And it’s root, root, root for Team Charlotte
By: Nicole Eaton
It was an event eight months in the making. The stage was set, the hosts were ready and the nominees waited to hear if their names would be called to receive a GOVie.
The GOVies are the city’s annual employee awards. Any city employee can nominate a team or individual for an award for work completed in the previous calendar year. The nominations then go through a selection committee made up of more city employees. This year over 1,000 employees were nominated and there were over 100 nominations. All employees were invited to the ceremony which took place on Tuesday, May 15, at BB&T Ballpark.
Despite the rain and a few adjustments switching the ceremony to the concourse, hundreds employees and their family members came out to the event and others watched online.
The details of the ceremony and the first GOVies After Party included a call for city talent to host and entertain. This year’s hosts were Andrew Bowen (Aviation) and Denada Jackson (Solid Waste Services). City Manager Marcus D. Jones and Homer joined the hosts on stage for the ceremony. Andrenetta Galloway (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department) led the national anthem and Nicole Eaton (Charlotte Communications & Marketing) led the 7th Inning Stretch. Additionally, D. Oneil, New Local and Den of Wolves performed at the After Party, which all have city employees.
And with much waiting and excitement, Team Charlotte learned the names of this year’s winners.
Civic Engagement
Individual
Fran West (E&PM): Fran was nominated for her creative and collaborative approach to public engagement. One example is her work the Sunset/Beatties Ford Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program. Her team listened to concerns about crime and found a way to reinvent Firestone Park which connected neighborhoods.
Team
Community Engagement (CMPD)
Ryan Botzenmayer and Brent Hartley: This team was nominated for developing relationships with Charlotte’s international, immigrant and refugee communities. They partnered with the Refugee Support Services, Project 658 and the International House of Charlotte to build stronger, more trusting, relationships between law enforcement and minority communities.
Innovation
Individual
Rebecca Pheiffer (H&NS): Rebecca was nominated for her work with Coordinated Entry, which brings critical housing resources together in one phone call. Families now only have to call 2–1–1 for critical resources verses filling out multiple forms at various locations.
Team
Watershed Improvement & Permitting Team (E&PM):
Kyle Hall
Isaac Hinson
Erin Shanaberger
Helen Simonson
This team led the development and implementation of the City of Charlotte Storm Water Services Regional General Permit Program. This innovative and unique Regional Permitting Program eliminates the 60-day-or-more permit process for many Storm Water Services projects and the permitting consultant fees paid to get through the process. It also allows city engineering project management to engage directly with the Storm Water Services staff who makes permit decisions. This greatly reduces permit review time and engineering design modifications, both of which save the city and citizens significant time, frustration and money.
Inspiration (People’s Choice Award)
Leslie Eugene Crockett (Solid Waste): Leslie was an inspiration because of his drive and compassion for his job. “He is a very dependable employee who never calls off of work and is always on time. Eugene is very dependable and is always willing to help, even in areas other than his own areas. As one of the top drivers in Solid Waste Services, Eugene always finishes his route in a timely manner and then assists others who may need assistance.”
Outstanding Work
Individual
Timothy Conard (Charlotte Water): Known by his peers as “The Timothy” or “Super Timothy,” he was nominated for his dependability, excellent customer service and the ability to solve problems. Working in Information and Technology at Charlotte Water, he’s helped troubleshoot many issues with microscopes, computer monitors, mass spectrometers, mobile workstations and more.
Team External
Meet & Eat CLT (Solid Waste)
Denada Jackson
Erica Robinson
Beverlee Sanders
Brandi Williams
This team led the Meet & Eat effort to bring residents and city departments together with food for a series of six public meetings to discuss city priorities. Planning included booking space, advertising, ordering food, scheduling agencies and programming and collecting data. Feedback from attendees included, “This exceeded my expectations and inspired me. The fact that citizens have the opportunity to put their vote in for citywide priorities is pretty awesome.”
Team Internal
Internal Opportunity Team (Cross-organizational)
Lina James, Attorney’s Office
Melia Gordon, Aviation
Stuart Hair, Aviation
Donovan Jones, Aviation
James Lewis, Aviation
Ella Moultrie, Aviation
Pennie Nichols, Aviation
Leigh-Ashley Grier, CATS
Jason Lawrence, CATS
Kenneth Brown, CC&M
Sabrina Colon, CC&M
Nicole Eaton, CC&M
Daniel Gallagher, CDOT
Gary James, CDOT
Scott Lewis, CDOT
Allison Naftel, CDOT
Emily Kunze, Clerk
Angela Maynard, CMO
Daniel Castillo, CMPD
Terry Bradley, Community Relations
Lezlie Briggs, Community Relations
Mary Williams, Community Relations
Rebecca Hefner, Data & Analytics
Lamar Davis, E&PM
Courtney Farmer, E&PM
Kisha Generette, E&PM
Laura Rowland, E&PM
Frances West, E&PM
Kevin Dick, Economic Development
Robert Cannon, Fire
Russell Garrison, Fire
Damian Owens, Fire
Jeffrey Richardson, Fire
Eugene Bradley, H&NS
Tiasha Dargins, H&NS
Tanya Jackson, H&NS
Regina Peralta, H&NS
Diane Torres, H&NS
Lacey Williams, H&NS
Anna Duffey, HR
Antoine Ensley, HR
Clyde Grant, HR
Russel Neblett, HR
Tamara Byers, I&T
(Hardison) Austin Faulk, I&T
Kristen Barnhardt, M&FS
Brian Clements, M&FS
Pamela A. Clemmons, M&FS
Timothy Lawrence, M&FS
Marie Marsicano, M&FS
Joseph Mulenda, M&FS
Nancy Rosado, M&FS
Alberto Gonzalez, Planning
Brian Horton, Planning
John Howard, Planning
Alease Acker, Solid Waste
Antonio Baldwin, Solid Waste
Louie Moore, Solid Waste
Nicole Smith, Solid Waste
Hannah Bromberger, Strategy & Budget
Gerard Badz, Water
Shannon Bryne, Water
Gerome Davis, Water
Angela Lee, Water
Larry Mackey, Water
Darwin Mobley, Water
Terra Neal, Water
Charles Singleton, Water
The group was tasked with brainstorming ways the City of Charlotte could contribute to the community effort to improve economic mobility and access to opportunity for residents. Through a series of half-day workshops that followed the Solution Design Sprint approach to collaborative problem solving, the participants generated and evaluated scores of ideas before selecting ten concepts to explore further. Ideas that were implemented include:
- Minimum pay at $15 per hour for City employees.
- Paid parental leave of six weeks after the birth or adoption of a child will be available to all employees.
- Established an Employee Relations Committee allowing employees to formally participate in the decision-making process and shape the future of our city
- Created a Citywide apprenticeship program.
- Converted the employee four-hour match requirement for the existing school-support leave with an eight-hour employer-sponsored volunteer day to support recognized 501(3) community service organizations and school support activities.
Employee of the Year
William Bibby (E&PM): Bill was nominated for his compassion and care he shows daily as the city’s cemetery manager. He educates through a newsletter, provides classes for employees, conducts tours, and takes great care in cleaning and restoring grave sites. His nomination said, “He takes the time to understand each family and their unique situation. He gives them recommendations and provides support, way above what is required. He asks questions so he can learn about each individual who has passed and becomes personally invested in the story they leave behind for others to tell.”
Missed the Ceremony:
Watch it:
Photos
Visit Flickr for all photos from the event!
GovLuv Month continues
Congrats to all of our nominees and winners! Do you know a great employee? Give them a shout out on social media using #CLTGovLuv for our Gov Luv month. Come join us on Friday, May 18, from 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. for “Spread the Love on Gov Porch” at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. We’ll have food trucks, stickers and a space for you to write your own messages of appreciation to employees.
