Press
SECU members honor state employees through sponsorship of Governor’s Award for Excellence
RALEIGH, NC (November 27, 2013) — Through SECU Foundation’s sponsorship of the 2013 Governor’s Awards for Excellence, State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members helped honor 18 individuals and a state agency for their extraordinary accomplishments and dedicated service to the state and citizens of North Carolina. Held at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh and hosted by the Office of State Human Resources, Awards were presented to each recipient by Thomas Stith, Governor’s Chief of Staff and Neal Alexander, Director of the Office of State Human Resources in the categories of Customer Service, Efficiency & Innovation, Human Relations, Outstanding State Government Service, Public Service, Safety and Heroism and Spirit of North Carolina. The Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a state employee.
“The Governor’s Awards for Excellence are a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves that we have amazing workers in state government,” said Governor Pat McCrory. “These employees provide services in many vital, yet unseen ways, and I am pleased to honor these individuals and agencies that go that extra mile in serving North Carolina.”
Recipients of the 2013 Governor’s Awards for Excellence include: Herbert Berg (University of North Carolina-Wilmington); Steve Clark (University of North Carolina-Charlotte); Matt Criscoe (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission); Fire Rescue Team-Ricky Bradley, Chris Painter and Jason Ray (Department of Transportation); Ronald Houston (Department of Public Safety); Stephen Hunter, (Department of Public Safety); Heather Lewis (Department of Health and Human Services); David Peterson (Department of Public Safety); Landric Reid (Department of Public Safety); Kimrey Rhinehardt (University of North Carolina-General Administration); Surry County Community Corrections-Human Relations (Department of Public Safety); Swift Water Rescue Team-Reggie Barker, Richard Rains and Benjamin Smith (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission); Eva Telles (North Carolina State University); Wanda West, posthumously (Department of Environment and Natural Resources); and Julius Chambers, posthumously (North Carolina Central University).
Mark Twisdale, SECU Executive Vice President of Administrative Services and the SECU Foundation Executive Director, welcomed guests to the November 19th Awards for Excellence ceremony. Mr. Twisdale remarked, “State Employees’ Credit Union and its member-owners are proud to be part of honoring these distinguished recipients who continue to serve their fellow citizens with service that is above and beyond. The work of public employees is often behind the scenes and unrecognized, yet invaluable to the strength and vitality of our State.”
Twisdale added, “Nearly 90,000 state employees serve North Carolina, not only through their jobs, but through the many volunteer, community service and charitable organizations they champion. As a cooperative, we stand firmly upon the principle of ‘People Helping People,’ and no one knows more about helping people than the dedicated state employees who make a difference in the lives of millions of North Carolinians each and every day. We congratulate the Governor’s Awards for Excellence winners!”
About SECU and the SECU Foundation
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 76 years. With more than 1.8 million members, SECU provides services through 252 branch offices, 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Contact Centers and a website, www.ncsecu.org. The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services.