Three employees honored for great work!

I have to brag a bit this morning. I was proud to see three Job and Family Services employees recognized this morning at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting as part of the Hamilton County Employee of the Year Program.

Of the seven awards given this year, our department had three honorees. I see that as a true testament to the hard work JFS employees do each day.

The JFS winners were Tom Sanders, Karen Evans and Natrasha Christian-Beasley. Congratulations to all of you!

The winners will also be recognized again on Fountain Square on Thursday, May 6, at noon as part of the Public Service Recognition Week celebration. If you see any of these winners, please congratulate them for their hard work and dedication to the citizens of Hamilton County.

All of Hamilton County’s Employees of the Year are listed on the County’s website: http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/hr/EmployeeOfYear/EmpYear2010Home.asp.

Below is a short biography taken from each winner’s nomination for the award:

Tom Sanders
Innovation Award

Tom Sanders, a programmer in Information Systems at Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, has worked on various projects related to moving the agency forward, but none as important as the design and implementation of the Appointment Management System in 2009. The system has improved customer service by ensuring JFS consumers are seen quickly and do not spend as much time waiting. The system also saves the agency and county an estimated $1 million over a five-year period. The system gives management staff the tools to increase productivity. Staff loves this new system; communication, both internal and external, has improved dramatically thanks to the new appointment system Sanders created.

Karen Evans
Customer Service Excellence Award

Karen Evans, a manager in the Customer Service Office at the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, serves as the point person for all complaints regarding the agency’s public assistance program. In 2009, a year that saw record levels of Hamilton County residents seeking public assistance and the layoff of hundreds of JFS employees, that was a busy and difficult job. Even faced with the tremendous pressure, Karen stood as a symbol to all employees on how to maintain a positive attitude, how to treat customers, how to be innovative in the work you do and how to step up to the plate when needed.

Natrasha Christian-Beasley
Leadership Award

Natrasha Christian-Beasley, a Children’s Services supervisor at the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, was nominated for this award by her employees who feel supported and motivated to excel for her. Natrasha never asks her team to complete a task that she has not or would not do herself; she has endless energy no matter what kind of day she is having. Natrasha has the ability to know when her team is overwhelmed; she is able to help employees refocus on the outcome of a case by listening while providing empathy and guidance to increase the quality of service delivery.

by Jim Tinker

Filed Under: Communication