News

Western & Central Mass. Residents Honored for 2007 Federal Service

HOLYOKE, Mass., Sept. 27, 2007.  The Fifth Annual Excellence in Government Awards were announced by the Federal Executive Association of Western Massachusetts (FEAWM). These awards, which honor the best and the brightest in local federal service, were presented at a luncheon at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Awards were presented to outstanding federal employees in 12 categories.

FEAWM Board Chair Ronald Grzelak, Social Security Administration, Holyoke, MA announced the following winners:

• Distinguished Federal Manager:  Elizabeth A. Ducharme, Firm Manager PC/SAC, Northampton VA Medical Center.
• Distinguished Federal Supervisor: Dean N. Lamber, Logistics Readiness Officer, Barnes Air National Guard Base.
• Administrative Assistant of the Year:  Juanita M. Arigno, Administrative Services Technician, Springfield Military Entrance Processing Station, Westover Air Reserve Base.
• Support Person of the Year: Wendy Ferriter, Office Automation Assistant, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• Outstanding Service/Trade Employee of the Year: Dana Lacombe, Carpenter Training Leader, Northampton VA Medical Center.      
• Professional Employee of the Year: Dr. Robert Olney, Chief Medical Officer, Springfield Military Entrance Processing Station, Westover Air Reserve Base.
• Technical/Scientific Employee of the Year: Myron Popowski, Chief of Resources, Westover Air Reserve Base.
• Outstanding Federal Volunteer: Nancy Desrosiers, Volunteer, Northampton VA Medical Center
• Outstanding Individual Customer Service Effort: Paula Mott, Food Service Worker, Northampton VA Medical Center.
• Award for Creativity and Innovation: James A. Brown II, Readiness Non-Commissioned Officer, Barnes Air National Guard Base.
• Outstanding Community Service: Theresa B. Dionnne, Aviation Resource Management Technician, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base. 
• Unsung Hero Award: John D. Alexander, Nursing Assistant, Northampton, VA Medical Center.

The Board of Directors Award was presented to the following members who have stepped down from the FEAWM board. These award was presented for his past service:  Jeff Anliker, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Ron Grezlak, Social Security Administration; Col. Marcel Kerdavid, Dept. of Defense; Col. Dana Marsh, Dept. of Defense; Michael O'Reily, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Karen Regish, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service.        

A special Chair's Award for Outstanding Service to the FEAWM was presented to Karen M. Regish from the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The FEAWM is an association of more than 25 federal agencies that serve the people of western Massachusetts. The FEAWM includes leaders from the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Interior, Justice, Labor, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, as well as the District Court, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., General Services Administration, Small Business Administration and the Social Security Administration.

For more information on the U.S. federal government, visit USA.gov.