Photo (from left to right): Susanna Marti-Perez; Firefighter Hilda Wood; County Manager, George Burgess; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, District 8; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez; Marisol Aguiar; Gary Milano and Amador Barzaga

Today, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Manager George M. Burgess hosted the 2008 Employee of the Year Awards Ceremony. Each County Department nominated employees whose actions go above and beyond to ensure that they deliver excellence everyday regardless of the assignment, the weather, or anything else that may stand in their way. Recipients were awarded the Customer Service, Logistical Support, Public Safety and Bacallao Volunteerism Awards.

“Miami-Dade County is only as strong and effective as its employees. These honorees are worthy of recognition.  They have distinguished themselves among their peers and set an example for all of us,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez. “Our mission of providing excellence every day is not an easy task, but each day these employees go above and beyond the requirements of their job.”

“It is my pleasure to recognize each of the nominees for the 2008 Employee of the Year Award,” stated Miami-Dade County Manager George M. Burgess. “Their dedication to excellence and commitment to Miami-Dade County are exemplary.  Government isn’t just programs and services, it’s about the people who provide those services with excellence.”

The 2008 Employee of the Year Winners List includes five honorees with a tie in the Logistical Support Category:

Customer Service Award

Amador Barzaga – Mechanical Inspector, Building Department. Mr. Barzaga, in February of 2007, saved many lives during a regular air compressor inspection inside the boiler room of a dry cleaning business. His inspection instincts led him to further investigate as the boiler room had high carbon monoxide readings. His discovery of the shopping plaza found a cluster of generators placed near open doors. Gusty winds that day had accelerated the spread of carbon monoxide poisoning. He took swift action and after two hours the meter readings had dropped back down to zero.

Logistical Support Award

Marisol Aguiar – Special Projects Administrator, Housing Finance Authority. Ms. Aguiar designed a Wait List for both Rehab and Window Shutters programs and created, implemented and managed the Beautification Program under the jurisdiction of the Office of Capital Improvement. Ms. Aguiar’s ongoing activities include compliance oversight of the multi-family program and the Architectural Design review Committee and green Building initiatives. She also assisted with the planning and coordination of HFA’s national conference in Miami and the related Green Building Symposium and bus tour.

Susanna Marti-Perez – Section Supervisor, Human Resources Department. From June 2007 to January 2008, Ms. Marti-Perez led a team of 41 employees assembled from across the County to conduct the layoff and pipeline assistance process for County employees. Together they reviewed 1700 personnel files, calculated 4000 layoff retention scores, determined classified service rights, and provided career counseling and placement assistance to displaced employees resulting in more than 500 employees being reassigned to new positions. Although she worked within a stringent timeframe and under stressful conditions, she developed a strong, committed, and motivated team who took personal pride in each employee’s ultimate placement.

Public Safety Award

Hilda Wood – Paramedic Firefighter, Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue. Officer Wood has outstanding achievements in the specialized field of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) as a Canine Search Handler. She has spent countless off-duty hours training to maintain the highest level of canine search response capability. She currently is the only handler in the FEMA USAR program to certify and handle three FEMA Advanced search dogs at the same time. This past year has been one of tremendous accomplishment for her and her canine partners as they responded to numerous requests from police agencies from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade County. Incidents included building explosions in Deerfield Beach and Miami; a missing firefighter in Palm Bay; locating remains in a devastating structure fire; responding to a building collapse in Barbados; and a parking garage collapse in Jacksonville.

Bacallao Volunteerism Award

Gary Milano – Environmental Resources Project Supervisor, Department of Environmental Resources Management. Working with local groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, schools, churches and environmental interest groups, Mr. Milano has demonstrated his leadership in public service through volunteering of his time to provide opportunities for community groups and the public to be involved in the protection and restoration of our sensitive and unique costal environment. His active volunteer schedule also includes The Barnacle State Historic Park, serving on the Board at Friends of Cape Florida State Park, as Eagle Scout project coordinator for his Scout district, and as a volunteer at Shake-a-Leg, a local organization providing sailing and natural areas access to handicapped and disadvantaged children.