County employees recognized for excellence in public service

Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. (left) and County CEO Leonard X. Hernandez congratulate one of this year’s 37 outstanding employee award winners, Rebecca Sanabria from the Housing and Community Development Department.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors recognized 37 County employees for exceptional public service during the County’s annual celebration of Public Service Recognition Week on May 3.

The honorees, each from a different County department, were selected by their peers for the Award for Excellence. They were honored during ceremonies at the Fox Event Center in Redlands. The event marked the 34th year that the County has celebrated its top employees during Public Service Recognition Week, which is observed nationally during the first week of May.

“We are fortunate to have a dedicated workforce in San Bernardino County. Our residents benefit from the services each of you and your departments continue to provide to them. You help improve their lives with every action, both behind the scenes and on the front lines,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe.

This year’s award recipients are among 22,000 County employees who provide a diverse array of vital public services to San Bernardino County’s more than 2.1 million residents.

“As Award for Excellence honorees, you have distinguished yourselves as employees who have demonstrated exceptional customer service. You represent the future of our County through your acts of service,” said Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

Thanks to hard work performed by the County’s dedicated staff, San Bernardino County has been honored with more than 500 national awards for public service, innovation, and efficiency during the past decade, including a nation-leading 82 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards last year.

“Today, I see the faces of San Bernardino County public servants who have demonstrated the professional and personal commitment that exemplifies outstanding public service,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Col. Paul Cook (Ret.). “Thank you for having a greater vision and enriching San Bernardino County.”

The following are this year’s honorees and the departments they serve:

• Cindy Arevalo – Aging and Adult Services
• Ruben Arrieta – Purchasing
• Marc Avila – Land Use Services
• Peggy Baldwin – Child Support Services
• Andrew Bonhus – Fire Protection District
• Ravi Brahmbhatt – Workforce Development Department
• Diana Chase – Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
• Treiana Crossley – Children and Family Services
• LuCretia Dowdy – First 5
• Vanessa Ermilio – Public Health/Animal Care
• Michael Fam – Public Works
• Deborah Fillpot-Frendt – Public Health
• Ariane Gonzales – Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector
• Yesenia Gonzalez – Real Estate Services
• Heather Huffman – Probation
• Elizabeth “Liz” Jarvis – Risk Management
• Donna A. LeMaster – Regional Parks
• Susan E. LeMay – Library
• Emilio Lopez – Agriculture Weights and Measures
• Jennifer Luna – Clerk of the Board
• Gus Mendoza – Transitional Assistance
• Adam Miederhoff – County Counsel
• Cheri Pedroza-Duran – Facilities Management
• Yahara Quezada – Innovation and Technology
• Kristina Ramirez – Human Resources
• Guadalupe Reyes – Veterans Affairs
• Jorge Rodriguez – Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
• Rebecca Sanabria – Community Development and Housing
• Devalkumar Shah – Project and Facilities Management
• Angela Sonico – District Attorney
• Tiffany Talavera – Museum
• Peter G. Taylor – Fleet Management
• Theresa “Tess” Tunque- Public Defender
• Tony Troncoso – Public Works
• David Wert – County Administrative Office
• David Widdicombe – Registrar of Voters
• Erin Zamora – Behavioral Health