation The committee reviews all nominations and convenes to select five recipients that are recommended to the Governor to receive the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service. Anthony S. DeLuca Robert F. Gilligan Linda McCloskey Vivian Rapposelli Michael A. Begatto Phy licia Dixon Cynthia Novak Demetrias Davis Award Selection Committee Anthony Albence President Pro Tempore of the Senate Speaker of the House Director Human Resource Management Secretary Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Families Statewide Labor-Management Committee Representative United Way of Delaware Private Sector Representative Department of Health and Social Services Employee Office of Management and Budget Employee Department of Elections Employee Thanks to the committee for carefully reviewing each nomination and coming together to select the award recipients.

8 Thank You Special thanks to Joe Hickey, Karryl McManus, JoAnn Hedrick, and Valerie McCartan for representing members of the Selection Committee. Special thanks for assistance with event planning: Ann Visalli, Linda McCloskey, Joe Hickey, Sandra Reyes, Catherine Kempista, Debra Gerardi, Mary Darby, Pat Johnson, Bernard Brady, Richard Puffer, Darlene Hicken-Gott, Anthony Albence, Cathy Higgins, Robin Harding, Debbie Carey, Jennifer Fitzsimmons, Michelle Wright, Glenn Wright, Thompson Hospitality, Matt Fortune, and Delaware State University. Special thanks to the agency recognition coordinators who, in addition to their regular duties, make time to plan events and come up with unique ways to recognize the employees in their respective agencies. Agency recognition coordinators are: Anthony Albence, NCC Elections; Barbara Bennett, Treasury; Debbie Carey, Agriculture; Jeanette Christian, Correction; Jennifer Dickinson, DELJIS; Patricia Diienno, Courts; Mary Jane Donnelly, Finance; Beverly Ennis, DEDO; Jennifer Fitzsimmons, DNREC; Glenn Garrett, State; Jana Gindhart, DSCYF; Susan Givens, Fire Marshall; Deborah Grier, Com. of Elections; Diane Haase, Justice; Robin Harding, DSHS; Cathy Higgins, Auditor; Roberta Jones, Insurance; Janice Jordan, DelDOT; Trudy Mifflin, OMB; Bonnie Miller, Labor; Christine Murabito, Fire School; Tamara Napier, Public Defender; Kim Thornton, DTI; Wanda Spiering, Housing; Lori Watts, DHSS.