Nov. 28, 2017 -- Thirty-three Department of Health and Human Services employees were nominated for the Governor’s Awards for Excellence this year, one of the highest honors a state employee can receive.
This program is designed to acknowledge and express appreciation for outstanding accomplishments and dedicated service to the State of North Carolina and its citizens. The award recognizes exemplary state employees whose service and contributions go beyond their normal job duties and make a positive difference in the lives of their fellow North Carolinians. The meritorious service or accomplishment is so singularly outstanding that special recognition is justified.
This year, 12 state employees were honored with the Governor’s Awards for Excellence on Nov. 7 during an awards program at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Although DHHS did not have a winner this year, each DHHS nominee will receive a full day of special leave and certificates from DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen and Governor Roy Cooper.
The DHHS nominees and the categories they were nominated for were:
- Customer Service: Alonzo Jordan, Murdoch Developmental Center; Juliana Parker, Murdoch Developmental Center; Don Burnette, Murdoch Developmental Center; Kristen Carroll, Division of Public Health; Patricia Lumpkin, Cherry Hospital; Brenda Daniels, O’Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center; Kenneth McNeese, O’Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center; and Victor Harper, Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center.
- Outstanding State Government Service: Dr. Grace Auten, J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center; Betty Hammie, Murdoch Developmental Center; Darlene Baker, Division of Medical Assistance; Rhonda Overton, Disability Determination Services; Dr. Lou Turner, Division of Public Health; Sandra Jones, Cherry Hospital; Jeff Whitener, O’Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center; Dr. Katrina Power, Caswell Developmental Center; Megan Lamphere, Division of Health Service Regulation; and Sandra Lynn Freeman, Division of Services for the Blind.
- Human Relations: Clothilda Brown, Disability Determination Services; and Jacqueline Whitley-Covington, Disability Determination Services.
- Efficiency & Innovation: Barry Kerley, J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center; Debbie McDonald, Murdoch Developmental Center; Dorothy Chapin, Cherry Hospital; and Cameron Withers, O’Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center.
- Public Service: Debbie Franciscy, Central Regional Hospital; Kimberly Daniels, Central Regional Hospital; Paula Appel, Central Regional Hospital; Patricia Boykin, Central Regional Hospital; Robin Whitaker, Disability Determination Services; Wendy Jublou, Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center; and Staci Wisemiller, Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center.
- Spirit of North Carolina: Florence Stein, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services; and Nellie Montes, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.