For Immediate Release: August 26, 2011
FLORIDA PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCES EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
~Central Florida employee among many honored for outstanding and dedicated service~
 Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione presents Bill Allman with the Employee of the Year Award with District Three Chief Larry Fooks.
APOPKA - The
Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service recently presented
the 2010 Florida State Parks Employee of the Year Award to Bill Allman,
Operations and Management Consultant for the Florida State Parks District Three Administration. Allman was selected out of the more than 1,000 full time staff
who manage and operate Florida’s
160 state parks.
“Bill’s commitment and
willingness to help others is clearly shown by his ability to wear many hats
throughout his busy day,” said DEP’s Florida Park Service Director Donald
Forgione. “Having worked directly with Bill in the past, I know he is often the
first person to tackle a tough obstacle or get his hands dirty when needed.”
Bill began his career with the
Florida Park Service in 2004 as an accountant in District Three. In August 2006, he
was promoted to Operations and Management Consultant. Nominated by a
coworker, Bill is a highly respected and well-liked individual who uses his
creativity and years of knowledge to answer any question or need that may arise
in his district office, which oversees 29 state parks from St.
Johns to Indian River counties
along the east coast. Versatile, problem-solver, reliable and organized are
terms often used to describe Bill’s consistent and helpful work ethic. Beyond
the qualities of a seasoned professional, he is widely commended on the level
of respect he pays to each individual he encounters every day.
“Being
honored as the Florida Park Service Employee of the Year is a humbling
experience as there are so many deserving staff in the state park system,” said
Allman. “I just do my job the best I can, what I expect of myself every day.”
Each year, the Florida
Park Service formally recognizes full and part-time employees and volunteers
for outstanding contributions and for noteworthy personal achievement or
actions. The Florida Park Service Employee of the Year Award honors the
employee who continually exhibits an attitude of dedication to the state park
system, enthusiasm for the job, self motivation and cooperation in dealing with
others. The recipient must have satisfactory service with the park service and
routinely contribute to the accomplishment of the mission, objectives, goals and
responsibilities of the Florida Park Service.
Other awards presented by the
Florida Park Service to staff statewide include:
Joe Kenner Award for Interpreter of the Year
- Michelle
Waterman, Park Ranger, Mike Roess
Gold Head
Branch State
Park
Hank Smith Award for Excellence in Research
- Elizabeth Gandy,
Environmental Scientist, District Four Administration
Division Team Award
- District Four Administration
CPR/First Aid Training Team
Public Service Award
- Tricia Fowler,
Park Ranger, Ellie
Schiller Homosassa
Springs Wildlife
State Park
- Betty Baust,
Park Ranger, Stump
Pass Beach
State Park
Distinguished Service Award
- Dale Kendrick, Operations
and Management Consultant II, District Two Administration
- Dylan Gavagni, Assistant Park
Manager, Tomoka State Park
- Brian Polk,
Manager, De Leon Springs State Park
- Patrick Potts,
Park Services Specialist, Hillsborough
River State
Park
- Thelma Proctor,
Education and Training Specialist, District Four Administration
- Gail Baxley,
Park Planner, Office of Park Planning
Lifesaver Award
-
David Hramika, Waterpark Manager, Weeki Wachee
Springs State Park
-
Jeffrey Fox, Park Ranger, Fort Zachary
Taylor Historic State Park
-
Joseph Hayes, Maintenance Mechanic, Fort Zachary
Taylor Historic State Park
-
Danny Turbet, Park Ranger, Jonathan Dickinson
State Park
- Jay Mann, Park Ranger, Jonathan Dickinson State
Park
|
