VALDOSTA —
Small and large business employees and supervisors were honored with checks and plaques during the annual Valdosta-Lowndes County's Chamber of Commerce's 2012 “World Class Employee Program” awards breakfast Tuesday morning at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
The four winners were selected from a group of 24 finalists and awarded $1,500 cash, a plaque and scholarship to a leadership workshop.
Lloyd Dumas, of ERCO Worldwide, received the 2012 Small Business Employee award and Rachel Tate, of Remerton City Hall, was lauded with the 2012 Small Business Supervisor award. James Davis, of South Georgia Medical Center, was honored with the 2012 Large Business Employee award and Lameika Jones, of Wild Adventures, earned the 2012 Large Business Supervisor award.
Presenter Judith Hancock, of Fresh Beginnings and ELEAD1ONE, said the selections committee analyzed each finalist and graded them on attendance, attitude, dedication, dependability, job knowledge, innovation, quality of work, judgment, critical thinking, relationships with others, community involvement, and continuing education. During the award presentations, Hancock passed along some of the judges’ reactions to the nominees.
“The selection committee commented, ‘I wish I could hire all of them,'” said Hancock. “One judge said, ‘the nominees are truly the epitome of excellence in the work place. We truly have great people in our workforce and it's important that we continue to recognize them.’”
Making what she deemed was her last public speech before retirement, Chief Executive Officer Margaret DeFrancisco of the Georgia Lottery Corporation, addressed the 24-finalists with encouraging words during her keynote presentation. DeFrancisco left the audience with a rendition of a mantra from women’s suffrage pioneer and fellow Rochester, N.Y. native, Susan B. Anthony.
“I tell myself on a regular basis, 'failure is impossible,'” said DeFrancisco as she quoted Anthony. “Whatever your gift, whatever your challenge, whatever your task, wherever your workload takes you, I commend and congratulate you and implore you to never give up on what you believe in.”
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