 "Mike's work has been instrumental to the success of the Bureau
of Marketing, Promotion and Grants, in particular," said
Agriculture Director Bob Flider. "He has developed a new Web
page for the bureau and posted forms online for companies and
partnerships to expedite the delivery of information,
specifically during planning for the Illinois Products Expo and
Ag Legislative Day events."Knepler, a Springfield resident
who has worked for the state 17 years, was selected from among
11 Employee of the Month award winners. Other finalists were
Susan Baatz, Sherri Powell, Laurie Leuenberger, Tom Waller, John
Hughey, Lee McKean, Dawn Ribble, Kristi Jones, Kelly Beck and
Kent McFarland.
Wendy Call, an employee of the Division of Food Safety and
Animal Protection, was presented the Assistant Director's
Fellowship Award. Call, of Springfield, was honored for her
"unfailing good cheer." As one colleague wrote: "Wendy is known
as a 'go to' person when others need help. She truly fulfills
the spirit of this award."
Former general counsel Shari West, an Illiopolis resident,
won the Ag Ambassador Award. According to co-workers, West's
"natural legal abilities and calming demeanor not only improved
the public's understanding of the department's services, but
also promoted a positive perception of the agricultural
industry."
The Commitment to Quality Award was presented to the
architects of Driftwatch, a new, Web-based tool that aims to
protect pesticide-sensitive crops by improving communication
between growers and commercial pesticide applicators. The
program allows specialty growers to enter the location of their
fields on an Internet map that pesticide applicators can consult
to avoid spraying sensitive crops. Staff worked with
representatives of Purdue University to make it available. The
team included Steve Chard and Kevin Rogers, both of Springfield,
Scott Frank of Mason City, and Warren Goetsch of Williamsville.
The Ron King Award for Efficiency went to Linda McQuinn of
Springfield, an employee of the Bureau of Budget and Fiscal
Services.
"Linda has streamlined the agency's property accounting
system," Flider said. "She has taken responsibility for all
equipment vouchers, ensuring that no item goes untagged and
unrecorded, and has worked with bureaus to ensure accurate and
timely annual property inventory reporting. She also has
reconciled property records and developed a system to surplus
property to CMS on a regular basis."
Well-wishes were sent to Ted Tracy, the
department's internal auditor. Tracy, a member of the Illinois
National Guard, currently is serving in Afghanistan.
[to top of second column] |
Twenty-seven employees were honored during the ceremony for 10, 20,
25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service. A complete list follows with
names and hometowns.
40 years:
35 years:
30 years:
25 years:
20 years:
-
Lynn Burton,
Galesburg
-
Leann Fitzgerald,
Rochester
-
Juliann Heminghous,
Chatham
-
Laurie Leuenberger,
Stonington
-
Donald Ruckman,
Altamont
-
Shelley Snyder,
Gilson
-
Craig Von Burg,
Carlyle
10 years:
-
Dennis Beckmier,
Humboldt
-
Robert Edwards,
Arcola
-
David Gleason,
Springfield
-
Brenda Shepherd,
Oneida
-
Barbara Stewart, Lamoille
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Agriculture
file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
