DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis this week looked out into the audience of award recipients, their families and coworkers and saw the best defense against the claim that quality is slipping from the American product and its production.

“Some say we’ve lost the pride in the work, that there is a disconnect of spirit in what we do,” Secretary DiBerardinis said, “but you are the best argument against that. What you do across the state, you do with pride, and you connect it to a strong spirit of service.”

The keynote speaker at DCNR’s April 29 employee recognition program, the secretary presented 15 awards to employees from across the state. Their accomplishments best support key department initiatives that include Conservation Landscape Initiatives, TreeVitalize, iConserve PA, carbon sequestration, and grant processing.

“What we do has deep meaning to the public, and a deeper meaning to the future of this planet,” Secretary DiBerardinis said. “We are honoring not just your accomplishments today, but also your vision, spirit and tenacity that make them possible.

“Your fabulous commitment to the mission, your ability to connect others to the mission, and your drive to connect others to the resource—are exactly what we are honoring today. You, your loved ones and your coworkers should be very proud.”

Forty-eight employees received commendations and carved wooden bald eagle awards in recognition of what the secretary said was “uncompromising and unfaltering dedication” to DCNR’s mission, and the resources and people it serves and protects.

Employees saluted in the ceremony at Harrisburg’s Rachel Carson State Office Building were nominated by their superiors and selected by a screening committee of their coworkers.

Honorees represented DCNR’s bureaus of state parks, forestry, facility design and construction, topographic and geologic survey, administrative services, and recreation and conservation.

The employees recognized included:

· John Harper, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, and Paul Roth, Bureau of Forestry, for their work in geological carbon sequestration;

· Michael Eschenmann, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation;

· William Penn State Forest Staff TreeVitalize Team of Joseph Frassetta, Jeff Stuffle, Tim Duggan and Gerald Hoy;

· Teresa Witmer and Debra Miller, Office of Conservation Science;

· Roy Siefert, Tioga State Forest District;

· Brandi Gamble and Steve Goldstein, Office of Administration;

· Jessie Kohan, Blue Knob State Park;

· Procurement and Supply Division, Bureau of Administrative Services: Michelle Flynn, Naomi Rudisill, Nancy Weibley, Steve Smith, Lawanza Poteat, and Gloria Strawser;

· Dian Varner, Greenwood Furnace State Park;

· Grants Management Team of Darrel Siesholtz and Greg Gove;

· Ohiopyle State Park DCNR Ranger Chief Richard Brubaker and Rangers Floyd Hawk, Mathew Greene and Kip Hursh;

· Central Office Administrative Services Section, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction: Barry Malone, Sharon Enders, Julie Rau, Patti Boots, Darlene Grimes and Sandy Lewis;

· Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape (CLI) Initiative, Ohiopyle Implementation Team: Stacie Faust, John Hallas, Jeff Johns, Frances Stein, Lauren Imgrund, Tracy Stack, and Jim Kalp; and

· Making Connections: The iConservePA Team: Brook Lenker, Kristen Hand, Heather Bennett, Sandy Sykes, Tim Morey, Jim Hyland, Tom Haines, Eric Rensel and Dione Duncan.

Details on the accomplishments of each honoree are available online.

5/23/2008