Governor Recognizes State Employees for Their Dedication to Public Service

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Contact: Adrienne Bennett (207) 287-2531

 

Governor Recognizes State Employees for Their Dedication to Public Service

 

AUGUSTA – Maine State employees and their families gathered at the Blaine House Wednesday for the annual William Twarog Employee Recognition Ceremony. Governor Paul LePage presented awards to nearly two dozen people recognizing their dedication to public service.

“It’s difficult to motivate people to do their work, but what we can do is inspire people to be the best they can be. You all have the ‘can do’ attitude – that’s inspiring – and it’s changing the way people look at government.” Governor LePage told the crowd. “Thank you for all the hard and good work that is being done.”

The Governor presented awards to twenty-three people including Mark Roberts from the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. Roberts, a Civil Engineer III, was recognized as Manager of the Year and exemplifies the competencies expected of a project manager and leader. He is especially adept at conserving State and Federal resources and has molded a highly productive engineering team, executing over 5 million dollars worth of projects yearly.

Additionally, Governor LePage made a special presentation to Janis Frost, a retiree from the Department of Health & Human Services. In a letter to the Governor Frost wrote, “I felt compelled to write to you about a personal situation. I started working for the Dept. of Human Services on November 10, 1975 and continued with the Department until I retired in May 2007. 32 years of dedicated service to the citizens of the State of Maine. I worked as an eligibility specialist most of those years.” The letter continues, “I had received years of service pins at the employee recognition days for 20, 25 and 30 years.....Even though they sat in my jewelry box which I was given by my coworkers when I retired they still meant a lot to me as I gave over 30 years to my job. On the night of September 4, 2011( the night that I sat next to my mother's nursing home bed with my dad and the rest of my family while she was dying) my home was broken into and that jewelry box along with another one that was given to me by my great Aunt were stolen. Both boxes were full of my jewelry.”

On Wednesday, the Governor honored Frost with three new longevity pins to replace the ones stolen. A tearful and most appreciative Frost accepted them as she thanked Governor LePage.

The William Twarog Award was created to honor and remember William “Bill” Twarog and his work by annually honoring state employees who promote quality services, listen to consumer voices and provide a role model for excellence in management. William Twarog worked for nearly ten years as a Regional Administrator in Lewiston for what was, at the time, the Bureau of Mental Retardation. Bill’s tenure with BMR was the continuation of a life-long commitment to people with disabilities.

 

2011 Honorees

 Managers of the Year

Andy Giroux, Department of Administrative & Financial Services

Henry Jennings, Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources

Margaret Greenwald, Office of the Attorney General

Katherine Eickenberg, Department of Conservation

Mark Roberts, Department of Defense, Veterans & Emergency Mgt.

Andrew Johnson, Department of Environmental Protection

Paul Courtemanche, Department of Health & Human Services

Curt Johnson, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Everson Stinson, Department of Labor

Heidi Bray, Department of Marine Resources

Lt. William Harwood, Department of Public Safety

Eric Bellavance, Department of the Secretary of State

Mark Alley, Department of Transportation

 

Employees of the Year

Howard Clary, Department of Administrative & Financial Services

Carol Gauthier, Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources

Arlene Harrison, Office of the Attorney General

Brenda Stevens, Department of Audit

Denice Baron, Department of Defense, Veterans & Emergency Mgt.

Lisa Higgins, Department of Environmental Protection

Jamie Coggeshall, Department of Health & Human Services

Robert Cordes, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Adam Fisher, Department of Labor

Marcy Nelson, Department of Marine Resources

Tracy Poulin, Department of Public Safety

Jessica Pomerleau, Department of the Secretary of State

Phil Kronholm, Department of Transportation

 

Special Guest

Janis Frost, Retiree, Department of Health & Human Services 

Photo 1: Governor LePage delivering opening remarks at the ceremony.

Photo 2: (L to R) Commissioner John "Bill" Libby, Denice Baron (Contract Grant Specialist/Employee of the Year), Mark Roberts, Governor Paul LePage and ceremony organizer Joyce Oreskovich.

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