Eagle River Water & Sanitation District honors employees

Professional development and longevity crucial to organizational success

Contact: Melissa Mills McLoota, Human Resources Manager, 970-476-7480

Eagle River Water and Sanitation District recently honored its employees to celebrate outstanding performance, longevity, and certifications earned.

Eight individuals were recognized for extraordinary commitment to the district’s organizational values: Accountability – Parker Newbanks, Service – Mike Medina, Environmental Stewardship – Tom Thompson, Leadership and Continuous Improvement – Glen Phelps, Personnel Dedication – Maria Strausbaugh, Customer Confidence – Siri Roman, Community Partnership – Diane Johnson, and Long Range Planning and Preparation – Dan Siebert. Contract administrator Connie Nunley earned the Employee of the Year award for her enthusiasm, positivity, and unwavering commitment to service excellence.

The annual “Bennie’s Breakfast” began in 1988 when Bennie Atencio became the first employee to reach 20 years of service to the district. Many employees have since worked more than 20 years, including the most tenured employee who retired in 2014 after 41 years. Special recognition was given this year to Becky Bultemeier who retired at the end of May after 29 years as finance director.

The district acknowledges employees for milestone years of service and recognized 14 employees for reaching five-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and 35-year anniversaries in 2015. Jim Edwards celebrated 35 years of service; Glen Phelps and Cindy Schmidt marked 20 years of service. Mindi McClintock and Angie Horn were recognized for 15 years of service, while nine employees were recognized for five- and 10-year anniversaries.

Long-term employee retention is critical to district operations. “Our employees develop extensive knowledge of the water and wastewater systems during the course of their employment,” said human resources manager Melissa Mills McLoota. “Employee longevity is vital to the district and the community we serve because over time, staff acquires such an intimate understanding of critical infrastructure. We’re fortunate that many employees work for the district for decades and remain so committed to serving our community and protecting the environment.”

The district also acknowledged 26 employees for professional certifications achieved in 2014, which reflects the district’s emphasis on professional development. All staff members are encouraged to seek additional training to boost individual expertise, learn new technology, and stay abreast of industry trends, which ensures excellent public water and wast ewater system operations for the community.