Press Release

Montgomery County Honors First Peer Recognition Award Winner

Catucci Honored As A County Employee Who Exemplifies High Professional Standards

FONDA - County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort presented the first Montgomery County Peer Recognition Award to Jennifer Catucci, an employee of the Treasurer's Office, last Thursday. The Peer Recognition program was started this year to recognize county employees who continually exemplify high professional standards.

"I believe this program is important to honor and recognize employees who are willing to learn and grow, display a strong work ethic and are true team players," Ossenfort said. "Peer recognition can help make the team stronger and I believe it is an important building block to a high-performing workforce. I would like to thank all of the Montgomery County employees who provide excellent service to our community."

This program gives employees the opportunity to recognize and nominate any county employee who has excelled in their service to the people of Montgomery County. As important as it is to hold employees accountable, the program was designed to celebrate workers who consistently go above and beyond in the workplace.

Beginning in April, nominations were accepted in the County Executive's Office. The nomination form asks the nominator to identify why the person they are nominating should be considered for this award. Some of the qualities that employees were encouraged to look for in a co-worker were dependability, ability to work independently and adapt to adverse situations, excellent organizational and communication skills and someone who provides outstanding customer service.

Once those nominees were identified as being eligible for the award, they were reviewed and interviewed by the Peer Recognition Review Committee. That committee is a group of employees, appointed by the County Executive, consisting of a combination of supervisory and non-supervisory personnel.

"I am honored to be the first recipient of this award," said Catucci, who has worked in the Treasurer's Office for four years. "To be nominated by my peers is something that makes this award even more special."

Catucci received a plaque commemorating this honor, and in recognition of her "high professional standards and exemplary work performance." In addition to that token that signifies this honor, a perpetual plaque will hang in the County Annex Building and will be engraved with future winners, as the program continues.

The County Executive would like to recognize all of those employees who were nominated and met the eligibility criterion. Ericka Barrantes (Emergency Management), Ashley Broady (Social Services) and Ted Olbryct (Public Works) were also selected by their peers as employees who provide a willingness to learn, grow and excel at their jobs.

The Peer Recognition Review Committee had an extremely difficult task, in selecting a winner, as all four candidates were outstanding and very much worthy of the award.

The second round of nominees for the Montgomery County Peer Recognition Award is currently being accepted by the Executive Office.