DEPARTMENT: Employee Relations
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Employee Recognition Day And Recognition Of HEROES And IDEA Leadership Awards Recipients
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Recognize employees for their length of service to Dakota County, finalists for the HEROES Collaboration Award and announce the winners for the new IDEA Leadership Award - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access Leadership Awards.
SUMMARY
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners annually designates a day as Employee Recognition Day when long-service employees and finalists for the HEROES Collaboration Award and winners of the IDEA Leadership Award are recognized.
1. Years of Service Recognition publicly recognizes employees with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 years of continuous service to Dakota County. In 2024, 98 employees (with 20+ years of service) will be recognized at the County Board meeting on February 27 and invited to attend the May 21, 2024 celebration at Thompson County Park to be recognized for their service to Dakota County as identified in the proposed resolution. In addition, 80 employees celebrating 10 and 15 years of service will receive a token of appreciation from the County Board.
2. The HEROES (Honoring Effective Responsive Outstanding Efficient Service) Awards recognize the collaborative efforts of employee groups at Dakota County in 2023. The awards acknowledge groups who pursue our Mission of “Efficient, Effective, Responsive government” utilizing innovative and creative ways to approach the work we do to serve and connect with our customers and the public. Awards will be presented to employees to recognize them in their role in one of three final nominations for the HEROES Collaboration Award.
3. The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access) Leadership Awards. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the outstanding efforts of staff at the County who are working to make Dakota County a more inclusive, diverse, accessible and equitable organization. There are two award categories - individual and group.
4. Employee Recognition Day is designated as February 27, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends approval.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Any expenses are included in the 2024 Adopted Budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners annually designates a day as Employee Recognition Day when long-service employees, finalists for the HEROES Collaboration Award and winners of the IDEA Leadership Award are recognized; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County recognizes employees for 10 or more years of continuous service; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County recognizes outstanding collaborations through the HEROES (Honoring Effective Responsive Outstanding Efficient Service) Awards to recognize employee groups who demonstrate the County's mission of "Efficient, Effective, Responsive government" to implement innovative and creative methods for serving customers and the public; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County recognizes the outstanding efforts of staff at the County who are working to make Dakota County a more inclusive, diverse, accessible and equitable organization through the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access) Leadership Awards.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes the following employees for their years of service:
45 Years of Service
Thomas Novak
Linda Shaw
35 Years of Service
Lisa Foster
Michael Greten
Taud Hoopingarner
Pamela Kapsner
Sandra Kerstetter
Katherine Kreager-Pieper
Jeff Luehrs
Rhonda Nielsen
Amy Novak
30 Years of Service
Andrew Cook
Carol Hjellming
Debra Horner
Scott Lewison
Susan Macri
Roxanne O’Connor
Lisa Otto
Kimberly Pederson
Suzanne Schrader
Steven Stronestrom
Karey Strandquist
25 Years of Service
Amy Belfiori
Daren Belfiori
Brenda Bidwell
Joanne Blumhoefer
Erin Christensen
Matthew Conzemius
Pamela Davis
Laura Evans
Telesea Everett
Anne Friederichs
Dianne Garcia
Jon Gilbertsen
Vanessa Glavas
Anne Gleason
Timothy Gondor
Mary Hagerman
Ryan Hoffman
Nicholas Klietz
Lisa Kontz
Ed Kranz
Jacquelyn Kroll
Stephanie LeGros
Rosalee McCready
Ralph Meyers
Dave Miland
Amy Mimm
Martin Miser
Leslie Moran
Paul Munger
Kristin Ness
Catherine Nkwo
Christine O’Boyle
Andrea O’Brien
Andrea Olson
Scott Peters
Allie Regenscheid
Carrie Renville
Renee Ross
Holly Ruiz
Amy Schaffer
Amy Smith
Anne Speakman
Stacie Stankey
Louise Starr
Tamara Sukohl
Constance Walden
20 Years of Service
Christopher Anderson
Serene Bachman
Nataliya Bakunina
Kristy Barnes
Christopher Boreland
Russell Cogar
Julie Finnerty
Ryan Fitzgerald
Julie Glisky
Michelle Ham
David Hanson
Ronald Hauser
Emily Hedquist
Stacey Hines
Raymond Lacroix
Khai Lee
Lester Mitchell
Anthony Nelson
Brian Pfieffer
Chandra Poissant
Matthew Schepers
Richard Schroeder
Susan Schwarting
Nicole Sheehey
Cindy Tonsager
Benjamin Tri
Gregory Wisher
Michael Zanko
15 Years of Service
Daniel Forrey
Michelle Hathaway
Joseph Munson
Brittany Nielsen
David Oien
April Wiese
10 Years of Service
James Albrecht
Justin Anderson
Paul Beaumaster
Melissa Beissel
Crystal Bentson
Amy Biermaier
Sara Brakke
Karen Brean
Brandon Buckley
Scott Buckner
Kathleen Burke
Theressa Butler
Maxwell Chessler
Olivia Collins
Randy Cunningham
Nancy Dager
Debra Davison
Beth Dehner
Carrie Deiman
Amna Diwan
Cory Doffing
Heidi Donham
Lydia Fall
Robb Finnigsmier
Katherine Gartzke
Kathleen Hawke
Christa Hendrickson
Jill Hiben
Amanda Jaskowiak
Jessica Johnson
Jason Jurisch
Mark Kane
Brent Karjala
Adam Kasel
Cynthia Kincs
Evan Klema
Beth Koch
Kaare Kvenild
Erik Langgaard
Daniel Leighton
Kimberly Lowe
Meghan Manhatton
Christina Manis
Lisa Matteson
Tiffinie Miller-Sammons
Nicholas Murch
Katie Nelson
Tom Nelson
Nicholas O’Connell
Nathan Olmanson
Dain Olson
Jordan Pap
Jerod Rauk
Nathaniel Severson
Alexandra Shashkova
Anna Sjolsvold
Matthew Speckhals
Jeff Sprenger
Jane Staiger
Karly Tiegs
Leilani Tolentino
Christine Trutnau
Leng Vang
Barry Volz
Amanda Vopat
Kellyn Voss
Jeanine Wallace
Amanda Wendt
Connie Wood
Yee Xiong
Emily Yetzer
Jennifer Zaboj
Jody Zachary
Megan Zeilinger
; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes the following employees and presents them with HEROES Awards for outstanding collaboration achievements in their service to Dakota County in 2023:
Jail Transportation Program
Rachel Koenigs - Attorney’s Office
Melinda Stefanski - Community Corrections
Elizabeth Oberding - Community Services Administration
Hannah Rank - Office of Performance and Analysis
Debi DeFoe - Physical Development
Ben Verby - Sheriff’s Office
James Gabriel - Sheriff’s Office
Holly Ruiz - Sheriff’s Office
Lisa Brandt - Social Services
Robyn Bernardy - Social Services
Joe Morneau - Transportation
Joint Powers Agreement for Absentee Voting Services
Tom Donely - Attorney’s Office
Michelle Blue - Elections
Josh Kiley - Elections
Vicki Martin - Elections
Penny Fasbender - Elections
Matt Macekura - Elections
Ryan Patraw - Elections
Olivia Sylvander - Elections
Kent Crossley - Elections
Paul Sikorski - Finance
Matt Smith - Office of the County Manager
Michael Randle - Physical Development Administration
Madeline Goebel - Public Health
Teresa Mitchell - Public Services & Revenue Administration
Tom Novak - Public Service & Revenue Administration
Kaposia Library Project
Rachel Koenigs - Attorney’s Office
Tom Donely - Attorney’s Office
Jay Biedny - Capital Projects
Michael Wiese - Capital Projects
Mary Beth Schubert - Communications
Dave Brynestad - Communications
Matthew Carter - Dakota County Historical Society
Sara Knoll - Employee Relations
Stacy Manka - Employee Relations
Shannon Welle - Employee Relations
Andy Benish - Employee Relations
Mike Lexvold - Facilities Management
Paul Sikorski - Finance
Allie Regenscheid - Finance
Karen Cater - Finance
Dan Cater - Information Technology
Mike Agen - Information Technology
Jason Jurisch - Information Technology
Ed Kranz - Information Technology
Dave Miland - Information Technology
Matt Schneider - Information Technology
Jeff Sprenger - Information Technology
Russ Cogar - Library
Sarah Connolly - Library
Carlos Espitia - Library
Shawn Foster-Hout - Library
Dara Leitner - Library
Sarah Livesay - Library
Jennifer Reichert Simpson - Library
Honora Rodriguez - Library
Heather Stephenson - Library
Rafay Syed - Library
Lois Travis - Library
Emily Whitman - Library
Alvin Yeo - Library
Matt Smith - Office of County Manager
; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes the following employees and presents them with IDEA Leadership Awards for working to make Dakota County a more inclusive, diverse, accessible and equitable organization in 2023:
Inclusion Diversity Equity and Access (IDEA) Leadership Awards
IDEA Leadership Award - Individual
Anna Ferris - Parks
Airabella Lepinski - Property, Taxation & Records
IDEA Leadership Award - Team
Physical Development Division - IDEA Committee
Michael Daddario
Anna Ferris
Dean Flohr
Niki Geisler
Taud Hoopingarner
Hassan Hussein
Alex Jermeland
Lil Leatham
Tom Lewanski
Gina Mitteco
Pranav Sharma
Nikki Stewart
Cathy Undem
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
23-155; 4/11/23
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Andy Benish
Author: Andy Benish