Each Year Nevada County employees have the opportunity to nominate their co-workers for various categories of excellence in service.  Yesterday the Nevada County nominees and winners were announced  in the  Employee Award ceremony. All the nominees were deserving, but only one could win (per category).

2013 Dedicated Employee of the Year

Melissa Blais, Juvenile Hall
Deborah Curtis, Information Systems & General Services
Carrie Hall, Auditor-Controller
Rod Kahele, Probation Department
Jane May, CDA-Public Works-Wastewater
Kelly Miner, Public Health Department
Tanya Rentz, Behavioral Health Department
Cally Sheller, Department of Social Services – Child Protective Services
Carol Smith, Public Health Department
Cynthia Soszka, Information Systems & General Services
Jan Spreier, Behavioral Health Department
Katherine Spurry, Behavioral Health Department

Winner: 2013 DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Rod Kahele Probation Department

This year’s Dedicated Employee of the Year is known as the “go to” person. This person motivates individuals through positive reinforcement, honesty and communication and has been described as a born leader. Stepping up and taking on challenges is 2nd nature to this long term employee who served as an Interim Department Head all the while keeping Juvenile Hall operating safely, efficiently and within budget. Rod Kahele is a devoted and well-loved employee who commits 24-7 to his job, department and county. He is currently serving as Secretary of the Northern Region of California Association of Probation Institution Administrators.

2013 Creative Employee of the Year

Joshua Browning, Juvenile Hall
Donna Hendrich, Behavioral Health Department
Brad Kalstein, Information Systems & General Services
Frederick Viola, Probation Department

Winner: 2013 CREATIVE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Donna Hendrich Behavioral Health Department

This creative employee helped to plan, develop and implement a community program that benefits not only specific individuals in the community, but tax payers as well. This person created solutions to ensure that these programs not only run smoothly and but has taken steps to ensure that they will continue to run successfully in the future. Since inception, this employee has assisted 19 mentally challenged individuals find housing, whether in an independent living setting or shared housing. These Community members face daily challenges such as bill paying, maintaining a house or even how to be a good neighbor. Donna Hendrich works creatively to teach these individuals to be successful at these skills that most take for granted. That is why Donna Hendrich is the 2013 Creative Employee of the Year.

2013 Enthusiastic Employee of the Year

Stacy Johnston-Casey, Probation Department
Suzanne Jewett, Auditor-Controller’s Office
Darlene King, County Executive Office
Allison McClaughry, Health and Human Services Agency – Administration

Winner: 2013 Enthusiastic Employee of the Year

Allison McClaughry, Health and Human Services Agency

An Enthusiastic employee can be described as energetic and upbeat as well as having a cheerful, effervescent and positive attitude. This describes one specific employee who is seen every day with a smile on their face, whether discussing strategies and tactics, processing invoices or assisting with annual budget preparation. This individual’s style and manner helps others to remain centered and is able to deescalate tension and stress that can occur. The biggest benefactor of this person’s enthusiastic demeanor is the Behavioral Health consumers that the department serves. Her fiscal monitoring of contracts, grantor requests and cost reports all serve to provide a steady and reliable flow of funds into the Behavioral Health Department and in turn Behavioral Health clients. This year’s Enthusiastic Employee of the Year award goes to Allison McClaughry from HHSA-Administration.

2013 Employee of the Year

Angelina Coffey, Probation Department
Mike Dent, Probation Department
Maria Harper, CDA – Environmental Health Department
Robert Heirendt, Behavioral Health Department
Fred Viola, Probation Department

Winner: 2013 Employee of the Year

Robert Heirendt Behavioral Health Department

This year’s Employee of the Year consistently displays a positive and thoughtful attitude. This person has shown focused dedication and has provided consistent, quality services to many of the most challenging clients of the Behavioral Health Department even while demand for these services has grown. A component of this employee’s skill is a child-friendly approach using music therapy. He plays a number of instruments and incorporates hands-on music and song into his therapy sessions. Robert Heirendt’s thoughtful, individualized and strength-based methods help determine the most helpful approach for difficult client/family presentations. He is truly an asset to the county system of care. The Nevada County employee of the year is Robert Heirendt’s.

2013 Team of the Year

Collaborative Technology Center Team Team of the Year

Sandy Balzer IGS – Purchasing
Landon Beard Information Systems & General Services
Diana Carolan Information Systems & General Services
Tom Coburn Facilities Management
Pamela Davinson Departmet of Social Services
Kevin Gunning Information Systems & General Services
Jessica Hudson Library
Steve Humes Information Systems & General Services
Steve Monaghan Information Systems & General Services
Tom Naramore Information Systems & General Services
Bill Nelson Information Systems & General Services
Nicole Pollack Departmet of Social Services
Art Porebski Information Systems & General Services
Craig Porter Information Systems & General Services
Mike Quintana Facilities Management
Mary Ross Information Systems & General Services
Elena Smith Library
Claire Stafford Library
Diana Wilburn Purchasing Department

DA Relocation Team Team of the Year

Carol Babson IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Rob Caudill IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Tom Coburn IGS – Facilities Management
Chuck Deatheridge IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Jeremy Eslick IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Doug Powell IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Joe Fowler IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Mike Quintana IGS – Facilities Management
Mike Railey IGS – Facilities Maintenance
David Zerbel IGS – Facilities Maintenance
Cliff Newell District Attorney’s Office
Denise Harben District Attorney’s Office
Mary Ross IGS – Purchasing
Sandy Balzer IGS – Purchasing
Diana Wilburn IGS – Purchasing
Landon Beard Information Systems & General Services
Kevin Gunning Information Systems & General Services
Jay Lea Information Systems & General Services

Sheriff’s Dispatch Team Team of the Year

Caitlin Boxberger Sheriff’s Department
Trisha Bush Sheriff’s Department
John Denboske Sheriff’s Department
Laramie Farley Sheriff’s Department
Andrea Hensel Sheriff’s Department
Josephine Hodges Sheriff’s Department
Tamara Holdcroft Sheriff’s Department
Dennis Johnson Sheriff’s Department
Elizabeth Kendrick Sheriff’s Department
Carly Piper Sheriff’s Department
Julia Rankin-Calisterio Sheriff’s Department
Andrew Trygg Sheriff’s Department
Lawrence Walsh Sheriff’s Department

CMIPS II Tigers Team of the Year

Jeff Hughes Information Systems & General Services
Bill Nelson Information Systems & General Services
Tamaran Cook Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Deborah Stanio Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Judith Prosser Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Greg Wiltshire Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Renee Asmus Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Lynn Jefferson Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Kelly Carpenter Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Kate Darby Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Gina Rogers Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services
Gina Edens Department of Social Services – Adult Protective Services

NSM Sub-Committee Team of the Year

Mary Jo Castruccio County Executive Office
Patty Eacobacci Department of Child Support Services
Susan Kadera Human Resources
Judith Prosser Department of Child Support Services
Mike Quintana Facilities Maintenance
Pamela Raymond County Executive Office
Jan Young Department of Child Support Services

Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Team of the Year
Patti Carter Public Health Department
Ken Cutler Public Health Department
Sherry Dunn Public Health Department
Cindy Key Public Health Department
Cheryl Montague Public Health Department
Holly Whittaker Public Health Department
Elise Zink Public Health Department

Winner: 2013 Team of the Year

The Collaborative Technology Center Team

This team shows how successful interdepartmental collaborations can be when everyone puts in equal efforts. The designated project was completed within a nine month timeframe and included employees from several departments. From grant writing to officially opening this space, it was a true team effort. The Collaborative Technology Center created an additional 2,000 square feet at the Madelyn Helling Library, all of which is being put to good use. This space has created a successful partnership between the community and the county that affords all members of the public the opportunity to learn, grow, and recreate through technology. The Team of the Year Award goes to the CTC team.

2013 Safety Employee of the Year

Patty Eacobacci Department of Child Support Services
David Greist Probation Department

(NSM Sub-Committee)

Mary Jo Castruccio County Executive Office
Patty Eacobacci Department of Child Support Services
Susan Kadera Human Resources
Judith Prosser Department of Child Support Services
Mike Quintana Facilities Management
Pamela Raymond County Executive Office
Jan Young Department of Social Services

Winner: 2013 Safety Employee of the Year

Patty Eacobacci Child Support Services

This years Safety Employee of the Year has been described as the cheerleader of the Safety Committee. This individual was personally responsible, working with Risk Management, for implementing safety officers’ access to the National Safety Council website. This resulted in safety officers’ having access to educational material that can now be shared with individual departments for enhanced training. She has been a force behind changing how the safety officers view their role in the county organization helping to keep our employees safe and our costs down. This employee’s dedication and enthusiasm has impacted the entire county on a daily basis and has earned her Safety Employee of the Year… Please join me in congratulating Patty Eacobacci.

Pictures provided with agreement from Yubanet.com.