Title: Employee Service Awards
1 Employee Service Awards January 6, 2009
2Board of County Commissioners Employee Service
Awards
- Todays honorees are recognized for outstanding
service and dedication.
3Office Of Public Safety911 Communications
4Brenda J. Brooks 30 Years
- Brenda was born in New Orleans and moved to
Orlando in 1975. - She graduated from Booker T. Washington High
School.
- She was hired by Orange County in 1979 to work in
the personnel office of the Comprehensive
Employment and Training Act (CETA) Program. - In 1983, Brenda transferred to Fire Rescue
Supply, working in Inventory and Records.
5Brenda Brooks 30 Years
- Since 1997, Brenda has been 9-1-1s Master Street
Address Guide Coordinator. - She approves street names and plats for new
subdivisions and works with the 9-1-1 addressing
database. - Brenda has one son Andray, 36 and had one
daughter deceased at age 34, with 16 years in the
US Navy Tremise Dyson. - Brenda has cared for her mother since 1980.
- She was the Chief Deputy of Supplies for the
local American Red Cross chapter from 1984-1987.
Brenda has also served on the Board of
International Association of Black Professional
Firefighters since 1985. - Brenda loves to travel.
6Corrections Community Corrections
7Margaret Janis Hughes 25 Years
- Meg was born in Evanston, IL and moved to central
Florida in 1982. - She graduated from Seton Hill College.
- Meg was hired by Orange County in 1984 as a
Correctional Officer to work with female inmates. - She was promoted to Classifications in 1987 and
was the first Classification Officer assigned to
the Horizon Facility.
8Meg Hughes - 25 Years
- Megs first experience inside a jail was going to
the Old Main Jail and the downtown Annex to
interview inmates. - The jail was dark, lonely and had BIG HEAVY doors.
- Meg spent 11 years in a high risk position
before she was promoted to Senior Community
Corrections Officer. - She has worked at the Assessment Center,
Central Intake, and Community Service and she is
currently a field officer for Home Confinement. - Meg is married to Dennis, whom she met in an
elevator at the jail. He was the Assistant
Manager for Medical. - They have two daughters Jamie and Lindsey.
- Megs outside interests include traveling and
shopping with her daughters.
9CorrectionsIn-Custody Security
10Pamela Teufel Fedele 25 Years
- Pam was born in Altoona, PA
- and moved to Tampa in 1977.
- She attended Hillsborough Community College with
the intention of working in the - Medical Field, but moved to Orlando in 1979 to
take care of her mother.
- Pam was hired by the Orange County Sheriffs
Office in 1984 to work in the downtown old Main
Jail. - She was one of the first female officers to work
on the floor with maximum security male inmates.
11Pam Fedele 25 Years
- Pam was recognized in 1990 as one of the first
female road crew officers in several articles in
law enforcement magazines. - She is an instructor at Mid Florida Tech.
- Pam was instrumental in initiating, organizing
and participating in multiple community projects
to demolish abandoned crack houses, special
neighborhood clean-ups and other projects in
Orange County. - She has received numerous awards for her
diligence and hard work. - Pam is married to Fritz and they have one son,
Edwin, 24. Today would have been their son,
Adams 23rd birthday, and they wish him a special
Happy Birthday. - Pam loves deep sea fishing, snow skiing and
spending time with her 3 grandchildren. She looks
forward to her Big Retirement Day in the near
future.
12Fire Rescue Department Office
13Michael J. Wajda - 20 Years
- Mike was born in Springfield, MA and moved to
Orlando in 1979. - He graduated from Lake Mary High School, Valencia
Community College and he is currently enrolled at
UCF working toward a degree in Public
Administration.
- Mike was hired by Orange County in 1989 and has
been promoted to Lieutenant, Captain and now
Battalion Chief.
14Mike Wajda 20 Years
- Mike has been involved in numerous projects,
including - Vehicle Pre-emption The system that turns
traffic lights green for responding emergency
vehicles. - Mike was a member of the financial analysis
team that documented more than 4.5 million worth
of County expenses during the 2004 hurricane
season. - He assisted with the phase-in of mobile data
computers in emergency vehicles. - Mike was also a founding member of the Bike
Patrol/Paramedic Team. - Mike has been married to Siria for 11 years and
they have two sons Mike, 9 and Adam, 6 and two
step sons Daniel, 22 and Ozzy, 19. - His hobbies include attending UCF Football games,
going to the beach and telling his kids to stop
complaining, because he has more homework than
they have!
15Fire Rescue Operations
16Rodolfo Prado - 20 Years
- Rodolfo was born in Santa Clara, Cuba. He moved
to Nashville, TN in 1967 and to Forest City, FL
in 1973.
- Rodolfo graduated from Forest Lake Academy and
attended Southern Adventist University. - He received his EMT from Broward College and his
Paramedic certification from Valencia Community
College.
17Rodolfo Prado 20 Years
- Rodolfo was hired by Orange County in 1989.
- He has received the following awards
- Meritorious Service Award
- Three Unit Citations
- Letter of Commendation
- Rodolfos first assignment was Station 42. Then
he was transferred to the Bike Patrol. - He assisted with recovery efforts in South
Florida after Hurricane Andrew. - Rodolfo has been married to Millie for 28 years
and they have two wonderful daughters Jocelyn,
18 and Roselin, 15. - He loves to sing in his church choir and his
greatest joy is his family and friends.
18Thomas R. Ping - 20 Years
- Tom was born in Buffalo, NY and moved to Central
Florida in 1986. - He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in
Cheektowaga, NY. - He has served in the Army and Air Force Reserves.
- Tom was hired by Orange County Fire Rescue in
1989. - He has been promoted to Engineer, Lieutenant, and
Captain.
19Tom Ping 20 Years
- Tom is a member of the Incident Safety Officer
Program. - He has been married to Elske for 26 years. They
met and were married in Frankfurt, Germany. - They have one son Phillip, 18, who attends the
Central Florida Fire Academy and one daughter,
Alexandra, 15, who attends Wekiva High School. - Toms hobbies include Jet skiing and rebuilding
a vintage dirt bike. - He also belongs to the Eustis Gun Club and enjoys
target and skeet shooting.
20Growth Management Zoning
21Anita Jean Riggs 20 Years
- Jean was born and raised in Miami and claims to
be a 5th generation Floridian. - She began her employment with Orange County in
the Building Division in 1988.
- She has worked in every section within the
Building Division and says she feels privileged
to help citizens meet their building needs. - Jean has also guided builders and homeowners
through the inspection process for every trade
discipline.
22Anita Jean Riggs 20 Years
- In 2001, Jean began working with the Zoning
Division to learn more about land, lot splits,
residential construction, accessory buildings,
research and reviews of architectural drawings. - Since the death of her husband in 1989, Jean has
raised her three sons, watching with pride as
they faced their own challenges and making her a
grandmother of three. - After a period of study, Jean took vows to become
a Roman Catholic nun, as a Sister for Christian
Community. - She also serves as a Chaplain with the Orange
County Sheriffs Office.
23Health Family Services Head Start
24Martha Avalo 20 Years
- Martha was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to
Central Florida in 1987. - She first came to Head Start as a Parent
Volunteer.
- She was hired in 1989 as a bus chaperone and is
currently a Teacher Assistant at the Taft Head
Start Center. - Martha was recognized as the Head Start Employee
of the Year in 2001.
25Martha Avalo 20 Years
- Martha has been married to Santiago for 38 years.
They have two children Carolina and Priscilla. - They are expecting their first grandchild in
February. - Martha volunteers as the Treasurer of her church,
and is a member of the Church Community Services
Department. - She also serves in the Womans Ministry.
- In her spare time, Martha enjoys sewing, cooking
and photography.
26Utilities Solid Waste
27Gene J. Pedreira 20 Years
- Gene was born in Miami, (actually in the parking
lot of a Coral Cables bank delivered by his dad!) - He moved to Orlando in 1977 and graduated from
Colonial High School.
- Gene was hired by Orange County in 1988 to work
at Facilities Management. - In 2006, he was promoted from Environmental
Technician to Environmental Specialist II. - Gene holds certificates in Level B Industrial
Pretreatment and Hazardous Waste Emergency
Response.
28Gene Pedreira 20 Years
- Gene received the Employee of the Month award and
special recognitions for the hours he worked
during many emergency activations. - He instituted a new incentive to complete the
McLeod Road Transfer Station Industrial User
Discharge Permit and Orange County Landfill
Wastewater Discharge Permit, in-house instead of
outsourcing to another agency a savings of
40,000. - Gene has worked on many projects including
- Permit Sampling In-House Compliance
Inspections - Division Guidelines Remote
Monitoring System - Download Information from Weather
Stations - Organization of Title V Air Permit
Inspections - GIS Survey Equipment Operation
29Gene Pedreira 20 Years
- Gene is one of the original members of the
Emergency Message Center and has been active for
13 years. - During an activation, Gene is one of the most
integral members of the Emergency Response Teams
coordinating thousands of calls from citizens,
government agencies and emergency response
partners. - Gene has been married to Debbie for 17 years and
they have 6 children Sonya, Rogue Loki all
dogs and Phoenix, Eva, and Mouse all cats. - In his spare time, Gene enjoys playing poker,
golf and spending time with his family.
30Awards Presentation
- Office of Public Safety
- 911 Communications
- Brenda Brooks 30 Years
- Corrections
- Community Corrections
- Meg Hughes 25 Years
- In-Custody Security
- Pam Fedele 25 Years
31Awards Presentation
- Fire Rescue
- Department Office
- Michael Wajda 20 Years
- Operations
- Rodolfo Prado 20 Years
- Thomas Ping 20 Years
32Awards Presentation
- Growth Management
- Zoning
- Anita Jean Riggs 20 Years
- Health and Family Services
- Head Start
- Martha Avalo 20 Years
33Awards Presentation
- Utilities
- Solid Waste
- Gene Pedreira 20 Years
34Employee Service Awards January 6, 2009