Kent County Department Heads have selected NANCY L. THOMPSON from the Department of Planning Services as the December 2021 Employee of the Month.
Nancy currently serves as an Office Support Specialist II in the Planning section and began her career in the Register of Wills Office as a Wills Clerk I in July 2008. She was later promoted to a Wills Clerk II in 2012 and then in 2015 she transferred to the Planning Services Department as a Senior Secretary.
Her primary duties include various clerical tasks such as preparing minutes for the Regional Planning Commission and various other boards, preparing meeting packets, coordinating meetings on behalf of the Planning section, document management, answering telephone calls, etc. She interacts directly with the general public on a daily basis and supervisors give her high praise for stepping up wherever needed, most recently helping the Housing & Community Development section organize and image numerous records.
According to Planning Services Director Sarah Keifer, “Nancy has gone above and beyond to fill any position feasible to assist the department. This year in particular she really stepped up in the Inspection & Enforcement section to help complete permit technician responsibilities to deal both with the influx of permits and the impact of Covid-19 infections. Most importantly she provides all of this help with a smile and determination to help however she can.”
Congratulations Nancy on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected CAMERON A. MAAS Jr. from the Department of Public Safety as the November 2021 Employee of the Month.
Cameron currently serves as a Dispatcher III in the Emergency Communications Division and began his career as a Dispatcher I in February 2010. He was later promoted to Dispatcher II and then to his current shift leader position in February 2021. His primary duties include taking numerous emergency and non-emergency calls, determining the exact location of the emergency incident and dispatching the proper response agency and equipment as well as dispatching additional fire equipment or personnel when circumstances require. He also helps operate and maintain the Kent County Mobile Command Post.
Cameron completed the Part 107 Pilot Certification process through the Federal Aviation Administration in 2019 and became the County’s first commercially licensed Remote Pilot. Since the drone program’s implementation, he has been instrumental in the development of procedures for the Drone Team to ensure safe and effective operation. He also maintains the County’s aircraft to keep it in flightworthy condition and has trained multiple remote pilots within the organization to a proficient and mission ready status.
According to Chief Colin Faulkner, “Cameron’s expertise and assistance made it possible for us to launch the Kent County Drone Program and we fully support his goal to make the Drone Team a pivotal and crucial asset in protecting the citizens of the County for years to come. And like many of his co-workers, he is a volunteer firefighter, E.M.T., and has served as an officer in the Little Creek Fire Company. He is certainly deserving of recognition as Employee of the Month.”
Congratulations Cameron on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected ELAINE A. MONFORTE from the Facilities Management Office as the October 2021 Employee of the Month.
Elaine currently serves as a Maintenance Worker II and started her Kent County career as a Custodian in May 2017. She was promoted to Maintenance Worker I in December 2019 and to her current position in August 2021. Her primary duties include maintaining the grounds and landscaping of the various County properties, completing carpentry and plumbing tasks, troubleshooting and performing minor repairs to mechanical and HVAC equipment as well conference room set up and take downs.
Whether it is repairing and maintaining outdoor surfaces or moving furniture and clearing snow covered sidewalks, Elaine is always eager to assist whenever possible and willing to tackle difficult jobs. Her supervisor praises her work ethic and determination to accomplish all assigned tasks in a timely manner.
According to County Administrator Michael J. Petit de Mange, “Elaine has been consistently outstanding every day since the start. Elaine is always very industrious, thoughtful, innovative, and ready to do whatever needs to be done, and she’s a joy to be around. In my book she is a model County Employee.”
Congratulations Elaine on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected PATRICIA M. ORONA from the Recorder of Deeds office as the September 2021 Employee of the Month.
Pat serves as the Deed Clerk III and has worked for Kent County since September 1995. Her primary duties include supervision of assigned staff and assisting attorneys and the public with the satisfaction of mortgages, tax liens and corporation papers required to be recorded as well as other types of legal documents. Pat was previously recognized as the Employee of the Month in March 1990 when she was a Deed Clerk II.
Local attorneys and title searchers have come to rely on Pat for her expertise and willingness to help. No matter who the customer is Pat will work tirelessly to help find the correct documentation to satisfy an old mortgage or help educate them on the process involved with transferring property from one party to another.
According to Recorder of Deeds, BettyLou McKenna, “Pat Orona is one of Kent County’s longtime and most valuable employees, definitely a team player with loads of knowledge about the deeds office and the other county departments as well. With more than 20 years of employment with Kent County, Pat has helped thousands of visitors to the County and goes above and beyond her specified duties to make sure they get where they need to go and to whom they need to see. Pat is pleasant and courteous to the customers both at the counter and on the phone at all times.”
Congratulations Patty on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected JAMES M. GERARDI from the Department of Public Works as the August 2021 Employee of the Month.
Jim serves as Maintenance Supervisor in the Division of Wastewater Facilities and has worked for Kent County since July 2006. His primary duty is to supervise 13 Maintenance Mechanics in the completion of various wastewater collection system maintenance tasks including installation and repair of operating pumps, valves, electrical controls, piping, and any other integral components in wastewater operations. Jim was previously recognized as the Employee of the Month in June 2010 when he was a Maintenance Mechanic III.
According to supervisors, Jim was instrumental in coordinating with subcontractors, DelDOT and employees during a recent restoration project involving 5 deteriorating manholes located within paved highway rights of way across the County. He also recently directed maintenance staff work for the north aeration basin project at the Regional Resource Recovery Facility including reinstallation of the aeration lines and diffusers.
According to Public Works Director Diana Golt, “Jim has an incredible work ethic and steps up each time a major project needs manpower or an emergency situation develops such as a force man break. His leadership and communication skills have proven vital for timely completion of these and many other projects. He truly is an asset to Kent County.”
Congratulations Jim on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected ROSE M. WURZEL from the Register of Wills Office as the July 2021 Employee of the Month.
Rose started with Kent County in July 2011 as a Clerk-Typist in the Economic Development Office and transferred to the Wills Clerk II position in the Wills Office in August 2020. Her primary duties include greeting the public, answering the telephone, and cross indexing and filing correspondence and legal documents. Rose is also responsible for entering copious amounts of data into the computerized records system and maintaining will and estate records for the Office.
Supervisors report that Rose is very thorough and receives many compliments on her ability to assist departments or the general public in researching information.
According to Kent County Register of Wills Harold K. Brode, “Rose is extremely organized and a great addition to this Office. She is always eager to learn and welcomes change whenever necessary. Rose’s selection as Employee of the Month is an honor she well deserves.”
Congratulations Rose on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected GINA N. HAMILTON from the Department of Finance as the June 2021 Employee of the Month.
Gina currently serves as a Tax Clerk III in the Tax Office and has worked for Kent County since June 2016, when she was hired as an entry level Tax Clerk I. Her primary duties include serving as team leader and assisting with training of new Tax Office staff as well as overseeing the monitions process for collecting delinquent taxes and sewer, preparing and submitting daily bank deposits, verifying tax and sewer account payments for accuracy and proper account application, managing the mortgage company escrow correspondence, assisting the Sheriff’s Office by providing account information for Mortgage Foreclosures, and prepares and submitting refund requests for over payments on tax accounts, among other duties.
According to Director of Finance Susan Durham, “Gina is extremely organized and works diligently through the cumbersome Monitions process. She is what we like to call our “Resident Tax Expert” and assists all staff with more complex account issues. She is always eager to learn and welcomes change whenever necessary. Her selection as Employee of the Month is an honor Gina well deserves.”
Congratulations Gina on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected JASON P. COURTNEY from the Department of Community Services as the May 2021 Employee of the Month.
Jason serves as Parks Maintenance Supervisor in the Division of Parks & Recreation and has been a full-time Kent County employee since January 2002. His primary duty is to supervise Parks Workers in the completion of various park maintenance tasks including cutting grass, general landscaping, maintaining equipment, inspecting and clearing trails, etc. and to coordinate construction of numerous park improvements. Jason was previously recognized as the Employee of the Month in June 2011 when he was a Parks Worker III.
Jason was originally hired 20 years ago as a casual seasonal Parks Worker for the summer of 2001. He went to full time the following January, and has worked his way up the career ladder until being promoted to his current position in 2016. Since then, he has continued to work tirelessly to maintain County parks, especially Brecknock County Park, in pristine condition for visitors and the Kent County community to enjoy.
According to Director of Community Services Jeremy Sheppard, “Jason has shown excellent leadership skills coordinating park maintenance services over the past year during the pandemic. He worked hard to keep park facilities sanitized in order to stay open, worked with a depleted summer staff, handled the cleanup of Tidbury Park after the tornado last August, and continues to coordinate park projects. Jason’s passion for maintaining Kent County’s parkland can be clearly seen.”
Congratulations Jason on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected VANESSA L. LAUGHMAN from the Office of the Kent County Recorder of Deeds as the April 2021 Employee of the Month.
Vanessa has served Kent County Deputy Recorder of Deeds since December 2019 and is responsible for performance of all duties required of the Recorder of Deeds in her absence including supervision of employees, and the accurate recording of deeds, mortgages, and other documents as required by Delaware Code.
Before joining Kent County, Vanessa worked in member services at the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union after more than 37 years as a civilian employee for Delaware State Police retiring in 2017 as an Administrative Specialist for the Training Academy. Vanessa has utilized her customer service skills and techniques learned working in the State Police human resource area to develop positive working relationships and improve office efficiencies.
According to Kent County Recorder of Deeds Betty Lou McKenna, “Vanessa is doing a great job. She has learned how to perform the duties of every position in the office and really has great enthusiasm for Kent County. After just a short time, I am very impressed by how well Vanessa works with her co-workers in the office and from other departments. She is very deserving of this honor.
Congratulations Vanessa on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected KELLY D. PITTS from the Department of Administration as the March 2021 Employee of the Month.
Kelly has served Kent County as the Public Information Officer since October 2017
and is responsible for media relations and assisting the County Administrator in planning and implementing various programs and projects.
Kelly is the point person with the local news media and has significantly elevated the County’s social media presence with consistent public messaging on Facebook and Twitter. She deftly handles the various media outlets with the utmost professionalism. Kelly also has primary responsibility for the County’s public relations efforts including special events like ribbon cuttings, tributes, and Safe Summer Day; special projects like Youth in Government Day, the decennial U.S. Census, and Covid-19 testing/vaccination awareness; and localized emergencies like sewer line breaks and tornados. In addition, she manages compliance with the Freedom of Information Act requests and publication of the quarterly Kent County Levy Court Community Newsletter.
According to County Administrator Michael Petit de Mange, “Kelly Pitts is a true
public relations professional who operates at a very high level in the public interest and consistently exceeds expectations. Since joining the County in 2017, Kelly has worked hard to advance public awareness of Kent County services and initiatives, to promptly address citizen inquiries, and to ensure quality and reliability in our communications”, he said. “We are very fortunate to have Kelly as an essential member of our Management Team and we’re pleased to honor her as the Kent County Employee of the Month for March 2021”.
Congratulations Kelly on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected BRANDON L. OLENIK from the Department of Public Safety as the February 2021 Employee of the Month.
Brandon has been a Kent County employee in his current role as Administrative Officer for the Emergency Management Division since January 2014. Prior to that he served as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher for nine years and along the way earned his Associates degree in Homeland Security & Emergency Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety Administration. His primary duties include assisting with planning the evacuation routes and providing shelter for persons during a natural or manmade disaster, preparing and administering grants in support of emergency services/homeland security programs, participating and assisting in emergency services drills and exercises, maintaining readiness of the Emergency Operations Center; and related activities.
In addition, Brandon serves as the County’s Safety Officer responsible for safety inspections and investigating serious incidents resulting in injury or loss and making recommendations to prevent future claims. As such he has been a valuable resource for the Delaware Founders Insurance Trust’s (DFIT) Safety Committee by organizing meetings and training sessions for the large group representing many local governments.
According to Public Safety Director Colin Faulkner, “With my attention focused recently on the pandemic response, Brandon has become an integral part of the vendor interface and update of the federally mandated All Hazards Mitigation Plan and Kent Emergency Operations Plan. He also plays a critical role in damage assessment for DEMA/FEMA often resulting in partial reimbursement for local disasters, such as the recent tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Isaias. He has consistently proven to be an invaluable asset to our public safety team.”
Congratulations Brandon on a job well done!
Kent County Department Heads have selected MARY R. HAZELWOOD from the Department of Administration as the January 2021 Employee of the Month.
Mary has been a Kent County employee since October 2007 and holds the position of Network Specialist II in the Information Technology Office. Her primary duties include maintaining computer systems, applications, security, and network configurations; troubleshooting computer network-related issues; configuring new desktop/laptop computers and software applications; and supporting the County’s multi-vendor enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure. She was previously honored in 2012 and was ultimately named Employee of the Year!
Mary selection this time is primarily in recognition for her outstanding efforts completing the various supervisory and work tasks assigned to the vacant Network Administrator position. Since April, she has successfully performed her own normal duties, while also completing and leading highly technical I.T. projects. During her tenure, including 5 years as a contracted ACS employee, Mary has earned a reputation for being able to communicate complex computer processes in “non-techie” terms. She has an exceptional ability to visualize the County’s vast network of servers, computers, printers, etc. and figure out how each component is interconnected.
According to Information Technology Director Kim Crouch “Mary continues to maintain the I.T. network at optimum levels and complete her regular daily tasks. She along with her counterpart has provided the necessary leadership to initiate and complete numerous projects. Mary’s dedication, insightfulness, and approachability make her a valuable member of the I.T. team.”
Congratulations Mary on a job well done!
KRISANNE MILEY
Kent County Employee Council selected and Kent County Levy Court has honored KRISANNE MILEY from the Department of Finance as the 2020 Employee of the Year!
KrisAnne has been a Kent County employee since July 2018 and holds the position of Accountant III in the general fund Accounting section. She has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Pittsburgh and earned a Master’s degree in accounting from Wilmington University in 2016. Before joining the County, she worked as a State Auditor in the Delaware Office of Auditor of Accounts.
KrisAnne’s primary duties include reviewing and approving all submitted capital project expenditures, managing NSP, EMPG, & Library Standards grant fund draws, monitoring contracts for compliance with terms and expiration, and she has taken the lead role for COVID-19 grant application review and submission. In addition, she has helped organize end of year documents and transfer them for proper storage.
According to Finance Director Susan Durham, “KrisAnne has impressed everybody since she started work here. She is very detail oriented and extremely thorough with a keen eye for complete documentation. She has helped take our grant reimbursement process to the next level by working to maximize return where possible. She continuously seeks new challenges and went the extra mile whenever COVID-19 impacted County operations.”
Congratulations KrisAnne!
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