CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin County Commissioners recently announced the county’s highest employee honors when naming its 2023 SERVICE Value Award winners, Employee of the Year and Community Hero.
“Every day, our employees work hard to make a difference and a positive impact on Franklin County. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “Each of this year’s recipients exemplifies what it means to serve others, whether that’s our residents or their co-workers. We are grateful for everything they do, and these awards are just a small token of our appreciation.”
SERVICE Value Awards
Franklin County’s SERVICE Value Awards recognize those employees whose performance exemplifies and represents one of the county’s seven established values, which, as an acronym, spell S-E-R-V-I-C-E. Employees are nominated by coworkers and recipients are selected by division leaders. Those values and descriptions are:
- STEWARDSHIP: Balancing efficiency and flexibility with fiscal discipline, we will seek sustainable resources, practice long-term planning, and be prudent when using resources.
- 2023 Recipient: Sharon Moats, Senior Accountant, Franklin County Fiscal Department
- EMPLOYEES: We will value individuals’ contributions to the organization and provide encouragement, opportunities and resources to support them in reaching their maximum potential.
- 2023 Employee of the Year: Mary K Seville, Assistant Director, Franklin County Department of Emergency Services
- RESPONSIVENESS: We will deliver on our commitments in a timely manner.
- 2023 Recipient: Tawnya Hurley, Director, Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
- VISIBILITY: We will honestly exchange ideas and information, with the public and coworkers, transparently and respectfully at all times.
- 2023 Recipient: Sheena Baker, Communications Coordinator, Franklin County Commissioners’ Office
- INTEGRITY: We will strictly adhere to the moral, legal and ethical principles underlying our operations and service delivery.
- 2023 Recipient: Michelle Weller, Deputy Warden of Inmate Services, Franklin County Jail
- CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: We will hone our processes, our services and ourselves, knowing that big results come from small changes over time.
- 2023 Recipient: Becky Brackbill, Administrative Officer, Franklin County Commissioners’ Office
- ENGAGEMENT: We will work together to incorporate the needs, assets and perspectives of all aspects of the community into the design, implementation and delivery of programs.
- 2023 Recipient: Julie Beam, Administrative Assistant II, Franklin County Veterans Affairs
Community Hero Award
Payden Miller was named the 2023 Community Hero award recipient. This honor is presented to an employee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve or save the lives of Franklin County residents.
“This award is an example of the effect of those who are heard, but rarely seen, in our community,” said Miller, who joined Franklin County in September 2022 and serves as a 911 telecommunicator with the county’s Department of Emergency Services. “As Dwight Schrute said on The Office, ‘I am ready to face any challenge that might be foolish enough to face me.’”
On Sept. 3, Miller answered a call for a man in cardiac arrest. Miller successfully provided CPR instructions to the caller and dispatched the appropriate resources to assist the patient. The patient was successfully resuscitated and transported to the hospital to receive additional care. He has since returned home and is doing well. For his efforts, Miller received an Emergency Health Services Federation Clinical Save Commendation in December.
Employee of the Year
Mary K Seville received the 2023 Employee of the Year Award. Seville has been employed with Franklin County since July 2020 and currently serves as the assistant director of the Department of Emergency Services.
“I am truly humbled and honored to be chosen as Employee of the Year,” said Seville. “The county employees are a special group of people and I am lucky to be a part of the team. I have a wonderful and supportive group of co-workers at the Department of Emergency Services and could not do my job without them!”
Franklin County’s Employee of the Year is chosen annually from among the county’s 12 Employee of the Month recipients. Seville was honored as the October 2023 Employee of the Month when she was recognized for keeping the department running smoothly and efficiently while serving as the department’s interim director for several months.
Seville is a past SERVICE Award recipient, having been named the county’s 2022 Visibility award winner as well as the May 2022 Employee of the Month.
Employees of the Month
Those individuals who were recognized as Franklin County Employees of the Month in 2023 were:
- January: Sarah Benshoff, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lead analyst, GIS
- February: Krista Mock, Correctional Officer, Franklin County Jail
- March: Theresa Martinez, Central Courts Coordinator, Court Administration
- April: Donna Kulpak, Court Crier and Tipstaff, Court Administration
- May: Dennis Brown, Maintenance Worker I, Property Management
- June: Stacy Rowe, Human Services Fiscal Manager, Fiscal Department
- July: Kathy West, Administrative Assistant II, Human Resources
- August: Quentin Clapper, Senior Planner, Planning Department
- September: Christina Daywalt, Administrative Assistant II, Commissioners’ Office
- October: Mary K Seville, Assistant Director, Department of Emergency Services
- November: Amanda Keith, Aging Care Supervisor, Area Agency on Aging
- December: Jean Byers, Chief Deputy Clerk, Commissioners’ Office
The commissioners extended their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication on behalf of Franklin County residents.
