Governor Celebrates State Employees

Governor recognizes State employees for their public service

Denver — Governor Jared Polis and Department of Personnel & Administration Executive Director Kara Veitch recognized 40 state employees for their superior service to the people of Colorado during 2020 and 2021. The lunch at the Governor's Mansion on Thursday, August 12, 2021 was part of Public Service Recognition Week. 

Typically the first full week of May each year is designated by Congress and the Governor to honor public employees and to educate the public about the many ways government workers make life better for all Americans. However, due to the State's COVID-19 response the 2020 event was cancelled and the 2021 event was postponed.

To celebrate the important contributions of our State employees, the Governor's Office and the Department of Personnel & Administration asked each State executive branch agency to select one employee for 2020 and one employee from 2021 who most exemplify the significant and invaluable contributions public servants make to the quality of life in our State. Honorees were selected for regularly demonstrating bold, consistent, and joyous service to the people of Colorado with no unforced errors. 

Honorees
Department
2020
2021
Dept. of Education
Sarah Blumenthal
Nicole Monet
Dept. of Health Care Policy & Finance
Erin Gates
Parrish Steinbrecher
Dept. of Human Services
Shannon Ord 
Kim Longe
Dept. of Labor & Employment 
Colleen Lynn
Amy Perez
Dept. of Local Affairs
Katherine Helgerson
Elizabeth Garner
Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs
David Schmidt
Joanne Iglesias
Dept. of Natural Resources
Windi Padia
Erin Light
Dept. of Personnel & Administration
Josh Benn
Janeen Haller-Abernethy
Dept. of Public Health & Environment
Justin Tarr
Ottavio Pirocchi
Dept. of Regulatory Agencies 
Marisol Larez
Karen McGovern
Dept. of Transportation
Darrell Lingk
Cindy Marquez
Governor's Office
Luke Teater
Heather Velasquez
Dept. of Corrections
Reginald Norman
Brian Kuhns
Dept. of Agriculture
Brian Pauley
Tiffany Brigner
Dept. of Public Safety
Tammy Lichvar
Colleen Gadd
Dept. of Revenue
Yvonne Candelaria
Tony Marsh
CO Energy Office 
Gregg Hefner
Stephanie Insinna Sahondo
Office of Economic Development
Nikki Maloney
Leslie Hylton
Office of Information Technology
Andy Rollins
Marcia Orr
Higher Education/History Colorado
Maggie Yang
Shannon Voirol
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You can read the narratives about each honoree here.