L-R: Rick Williamson, Stu Fox, Tammy Wilson, Shaun Sullivan, and Ray Olsen. Not pictured: Jim Schlossmacher and George Esbensen
We held our big Annual Employee Recognition Event this morning in the Council Chambers in City Center. Each year the City recognizes employee service and performance with annual awards. We recognize employee years of service in five year increments. The employees pictured above received awards based on their performance over the past year. Here’s who they are and why they were recognized.
Rick Williamson received one of three City Manager Quality Awards for his work in the Street Division of our Public Works Department. Rick’s work in preparing our Street Division equipment deserves recognition. He is a creative problem solver. If we need a part or an improvement to a piece of equipment that is not available for purchase, he’ll make it.
Stu Fox is our Manager of Parks and Natural Resources. He was recognized with the James G. Clark Award for Teamwork. Stu’s job put him in a position to work with all of our City departments in one way or another. He works with the Police on animal control calls. He works with City Planners when they are reviewing new trail easements. He works with Engineers on park construction projects. He is an excellent team member and team leader.
Tammy Wilson is a CPA in our Finance Division. She was recognized with the City Manager Quality Award. She is also in a position where she works closely with employees from many different divisions. She is a smart and hard-working employee. People like working with Tammy. She is the type of person in an organization that people seek out when they need something because she’ll understand what you want and deliver it the way you wanted it.
Shaun Sullivan, aka “Sully”, was probably the easiest choice of the year this year. He was awarded the Carl J. Jullie Award for Excellence in Customer Service. Sully works in our Facilities Division. He is an Engineering Technician. Sully is an upbeat sort of guy. He is personable, but when you need his help with a broken chair; or a burned out light bulb; or a heavy table – he’s The Man. No question about it. He’s got a great “can-do” attitude.
Ray Olsen is an employee in our Streets Division. Ray is also a recipient of the City Manager Quality Award this year. Ray is another guy in the Streets Division that is results oriented problem solver. He makes machines work for him, and not the other way around. He is a skilled painted. His work repainting our dump trucks, for example, usually causes them to sell for around $5,000 more than other dump trucks at the same auction. That’s added value, and that’s good for the City.
Although they weren’t there for the event due to work conflicts, Officer Jim Schlossmacher and Fire Chief George Esbensen were both award winners this year. We give two awards for community service: one for service in Eden Prairie and one for service in an employee’s home community. Officer Schlossmacher was recognized with the Mayor Jean Harris Award for Community Service. Jim received the award for the time and energy he devotes to youth athletics in Roseville. Fire Chief George Esbensen won the same award for the community service and leadership he has provided here in Eden Prairie.
