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Governor Recognizes Outstanding Achievements at the
2011 Charitable Giving Recognition Luncheon
The Governor recognized agencies, agency coordinators, and the Governor’s Charitable Giving Challenge Team Coaches for outstanding achievements at the 2011 Governor’s Charitable Giving Recognition Luncheon on Monday, September 26, in the backyard of the Governor’s Residence.
This year 129 coordinators were selected by their agencies to be honored for their outstanding contributions to the 2011 Charitable Giving Campaign. These honorees took on extra responsibilities during the campaign to ensure that the campaign’s message was shared, and created unique ways to motivate their agency’s employees.
The 2011 Outstanding Coordinators were:
Department of Administrative Services
Alok Kwankin
Dan Moser
Charles Roberson
Department of Administrative Services-Budget Division
Betty Hladky
Office of the Chief Information Officer
Michaele Kujath
De Nelson
Brandi Mertens
Department of Aeronautics
Jan Keller
Department of Banking and Finance
Sara Kinney
Kathy Sparks
Jill Staberg
Debbie Yost
Coordinating Commission for
Postsecondary Education
Kadi Lukesh
Department of Correctional Services
Rexann Adams
Dennis Bakewell
Cheryl Bicknase
Fred Britten
Linda Bos
Mary Carmichael
John Dahm
Cindy DeFreece
Tim Dickey
Janet Donovan
Brian Gage
Geri Gothier
Natalie Hendrickson
Pam Holman
Robert Jimenez
Mike Kenney
Mikki Kirkpatrick
Melanie Kuenning
Marian Layman
Barbara Lewien
Ryan Mahr
Helen McKinney
Pamela Morello
Audrey Murray
Sarah Nelson
Mario Peart
Pam Prater
Arlie Prokop
Richard Randazzo
Rex Richard
Diane Sabatka-Rine
Denise Skrobecki
Teresa Spier
Ken Sturdy
Richard Van Gerpen
Jane Wehnes
Patrick Werner
Charles West
Hannah Yates
Department of Education
Amy Spellman
Governor’s Office
Noelle Rupiper
Department of Health and Human Services
Patricia Bethune
Marilyn Blunck
Amy Borer
Susie Brown
Jessica Davis
Patti DeLancey
Angela Dibbert
Kenneth Duncan
Delores Feeken-Schmidt
Peggy Flores
Michael Gettman
Sonia Gutierrez
Marg Hipp
Scott Hoffmann
Kristi Holmes
Rachel Johnson
Nancy Keller
Melissa Kratky
Melissa Lemmer
Scott Loder
Pat Loeffelholz
Nancy Lyne
Tonya Mauldin
Christy Miller
Kelly J Nelson
Brian Planer
Sandy O’Meara
Michelle Otto
Amanda Owen-Doerr
Serena Reeves
Kim Summers
Kim Synovec
Judy Schifferns
Deborah Thimsen-Villa
LeeAnn Zach
Department of Insurance
Lindsay Crawford
Jill Gleason
Gina Goodro
Department of Labor
Dick Gamet
Sheila Gawrych
Andrea Glenn
Carrie Keene
Phil Marple
Kim Neesen
Becky Raymond
Linda Simpson
Nellie Spangler
Joyce Welsch
Nebraska Military Department
Tim Diedrichsen
Department of Roads
Erin Allen
Jan Berryman
Carlo Campana
Natalie Clark
Jan Collins
Jamie Conley
Rebecca Coulter
Pat Cruz
Sandy Forsgren
Jaime Kamarad
Verneda Kelly
Carrie Klock
Sandra Knippelmeyer
Agnes Masek
Bobbi Olson
Linda Piening
Sheila Puls
Esther Shepherd
Erin Stoddard
Cindy Vergil
Beverly Vonasek
Janie Vrtiska
Wes Wahlgren
Bill Wehling
Anne White
Public Employees Retirement System
Sheila Linder
Again this year, the Governor challenged members of his Cabinet and additional Agencies, Boards and Commission to a friendly competitive game of baseball – Charitable Giving Style. Agencies were divided into teams based on employee numbers, and each team was assigned a coach.
At the end of the campaign, each coach was asked to select two “Most Valuable Players” from their teams to receive a special recognition at this year’s Charitable Giving Recognition Luncheon. Most Valuable Players were selected for their innovation, enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication to the Charitable Giving Campaign. The following MVPS, went above and beyond expectations and had the most significant impact on their team’s success.
Most Valuable Players for the 2011 Charitable Giving Campaign were:
Department of Correctional Services
Concha Kroeger
Department of Health and Human Services
Linda Sparr
Department of Insurance
Kathy Vandenberg
Department of Labor
Bill Hetzler
Department of Motor Vehicles
Veronica Lueders
Governor’s Policy Research Office
Deirdre Smith
Department of Revenue
Lisa Schleiger
Department of Roads
Danny Nichols
Tim Weander
Nebraska Commission for Law
Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Burdette Schoen
Each team was also competing for the following five trophies:
Champion of New Participants – team with the greatest increase in donors
Champion of New Dollars – team with the greatest increase in donations
Champion of Dollars – team with the highest overall donation amount
Champion of Participants – team with the highest overall number of participants
Champion of Creativity – team who took the most creative approach to this year’s Campaign
2011 Team Winners were:
Champion of Creativity
Team Five, Coach Brenda Decker
(Team Five Participants: Chief Information Officer, DHHS – Developmental Disabilities, Department of Veteran Affairs, DHHS – Veterans’ Homes, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, Department of Natural Resources, Nebraska Energy Agency, Department of Economic Development, Department of Revenue, and Department of Agriculture)
Champion of New Dollars
Team Two, Coach Monty Fredrickson (Team Two Participants: Department of Roads, Administrative Services, State Fire Marshal, Lieutenant Governor, Nebraska Military Department, Employees’ Retirement Board, and Department of Aeronautics)
Champion of New Givers
Team Two, Coach Monty Fredrickson (Team Two Participants: Department of Roads, Administrative Services, State Fire Marshal, Lieutenant Governor, Nebraska Military Department, Employees’ Retirement Board, and Department of Aeronautics)
Champion of Dollars
Team Two, Coach Monty Fredrickson (Team Two Participants: Department of Roads, Administrative Services, State Fire Marshal, Lieutenant Governor, Nebraska Military Department, Employees’ Retirement Board, and Department of Aeronautics)
Champion of Givers
Team Two, Coach Monty Fredrickson (Team Two Participants: Department of Roads, Administrative Services, State Fire Marshal, Lieutenant Governor, Nebraska Military Department, Employees’ Retirement Board, and Department of Aeronautics)
Coach of the Year
Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer
Coach of the Year
Coach Dr. Joann Schaefer Chief Medical Officer, was selected as this year’s Coach of the Year.
“Give and Get Challenge”
This year, the State of Nebraska’s Employee Discount Partner WeSave, sponsored the “Give and Get Challenge”. Every employee who turned in a signed charitable giving pledge form was eligible to win a $500 cash prize. Meghan Koinzan with the Department of Health and Human Services was this year’s winner of the challenge.
(Pictured left to right): Governor Dave Heineman; Meghan Koinzan, Department of Health and Human Services; and, Shelia Muhammad, Senior Vice- President of Communications and Government Relations of WeSave. Governor Dave Heineman is joined by Shelia Muhammad, Senior Vice- President of Communications and Government Relations of WeSave to present Meghan Koinzan, Department of Health and Human Services, a check for $500 from WeSave. Meghan Koinzan was this year’s winner for the “Give and Get Challenge.” Every employee who turned in a signed charitable giving pledge form was eligible to win the $500 cash prize.
Leadership Giving
The Governor and the Governor’s Charitable Giving Leadership Advisory Board also recognized seven employees whose leadership gift starting at $1500 is leading the way to make a difference in our Nebraska Communities.
This year’s Leadership Giving
honorees were:
William H. Birkel,
Department of Natural Resources
Thomas R Doering,
Department of Economic Development
Marshall A. Hill,
Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Lynne M. Ireland,
Nebraska State Historical Society
James E Potter,
Nebraska State Historical Society
Carol R. Rempp,
Department of Education
Dr. Joann Schaefer,
Department of Health and Human Services
Three agencies also received special recognition from the Governor for their 100 percent participation in this year’s campaign: AS – Budget Division, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, and the Governor’s Policy Research Office.
The State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign is an important campaign to our Nebraska communities. Currently, 3,914 employees have contributed over $435,676 to the Charitable Giving Campaign. Our Charitable Giving Campaign is another way State Employees are “Serving the Public Beyond the Job.”
Most Valuable Players for the 2011 Charitable Giving Campaign
Not pictured: Linda Sparr, Department of Health and Human Services; Veronica Lueders, Department of Motor Vehicles; Lisa Schleiger, Department of Revenue; and, Tim Weander, Department of Roads.
Bill Hetzler, Department of Labor
Kathy Vandenberg, Department of Insurance
Concha Kroeger, Department of Correctional Services
Burdette Schoen, Nebraska Commission for
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Danny Nichols, Department of Roads
Deirdre Smith, Governor’s Policy Research Office
October is Employee Recognition Month: Governor Honored State Employees for Outstanding Achievements and Dedication to State Service
On August 5, 2011, the Governor declared the month of October as State of Nebraska Employee Recognition Month. Throughout October, the Governor, along with employees of the State Personnel office, traveled to seven cities throughout the state and hosted 11 ceremonies celebrating length of service milestones and outstanding achievements by State of Nebraska Employees. A total of 1,835 employees were recognized, representing 37,805 years of service including one employee celebrating 65 Years of Service.
On October 27th, in a special ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, 56 employees and 52 supervisors/managers were honored for their outstanding achievement at the 2011 Governor’s Employee and Supervisor/Manager of the year ceremony.
The following is a list of employees who were recognized throughout the month of October.
2011 Governor's Years of Service and Employee and Supervisor/Manager of the Year Honorees
Congratulations Nebraska State Employees
Your 2010 Charitable Giving Campaign Receives Two Awards
Governor Dave Heineman accepts two awards from Charlie Meyer, President of the Lincoln Saltdogs and 2010 United Way Campaign Cabinet Chair. The State Campaign received an award for Leadership Giving in 2010 and an award recognizing the 2010 State Employees Charitable Giving Campaign as the number one overall campaign for the Lincoln and Lancaster County United Way for 2010. Pictured from left to right: Brian Wachman, Executive Director of the Lincoln and Lancaster County United Way; Charlie Meyer, President of the Lincoln Saltdogs and 2010 United Way Campaign Cabinet Chair; Governor Dave Heineman; Beverly Neth, Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor’s Charitable Giving Leadership Advisory Board; and, Mike McCrory, AS-State Personnel Director.
Mike McCrory, AS-State Personnel Director, accepts the Leadership Giving Award on behalf of the Nebraska State Employees Campaign. The State of Nebraska had 125 Leadership Givers (a gift of $500 or more) during the 2010 Charitable Giving Campaign. Pictured from left to right: Charlie Meyer, President of the Lincoln Saltdogs and 2010 United Way Campaign Cabinet Chair; Christine Jackson, UNL Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance; Ken VanCleave, President of Ameritas Group Division; and, Mike McCrory, AS – State Personnel Director.