NE Valley Times

The city of Scottsdale recognized 42 employees for their exceptional contributions during the 2022 Employee Awards Program. These awards acknowledged individuals across several categories, chosen from a pool of 186 nominees.

Mayor David D. Ortega selected Kris Cano, forensic services director, for the Herbert R. Drinkwater Award. The award celebrates an employee who significantly impacts community service. "Kris acts as technical advisor concerning all forensic matters within the Police Department," the statement noted. Her extensive community involvement includes roles with the Scottsdale Leadership Board and participation in organizations developing forensic science standards.

City Manager Jim Thompson awarded Bill Hylen with the Bill Donaldson Award for his work as Acting Human Resources Director. "Despite those challenges, his dedication and hard work allowed for an easier transition," Thompson said.

Volunteer Janet Orlandi was honored for her exemplary work at Granite Reef Senior Center, where she prepares and distributes food bags to seniors twice a month.

David Diaz received recognition from Scottsdale City Council members in the "Thanks to You" category after assisting a woman who had fallen on a sidewalk during one of his routine inspections. She later expressed gratitude by saying, “It was an amazing job that you did, David and I love you for it.”

Jennifer Murphy was chosen by her peers as the recipient of the People’s Choice Award due to her commitment to social work and her role as human services center supervisor.

Awards reflecting Scottsdale's six Employee Values were also presented:

- Dedicated Service: Diana Imperial and Cheryl Kerivan provided support to an elderly person over six months.

- Thoughtful Innovation: The Lifeguard Staffing Team implemented incentives that enabled full aquatic programming for June and July; Anthony Floyd worked on adopting new building standards.

- Collaborative Teamwork: The Solid Waste Safety Team improved safety measures resulting in fewer injuries; Jennifer Ilten and Zuhaila Trejo-Tate developed a court interpreting program for students.

- Value Diversity: A team from Scottsdale Senior Centers found ways to collaborate effectively despite diverse backgrounds.

- Accountable Integrity: Douglas Jann and Natalie La Porte held offenders accountable through specialized prosecution efforts.

- Continuous Learning: The Forensic Services Team contributed significantly to national forensic science research.

These recognitions underscore Scottsdale's appreciation of its employees' efforts to improve community services throughout 2022.