2008 Utilities Awards Recipients

December 22, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Utilities Department Recognizes Employees for Service

PALM BAY, FL -  Palm Bay Utilities Department (PBUD) hosted its first annual employee awards banquet on Thursday, December 11, to recognize selected employees for their contributions and service during 2008.  The department’s award program was initiated this year and was developed around the department’s core beliefs set forth in its strategic plan.  These beliefs include:  Forward Thinking, Integrity, Responsibility, Success, and Teamwork. 

“We believe these characteristics are central to having a successful and innovative organization focused on 100% customer satisfaction,” explained Jason Yarborough, utilities director. 

Nominations were accepted for each category from employees across the department.  In addition, one employee was selected by the Utilities Director to receive the Utilities’ F.I.R.S.T. in Service Award.  The recipient of this award is someone who exemplifies all of the department’s core beliefs (forward thinking, integrity, responsibility, success, and teamwork) throughout the year.

“The dedication and exceptional work ethic of our employees is helping move this organization towards becoming a world-class utility.  It was an honor to celebrate the hard work and effort of these individuals,” commented Yarborough.

2008 Utilities Award Recipients include:

• Scott Lutz - recipient of the Utilities’ 2008 F.I.R.S.T. in Service Award.  Lutz serves as the Electrical Technician for the department.
• Julie Lemons – recipient of the Forward Thinking Award.  Lemons is the department’s Community Outreach Coordinator.
• Cassandra Smith – recipient of the Integrity Award.  Smith serves the utilities department as the Support Services Coordinator.
• Richard Lundquist – recipient of the Responsibility Award.  Lundquist is the Stock Clerk for the department’s warehouse and is responsible for its organization and operation.
• Matthew Prendergast – recipient of the Success Award.  Prendergast is a Crew Leader for the wastewater treatment plant.

Teamwork awards were given to the following:

• John Kerley, Maintenance Mechanic; Bobbie Klasek, Laboratory Technician; Julie Lemons, Outreach Coordinator; Eddie Mayes, Line Maintenance Technician; Van Mosley, Maintenance Mechanic, Valentine Negron, Line Maintenance Technician; DeShon Davis-Patterson, Utilities Services Coordinator; William Peters, Hydrant Maintenance Technician; and Jessica Roeder, Utilities Assistant.  This team of individuals provided free private well testing as a public service to over 100 homeowners that were heavily affected by flooding from Tropical Storm Fay. 
• Jenevieve Ferreira, Environmental Management Coordinator, for coordination and training of employees during the ISO 14001:2004 certification process.
• DeAnna Krishak, Geographic Information System (GIS) Manager, for her assistance to numerous divisions by providing vital maps and information for projects and service availability.
• Alvin Pressley, Crew Leader for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, for his hard work, motivation and dependability.
• Brian Rickert, Utilities Inspector, for his role and assistance in various city projects such as the City’s Employee Health Clinic and the Palm Bay Road Widening Project. 
• Ken Winter, Line Technician and Crew Leader, for his attention to detail and his role in the success of the city wide meter replacement program.

PBUD is an ISO 14001:2004 certified organization that employs 118 trained and skilled employees and provides service to approximately 30,000 customers.  The City operates two utilities campuses with a total of three water treatment plants capable of providing up to 15.5 million gallons per day of potable water.  The PBUD also operates a wastewater treatment plant and a water reclamation plant; the combined treatment capacity for these two facilities is 5.2 million gallons per day.

*Also not pictured:         Cassandra Smith – 2008 Integrity Award

                                    Matt Prendergast – 2008 Success Award

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