Meet the 2023 5-Star Award Winners

Nominator:  Karen Hamilton, Susquehanna Workforce Network

Justification:Jessica Edmondson is a great partner working with SWN to align IT trainings with industry needs and grant opportunities. She has supported common customers to assist them in attaining credentials and having successful outcomes. I value her expertise and support for the students at HCC.

Nominator:  Melanie Davis, Susquehanna Workforce Network; Mike Gali, Susquehanna Workforce Network

Justification: Traves is the Administrative Assistant for the OED – she greets everyone who walks through the front door of the building and directs them to the correct office – even when the office they are looking for is not in the building. She is always aware of what is going on in the building; whether it be an unruly visitor or a technical issue, she is there to assist, she doesn’t even need to be asked.

She directs our clients to us. She help out when the computer went down in the training room. When CASAS was going to be rescheduled, she came up and set us up in the ground floor. When we have job fairs, she restocks the bathrooms.

Nominator: Patricia McArdell, Susquehanna Workforce Network

Justification:Terri is new to our organization yet in her short time with us her dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. In addition to learning her important duties, and there are many, she steps in to fill in whenever someone is needed. Terri quickly began jumping in to assist her co-workers in absolutely any capacity, no questions asked. She certainly hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped, I have no doubt that she ever will. Terri is a great addition to The Susquehanna Workforce Network and I am sure she will continue to succeed in this organization.

Nominator:  Mary Bolt, Cecil College

Justification: Miles Dean, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development for Cecil College, has directed the work of his team on supporting the workforce and economic development of the county and region. His willingness to engage with our workforce partners and truly listen to the needs of businesses has resulted in innovative programs. Most recently students that completed the Pest Management program were eligible to take the following certifications: Certified Technician Exam for the state of Maryland, Registered Technician for the state of Delaware, and earn a National Pest Management Association certificate. A partnership with Safe Harbor Marinas has resulted in the development of a Marine Service Technology program that will prepare students to enter the marine industry. Using curriculum from the American Boat and Yacht Council, students will receive hands-on instruction and learn the fundamentals of marine engines, outboard and inboard maintenance, marine electrical systems, boat safety, industry standards and more. Upon completion of the program, students can earn their Marine Service Technician Certificate. Miles is driven to keep businesses and students informed of the workforce training opportunities available at Cecil College.

Nominator: Sandi Johnson, Harford County DSS

Justification: Erica wears many hats. She works every day to ensure our work-mandated TCA recipients are enrolled in some sort of work activity. Erica runs and monitors reports on a daily basis to help make our program and participants successful. She is always willing to help everyone with reports, data entry questions, password issues, etc. Erica collaborates with our Child Support division as well as our work program vendors. She is always pleasant and willing to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done. Therefore, I think Erica is an outstanding member of our workforce system.

Nominator: Greg Adams, MD Labor

Justification: Alyssa has been working with the Maryland Department of Labor as the ReEntry Specialist for the Susquehanna Region for just over a year. In that time, she has developed a robust program from scratch to serve individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, businesses, and community organizations who engage with system-impacted individuals. While Alyssa has accomplished much in her time with Maryland Labor, her crown jewel accomplishment is organizing and implementing what is, to our knowledge, the first Resource Fair for the ReEntry population, which was held at the North East Library in September 2022. The event drew more than 25 clients in to learn about resources. More importantly, Alyssa marshalled support from the Labor team, and gathered over 20 partner organizations to participate in the event. These organizations built connections with one another and learned more about resources in the community where they can cross refer, growing the network of supports available to their clients. Alyssa continues to be an amazing resource to our reentry population and a resource to staff and partners.

Nominator:  Lorraine Peniston, Harford Community College–Adult Development & Literacy Program

Justification:  Jonita Shoaff is Program Coordinator at Harford Community College through Harford County Department of Social Services. In the contract agreement between HCC Adult Literacy and Depart. of Social Services, she provides a three-week Workforce Readiness class to social services clients. Jonita is an outstanding instructor, assessing the client’s interests and skills, providing encouragement and motivation to her students to pursue their educational and employment goals. Jonita is responsible for referring hundreds of students to SWN over the past 4 1/2 years. Many are actively employed, serve as a role model to their children and successfully managing their home and personal life. Jonita is truly an inspiration to her students.