PennDOT Honors Star of Excellence Recipients, Recognizes Six Workplace Heroes

PennDOT Honors Star of Excellence Recipients, Recognizes Six Workplace
Heroes

5/11/2016-KING OF PRUSSIA

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Leslie S.
Richards announced today that 30 department employees received the agency's

Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT's highest recognition. Two employees from

PennDOT's District 6, which represents Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery
and
Philadelphia counties, were among the honorees.

In addition to the Star of Excellence Awards, six Workplace Heroes were
recognized for their actions that saved a fellow employee's life.

"Our success serving the people of Pennsylvania is built on the dedication,

resiliency and sacrifice of our hard working employees," Richards said.
"Each
has made a significant contribution to PennDOT's mission – in fact, we
estimate
that we've seen more than $8.6 million in savings due to their efforts."

Local winners John Townsend and Brad Rudolph were honored this afternoon at
an
awards luncheon at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg.

"John and Brad are valued members of the PennDOT team and their
performances
have earned them this distinct honor," PennDOT District Executive Kenneth
M.
McClain said. "They are shining examples of employees who go the extra mile

each day to help the department provide our customers with the highest
level of
public service and value."

John Townsend, a transportation construction inspector supervisor, is in
his
16th year with PennDOT and his second year in PennDOT's regional
Maintenance
Unit. John is responsible for supervising state pump stations and highway
lighting in the southeast region. His review and operational improvement
plan
has resulted in reduced maintenance costs for operating five pump stations
in
low lying areas, and his aggressive program for maintaining highway
lighting
systems has resulted in reliable lighting for motorists traveling on local
expressways. John values the safety of his fellow employees and ensures
that
all precautions and training are taken prior to an operation being
performed.

Brad Rudolph is in his fifth year as PennDOT's safety press officer in the
Philadelphia region. Brad works aggressively to inform citizens of
important
safety programs and information by working effectively with safety partners

throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015, he produced more than a
dozen
safety events that attracted considerable media coverage and successfully
communicated essential safety information to the public. Brad serves as the

primary regional spokesperson for transportation safety subjects. He also
represents PennDOT at legislative safety fairs and expos; participates in
child
car seat checks to assist new parents; produces the District 6 monthly
newsletter; and manages communications for certain highway and bridge
projects.


The Star of Excellence Awards are presented annually to employees who
represent
the department's values of service, performance and integrity. The
recipients
represent a variety of organizational positions, spanning from highway
maintenance and driver and vehicle services workers, to traffic control
specialists, communications staff and design and engineering specialists.

In addition to the Star of Excellence Awards, six Workplace Heroes were
recognized for their actions that saved a fellow employee's life. These
employees sprang into action calling 9-1-1 and beginning CPR while another
employee brought the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) stationed on
the
floor. The AED devices were installed on each floor of the Commonwealth
Keystone Building in Harrisburg after several employees submitted the idea
through PennDOT's employee suggestion system, known today as IdeaLink
20/20.

"The fact that these heroes dove in to help out a co-worker makes me so
proud,
but knowing that past employee suggestions for others' wellbeing helped
save a
life is incredible," Richards said. "This incident not only demonstrated
the
power of individual ideas, but also underscored the importance of workplace

safety and having established emergency procedures."

With the help of the intervention of co-workers and AED usage before first
responders arrived, the employee returned to work weeks later.

Since the inception of the original IdeaLink system in 2011, PennDOT
employees
have submitted over 2,500 ideas, many of which have aided in improving the
department in the areas of efficiency, safety, morale, customer service,
cost
savings and revenue generation. Developed in-house, this employee-first
approach provides PennDOT leadership with timely input from staff at all
levels
on how the agency can operate more effectively, and helps to make PennDOT a

better business partner and employer.

For more information, visit www.penndot.gov.

To view a complete list of District 6 News Releases: Click
http://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/allnews.aspx

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