Excerpt from Speech Given by Stuart Clark:

This year it is my honor to recognize someone who truly stands out. This room is full of positive people, but her positive attitude is exceptional. Look around and all you see are hard workers dedicated to ESU #1. Her work ethic is inspiring. ESU #1 is known for employing service-minded professionals. She exemplifies both qualities. In an agency of innovators, her influence has literally been transformative. While most of our staff are good at working with a variety of ability levels, she models the gold standard by invariably treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of the context or mode of communication. You are never made to feel a bother because you ask a silly or stupid question. Each of us is an ambassador for the Unit, but few of us do it as well as she does.

Some of the characteristics mentioned in her nominations include:

• Positive person
• Works with others at all different levels with great patience
• The exceptional quality of her work with high degrees of innovation and creativity
• Great face for ESU #1
• Phone skills – emails – never too busy
• Never complains
• Enthusiasm
• Tech savvy
• Takes on new challenges
• Juggles many responsibilities with finesse (on a call, iChatting, editing a document, helping with a tech problem) and ease
• Volunteers to help

 

Some of the things said about her in her numerous nominations include:

• “I don’t know what any of us would do without her!”
• “Her smile says it all but her actions prove it.”
• “No and can’t don’t exist in her professional vocabulary.”
• “The warmest of smiles and laugh that simply warms your heart.”
• “Her work, her personality, her devotion to ESU #1 – impeccable.”

The Annual Report, the ESU #1 Report Card, both agency newsletters, agency improvement documents, the ESU #1 website, flyers and brochures galore and too many other projects to be named all have her indelible stamp. When you consider all she has accomplished and the short time she’s been with us, its pretty unbelievable. She does it all with great humility and without any need to hold the spotlight. Whether you want it or not, today the spotlight is yours. Please join me in congratulating the 2009-10 ESU #1 Employee of the Year, Sarah Elton!