2008 Annual Department of Corrections Award Winners Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2008

EDITORS NOTE: To make it easier for reporters and editors to find award winners in their coverage areas, this news release lists most honorees by the county in which they work. Reporters planning to attend the ceremony should contact Belinda Stewart, (360) 725-8821, prior to May 15. The ceremony is not open to the public.

2008 Annual Department of Corrections Award Winners Announced

OLYMPIA—The Department of Corrections (DOC) is recognizing 103 employees and volunteers across the state for their excellent performance and accomplishments during the past year.

A ceremony honoring the award recipients will be held May 15 at the Pioneer Park Pavilion in Puyallup.

Once a year, DOC’s 8,000 employees nominate co-workers and volunteers whose performance and commitment to DOC’s goals and mission has been exemplary.

“I am truly touched by the time and care our colleagues have taken to nominate people who challenge all of us with their creativity and energy,” said Secretary Eldon Vail. “Each of our award winners serves as a symbol of the work of many who protect the public with amazing dedication.”

In addition to the award winners, many DOC employees were nominated for the honor. It is a sincere compliment to be nominated, knowing fellow employees think highly of the work each nominee performs for the Department Vail said.

The following employees and volunteers were selected for special recognition by a Statewide Recognition Committee.

They are:

John Fitzsimmons, Monroe Correctional Complex (Snohomish) and Shane Maitland, McNeil Island Corrections Center (Pierce), Award of Valor
Sherry Aalborg, Pierce County Sex Offender Supervision Unit (Pierce), Petrine Marciniak Inspirational Award
Scott Frakes, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (Franklin), Secretary’s Leadership Award
Nina Muehlen, Community and Transition Services (Thurston), Diversity Award
Jeffrey McCall Ph.D, Washington Corrections Center for Women (Pierce), Health Services Staff of the Year
Kristine Skipworth, Theresa Hinds, Lynne Hudson, Sherry Aarlborg, Angela Stranger, Mike Ford, Jeff Haberman, Pam Bohon, Pierce County Sex Offender Supervision Unit (Pierce), Team Excellence Award
Rudy Gamuzzo, Linda Allen, Conrada Villa-McGrath, Jan Austin, Gwenn Malham, Brian Buckner, Washington Corrections Center Lower R-Unit (Mason), Team Excellence Award
Donald MacWilliam, Washington Corrections Center (Mason), Community Service Award
David Aiken, Randall Vanzandt, Thomas McJilton, Kristyn Fix, Patricia McGuiness, Ivan Patrick, Daniel Weiss, Kathleen Woik, Carol Clark, Randy Priddy, King County Special Needs Unit (King), Community Partnership Award
Robert Epperson, McNeil Island Corrections Center (Pierce), Excellence in Safety Award
Scott Speer, Olympic Corrections Center (Clallam), Safety Committee Member of the Year

The following employees and volunteers will receive awards based on voting by colleagues in prison facilities, community corrections sections, or at DOC Headquarters:

WESTERN WASHINGTON

Clallam, Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Dennis Dean, Jr., Correctional Officer of the Year

Clallam, Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Ivan Cowles, Volunteer of the Year

Clallam, Olympic Corrections Center, Ronald Howell, Correctional Officer of the Year

Clallam, Olympic Corrections Center, Ellen Bowers, Volunteer of the Year

Clark, Ayasha Brown, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

Clark, Larch Corrections Center, Joaquin Barcinas, Correctional Officer of the Year

Clark, Larch Corrections Center, Steve Buerkle, Volunteer of the Year

Grays Harbor, Stafford Creek Corrections Center, James Bravos, Employee of the Year

Grays Harbor, Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Lisa Poisso, Support Staff of the Year

Grays Harbor, Stafford Creek Corrections Center, James Bravos, Correctional Officer of the Year

Grays Harbor, Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Larry Davis, Volunteer of the Year

King, Mohammad Khatibi, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

King, Vicki Knutson, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

King, Damita Nathan, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

King, Jim Loria, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

King, Patty Sullivan, Support Staff of the Year

Kitsap, Jim Kathan, Supervisor of the Year

Mason, Robert McIntosh, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

Mason, Washington Corrections Center, Scott Hubble, Correctional Officer of the Year

Mason, Washington Corrections Center, Shanon Wulf, Support Staff of the Year

Mason, Washington Corrections Center, Aaron Washington, Volunteer of the Year

Mason, Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, Pamela Flint, Counselor of the Year

Mason, Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, Hubert Parham, Correctional Officer of the Year

Mason, Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, Patricia Graney, Volunteer of the Year

Mason, Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gordon Sprague, Support Staff of the Year

Pierce, Eugene Lewis, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

Pierce, Timo West, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

Pierce, Robert Kastama, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

Pierce, Greg Oliver, Employee of the year

Pierce, McNeil Island Corrections Center, Emily Slagle, Supervisor of the Year

Pierce, McNeil Island Corrections Center, Susan Erickson, Counselor of the Year

Pierce, McNeil Island Corrections Center, Michelle Bowman, Correctional Officer of the Year

Pierce, McNeil Island Corrections Center, Martha Quinones, Volunteer of the Year

Pierce, Washington Corrections Center for Women, Patrick Lewis, Correctional Officer of the Year

Pierce, Washington Corrections Center for Women, Ron Carson, Volunteer of the Year

Snohomish, Andrea Holmes, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

Snohomish, Madeline Schendel, Employee of the Year

Snohomish, Rick Kendo, Supervisor of the Year

Snohomish, Monroe Correctional Complex, Bradley Graham, Correctional Officer of the Year

Snohomish, Monroe Correctional Complex, Dow Allen Gordon, Volunteer of the Year

Thurston, Sarah Bevers, Support Staff of the Year

Thurston, Cedar Creek Corrections Center, Terry Powell, Correctional Officer of the Year

Thurston, Cedar Creek Corrections Center, Russ Tevis, Volunteer of the Year

Thurston, Mobile Technology Unit, Jose Zuniga, Employee of the Year; Security and Logistics Division, Kerry Arlow, Supervisor of the Year; Offender Treatment and Re-entry Programs, Barb Manning, Support Staff of the Year

Whatcom, Shannon Hale, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

EASTERN WASHINGTON

Cowlitz, Jack Robarge, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

Franklin, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Matthew Blake, Correctional Officer of the Year

Franklin, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Reverend Ronald Houf, Volunteer of the Year

Grant, Stephanie Canterbury, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

Spokane, Robert Bromps, Community Corrections Officer of the Year

Spokane, Casey Wright, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

Spokane, Natasha Ruddell, Employee of the Year

Spokane, Belinda Corker, Support Staff of the Year

Spokane, Airway Heights Corrections Center, Charles Zaagsma, Supervisor of the Year

Spokane, Airway Heights Corrections Center, Brian Kopp, Counselor of the Year

Spokane, Airway Heights Corrections Center, Jeremy Garberg, Correctional Officer of the Year

Spokane, Airway Heights Corrections Center, David Weidner, Volunteer of the Year

Spokane, Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women, Todd Hoffman, Employee of the Year

Spokane, Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women, Jennifer Castillo, Supervisor of the Year

Spokane, Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women, John Branson Jr., Correctional Officer of the Year

Spokane, Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women, Tracey Waring, Volunteer of the Year

Walla Walla, Ben Brink, Supervisor of the Year

Walla Walla, Washington State Penitentiary, Mark Weispfenning, Correctional Officer of the Year

Walla Walla, Washington State Penitentiary Emily Tillotson, Employee of the Year

Walla Walla, Washington State Penitentiary, Steve Prince, Volunteer of the Year

Yakima, Marilyn Sanchez, Community Corrections Volunteer of the Year

Yakima, Ahtanum View Correctional Complex, William McNeil, Correctional Officer of the Year

Yakima, Ahtanum View Correctional Complex, John W. VanBelle, Volunteer of the Year

-30-

News

Press Releases