Awards
Award
2023
MIKE DUNCAN
Recognizing Mike Duncan for exceptional service in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and delivering numerous energy resilience and renewable energy projects in support of the County of Ventura’s vision. In support of goals included in the General Plan, Climate Action Plan, and GSA’s Strategic Plan, Mike has coordinated multiple Energy Services Agreements and Self-Generation Incentive Program projects to provide renewable energy and resiliency throughout multiple county facilities. Projects include the ForeFront Solar expansion from 1MW to ~6.8MW across all Government Center parking lots; a 1.9 MW Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) addition to the Government Center solar project; solar power and BESS at Oak View Park and Fire Station 41; BESS at Fire Stations 42 and 43, and Todd Road Jail. Mike’s efforts are critical to ensure each project is valid and beneficial to the facility and the County. Thank you for your dedication and personal commitment in these actions.
BETSY SWANSON-HOLLINGER & GINA RAE HENDRICKSON
GSA would like to recognize not only GSA staff but also those that greatly impact and benefit the General Services Agency.
Presented to Betsy Swanson-Hollinger and Gina Rae Hendrickson from Ventura County CEO-HR Training and Development. Over the course of three weeks, Betsy and Gina Rae provided a course on Crucial Accountability training to the GSA Leadership Council. This was a unique opportunity afforded to GSA and especially beneficial by having all managers complete the course at the same time encouraging GSA leaders to build synergy across the agency and improve the overall performance of our leadership team. Betsy and Gina Rae are outstanding trainers who put their heart into the work. Their contribution to the future success of GSA is greatly appreciated.
LUCY FERNANDEZ & BEETA LOPEZ
Presented to Lucy Fernandez and Beeta Lopez. Lucy Fernandez and Beeta Lopez recently completed a highly sensitive five-month investigation into a personnel matter resulting in a positive outcome for the agency. While maintaining their normal heavy HR workload, they interviewed a number of employees, drafted the necessary documentation, and followed up with CEO-HR and agency leadership throughout the process. All performed in a truly professional manner contributing directly to the resolution in favor of the Agency. They demonstrated leadership and decorum through this arduous process and are deserving of recognition for going above and beyond.
Fleet Staff
IT Services Department (ITSD), ordered a new generator to replace the failed one on Sisar Peak, an over 2,500 feet mountain top between Ojai and Santa Paula. The problem was the new generator would not be delivered for another ten to twelve months. A back-up, diesel generator was in place but during the upcoming winter months there is no access to Sisar Peak for fuel delivery. ITSD needed an outside-the-box solution to ensure there was no disruption of service.
Fleet Operations manager Jorge Bonilla, Fleet supervisor Jeff Brown, and ITSD assembled a group of experts to figure out a solution to this tricky situation. Fleet’s Alfredo Jauregui, Jose Acosta, Maeco August, Kevin Perry, and Andrew Leon devised and implemented an impressive full County team plan. Fleet contacted the Agriculture Department to borrow a crane truck and trailer. Fleet worked with the Camarillo Airport to remove and borrow an unused existing generator there. Together, the new generator was expertly transported to Sisar Peak.
The 9-mile trek up the rugged steep mountainside road took over 2 hours to reach their destination. The Fleet team of mechanics successfully installed the new generator to last during the winter months with no disruption of service.
Awarded to the Fleet team for their initiative, creative teamwork, leadership and dedication to partnership. Thank you, Fleet, for the installation of the new generator at Sisar Park and importantly, for your commitment to public service and your out of the box thinking and expertise. Congratulations on a job well done!
2022
Maintenance Staff
Presented to TRJ Maintenance staff members for their initiative, creative teamwork, and ultimate budget savings by creating the Todd Road Jail Maintenance Parts Rebuild Stations. Their resourceful problem solving helped develop new procedures and a departmental culture change to expertly rebuild as a cost-effective alternative to rising replacement part expenses. TRJ staff take great pride in their skills, their work to maintain GSA rates, and to provide superior customer service getting equipment quickly back into operation. Their dedication and technical expertise to date, only 6 months, has contributed to over $14,000 in savings. This project continues to achieve savings, every time an assembly is repaired, not purchased. Thank you, team, for your commitment to public service and increasing effective County operations. Congratulations on a job well done.
2021
Housekeeping Staff
The GSA Housekeeping staff, Custodians and Supervisors, is deserving of the Director’s Challenge Coin Award of Excellence for their ongoing efforts to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The entire team has continued to work together throughout the past year, and is very deserving of this recognition.
This is the second year now during which the custodians have accepted the additional responsibility in an effort to keep employees and the public from being exposed to COVID. They work extra hours, spend extra time cleaning and sanitizing over and above the norm, and provide immediate response to any potential COVID exposures. Instead of cleaning stations just once a day, they provide repeat cleaning and sanitation services multiple times a day – especially in the case of restrooms. CDC protocols have been strictly followed in order to protect the custodial staff themselves, as well as employee tenants.
All the while, Housekeeping has continued to maintain their high standard of quality cleaning and sanitizing – they did not lessen their standards as their workload, and the additional responsibility associated with it, increased. They are responsible for a heavy volume of employees and employee offices, restrooms, and breakrooms throughout the Government Center and various off-site locations. These are the most highly trafficked areas and they take this responsibility very seriously. There have been no complaints- only compliments!
The custodians have learned how to use the Clorox 360 machine to quickly treat large areas more effectively. They can now cover more territory – and move onto even more locations to sanitize.
Without complaint, Housekeeping has continued to do their best to keep us all safe, and they deserve full recognition for their efforts. No other team has been exposed as they have been – yet they are still taking care of us, for the second straight year. They are also doing this without being visible to all the building tenants. They work their magic as always – but now it includes keeping us safe from the spread of COVID-19. They are highly deserving of the Director’s Award of Excellence.
Denise Santoyo
Presented to Denise Santoyo for her flawless organization and execution of the 1st Virtual General Services Agency All-Hands meeting. Denise collected Agencywide highlights for all departments and coordinated all the new technical aspects for this novel digital frontier. Congratulations on a fantastic job well done.
Brittany Stephens
Presented to Brittany Stephens for her diligent efforts organizing GSA’s first ever virtual conference for the annual CGSA conference. Brittany took charge of a statewide committee and became its de facto leader, ensuring everything was completed to perfection. She earned high praise from the conference attendees as well as from her fellow committee members. Congratulations on a job well done.
Awarded August 23rd, 2021
2020
- Julie Miller, Buyer, Procurement
- Cliff Chroust, Purchasing Agent, Procurement
- Linda Cruz, Management Assistant III, Parks
- Martin Flores, Plumber, Maintenance
- Ernie Marquez, ME, Maintenance
- Eddie Marquez, ME, Maintenance
- Dave Beatty, ME, Maintenance
- Jim Vines, ME, Maintenance
- Lee Ramer, ME, Maintenance
- Joseph Saffa, ME, Maintenance
- Nelson Salonga, Electrician, Maintenance
- Brad Wyatt, OSC III, IT Services Group
- Jim Fitzgerald, OSC II, IT Services Group
- Paul LoVerme, Facilities Manager, F&M
- Theresa Lubin, Parks Operations Manager, Parks
- Robert Harris, Principal Engineer, Maintenance, F&M
- Melissa Lorenzen, Buyer, Procurement
- Matt Kreiger, Tech Specialist IV-PH, Business Support Services, F&M
- Edgar Villaseñor, Housekeeping Supervisor, Housekeeping, F&M
- Ryan Pimentel, Inventory Management Assistant III, Business Support Services, F&M
- Melyssa Vicencio, Inventory Management Assistant III, Business Support Services, F&M
- Ruben Silva, Inventory Management Assistant III, Business Support Services, F&M
- Erica Agnew, Inventory Management Assistant III, Business Support Services, F&M
2019
- Cinthya Santos De Perez, Housekeeping, Custodian III
- Maeco August, Fleet, Heavy Equipment Mechanic II
- Matt Kreiger, Business Support Services, Technical Specialist IV
- Shawn Mitchell, Business Support Services, Staff Services Specialist
- Josh Gannon, Business Support Services, Graphics Technician II
- Cherri Francis, Fleet, Staff Services Specialist
- Robert Crawford, Fleet, Staff Services Manager
- Denise Santoyo, Administration, Management Assistant IVC
- Ryan Pimentel, Business Support Services, Inventory Management Assistant III
2018
- Paul Lozano, Parks, Parks Service Ranger II
- June Kim, Public Works Agency
- Jose Moreno, Resource Management Agency
- Mary Barrett, Information Technology Services Agency
- David Stuart, Information Technology Services Agency
- Lucy Martinez, Business Support Services, Courier II
- Lea Hubbard, Fiscal, Principal Accountant
- Theresa Lubin, Parks, Staff Services Manager I
- Julie Miller, Procurement Buyer
- Brittany Stephens, Fiscal, Sr Accounting Assistant
- Eric Jones, Security Officer (contracted)
Ventura County Procurement Services earned the Excellence in Procurement Award
for
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022,2023
In 1995, the National Purchasing Institute (NPI) established a program designed to recognize the achievement of organizational excellence in public procurement.
For the twenty-third year in a row, the County of Ventura, (GSA) Procurement Services Division has been selected to receive the Excellence in Procurement Award jointly presented by the National Purchasing Institute, Inc.; the California Association of Public Purchasing Officers; and the Institute for Supply Management, Inc (ISM). This award is based upon an extensive rating system and is presented only to those organizations that demonstrate excellence in procurement practices. Ventura County received high marks for its continuous improvement program, automation, utilization of electronic commerce, professional certification, and environmental purchasing policy.
