JUNE 8, 2009

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today praised Department of State court liaison Peggy Leece for the dedication and hard work that earned her the 2009 Wayne Berg Distinguished Service award presented by the Michigan Court Administration Association.

Leece, of Fenton, was recognized at the recent MCAA annual conference for providing court administrators with exceptional service and guidance. Receiving the award was quite an honor, for it is seldom given to individuals outside of the court system.

"This acknowledgement by court administrators says a lot about the excellence of Peggy's work," Land said. "Her dedication reflects the very spirit of the department's mission, which is to provide quality customer service. I congratulate her on this wonderful accomplishment."

Leece is one of three court liaisons in the Driver & Vehicle Records Division. Department of State court liaisons work with court administrators to improve the quality and timeliness of driving records and enhance communication between the courts, State Court Administrative Office and the department. Court liaisons also train court personnel about changes in the law, explain department procedures and assist with legislative analyses.

"I was very honored and surprised to receive this award," Leece said. "I enjoy working as a court liaison because it is interesting and it allows me to help others."

Leece previously worked for the department's Driver Improvement Section before becoming a court liaison, a position she's held for 15 years.

The Wayne Berg Distinguished Service award is presented each year during the MCAA conference. Individual nominations are reviewed by a committee and a winner is selected. The award was named after Wayne Berg, who was a court administrator for the 80th District Court, Clare County, and the 10th District Court, Calhoun County.

The MCAA is dedicated to improving the administration of justice in Michigan's courts and its Web site is www.micourtadmin.info/joomla/.

Information about the Department of State and its programs can be found at www.Michigan.gov/sos.