November 10, 2009
LANSING - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto today honored several department employees for their outstanding commitment to teamwork, leadership, and excellence during its annual employee awards ceremony. Winners were both nominated and selected by their fellow MDA colleagues.
"Even as we work to weather this economic crisis with less staffing resources, MDA employees step up to the plate every day to make sure their fellow Michiganians are receiving top-notch customer service from the grocery store to the gas pump to agricultural job creation," said Koivisto. "I count it both a blessing and a privilege to count this high caliber group of state employees among my colleagues."
The 2009 award winners are:
Team Excellence Award: Peanut Butter Recall Team
It took nearly 50 percent of MDA's employees to respond to one of the most complex and expansive food recalls ever encountered in Michigan. There were nearly 4,000 products impacted just by the peanut butter recall alone. Recalls and recall effectiveness checks require a substantial amount of dedicated resources. Efforts include ensuring the impacted product is removed from the marketplace, conducting audit checks of various locations including grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores, and gas stations. Additionally, it includes collecting and testing products for contamination, and maintaining transparent communication with the public and retailers.
The "Team Excellence Award" affirms the value MDA has in employees who work together to solve a problem, improve department services, and go beyond expectations to develop creative solutions.
Leadership Award: Linda Jones of Okemos
The "Leadership Award" is designed to provide recognition to those staff who are seen as exceptional leaders by their peers, supervisors, or customers. The award recognizes an MDA employee that rises to a challenge to lead, inspires others to follow and to act, and seeks opportunities to innovate and improve areas within the department.
Everyday Hero Award: Heather Brewer of Lansing
The "Everyday Hero Award"affirms the value MDA has in employees who may not be in the spotlight, yet steadily and faithfully get things done every day. It is given to an employee who consistently demonstrates dependability, diligence, initiative, and teamwork.
Front Line Ambassador Award: Keith Eldred of Allegan
The "Front Line Ambassador Award" is given to an employee who is regularly put in precarious and difficult situations, all the while demonstrating a positive attitude, identifying creative options for resolution, and following through with the constituent. The award is not given for a singular achievement or activity, but rather reflects a continuing commitment to the mission and values of MDA.
For more information, please visit the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda.
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