The only thing that rocked harder than Guitarlos and Machine Gun Cody at the 2022 Employee Appreciation Picnic was our HEROES award winners. These ten winners were recognized by their peers as making a huge impact on the organization this year.
Anthony Morris
Anthony has been a doer from Day 1! He came to us right before the pandemic and we are so grateful that he did. His enthusiasm for what he does is contagious, the way he uplifts his teams is inspiring, and the support he shows for his fellow employees has brought such unity to the Library. He is kind, helpful, smart, mindful, focused, and makes everyone feel important. Not only is Anthony a wonderful collaborative leader but he has a strong vision of librarianship which he channels into innovating services throughout the Library. He has a great balance of creativity, organization, fun, and professionalism.
Blake Peterson
Blake Peterson has turned caring for city parks, especially baseball and softball fields, into an art form. His attention to detail in both the small and large things has transformed every park and field he has had stewardship over. He was recently reassigned to Lakeside Park which is one of the largest and busiest parks in Orem. He has embraced the challenge and risen to the occassion. Many participants in city softball leagues and tournaments have made special mention of the transformation that has happened at Lakeside. Where we used to get criticisms, we now get compliments and the majority of the credit belongs to our very own Lakeside Michaelangelo. Despite being extremely short-staffed on his crew, Blake has made the park blossom as the rose.
Chris Clements
Chris is a complete master and expert in his field. He has been dutifully making sure that Orem’s water is safe, clean, and tasty. Chris is like the great Greek God Poseidon who watches over the waters and brings life to the valley. He is also 100% dependable. Not only is he excellent at the technical side of his job, he is also seen as an excellent mentor for new employees and those early on in their careers. Chris had an exceptional display at Summerfest this year to help educate Orem residents about water issues. He has led the way on several water conservation projects including water bottle fill up stations throughout Orem parks.
Trevor Bell
Trevor is always willing to go above and beyond for city employees. Just five days away from the Summerfest fireworks show, we were notified that our fireworks company had lost their license and would not be able fulfill the contract. The success of the entire Summerfest week hung in the balance. Trevor immediately sprung into action by calling every pyrotechnic company in the American West. He put the “CITY” in TENACITY. He never complained and simply said, “My job is to help.” He ultimately secured a wonderful new fireworks provider and Summerfest was truly “Saved by the Bell.”
Jason Neely
Jason is the perfect example of someone who is working to build a better Orem. He has an unparalleled attitude and work ethic. Hiring custodial employees to help Jason out has been extremely difficult this year but Jason has shown no signs of discouragement. He has taken on added responsibilities to ensure that the buildings are kept to a high standard of cleanliness despite having to pick up the slack from the vacant positions. Another testament to his stellar attitude is how well he handled having his hard earned cash lit on fire at an employee meeting by a traveling magician. He is a great member of the Orem team!
Jody Thenot
Jody Thenot is the linchpin and preeminent leader of one of the most highly decorated justice courts in the State of Utah. She fosters a positive and cheerful working environment for her team while simultaneously training them to perform their myriad of duties at the highest level. Jody is a miracle worker and somehow adroitly handles even the most volatile situations. Many other courts, including larger and more well-funded courts, often point to the Orem City Justice Court as an example of professionalism, customer service, and innovation. This is a testament to Jody Thenot and her leadership.
Kena Mathews
Kena puts her entire heart and soul into her work here at the City of Orem. Whether she is helping address “THE” pandemic or the pandemic of homelessness, she is equally committed and engaged to finding workable solutions. She is driven by more than pay or recognition. She does what she does because she loves humanity and wants to build a better Orem. Her love for her home town drives everything that she does. Kena has successfully taken on all Summerfest fundraising and crushed the previous fundraising record. She also has taken the lead on the city’s charitable donation campaign, the EverydayStrong program, the Neighborhood Improvement Team, and jumped in on the CARE tax program. She goes above and beyond at every turn to move this organization forward. She completely understands the mission and never forgets what public service is truly about.
Lena Marby
Lena is a great communicator and has an uncanny ability to bring people together. In addition to her duties as a training coordinator, she is also shouldering many more responsibilities including scheduling, staffing, and daily problem solving. Her positivity is infectious and she helps her fellow dispatchers handle the stress of the job in very healthy ways. She is a calming influence. Lena is highly respected by both police officers and firefighters because of her great attitude and proven ability over the past six years. Many times she has made Herculean efforts to keep the dispatch center properly staffed, including canceling days off, rescheduling vacations, and finding last minute babysitters. She is personally invested in the success of the dispatch center and the safety of all Orem residents.
Tim Dalsing
Tim Dalsing has been a pillar of strength on the Parks team for many years and a leader in title, word, and most importantly, deed. He shows uncommon care for both his work and his fellow employees. He is always the first to volunteer to handle even the most hairy of situations. Tim’s work on Summerfest is the stuff of legend. He is the oil in the gears of the machine that makes it a huge success every single year. Not only is he constantly putting out both literal and metaphorical dumpster fires, but he does it all with his characteristic good humor and can-do attitude. Tim is always the man for the job!