News

Federal Executive Association of Western Massachusetts Sixth
Annual Excellence in Government Awards

HOLYOKE, Mass., Sept. 16, 2008.  The 6th Annual Excellence in Government Awards were announced during a luncheon hosted by the Federal Executive Association of Western Massachusetts (FEAWM) at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke on September 16th.  Elizabeth Cardona, Director of the Western Massachusetts Office of the Governor, was the Keynote Speaker for the event.

The awards honored the "best and the brightest" in local federal service and were presented to outstanding federal employees in 13 categories.

Winners Were:

• Distinguished Federal Manager:  David Tuttle, State Director, USDA-Rural Development.
• Distinguished Federal Supervisor: Catherine Volpe-Proctor, Chief, Staffing, Affirmative Employment & Employee Development, 439th MSG/DPC, Westover Air Reserve Base.  
• Professional Employee of the Year-Administrative: Capt. Matthew T. Mutti, Wing Executive Staff Officer, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base.
• Professional Employee of the Year-Emergency Management/Public Safety/LawEnforcement:
  Pamela M. Dansereau, Investigative Case Specialist, US Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Professional Employee of the Year-Health Services:  Melissa Zanvettor, LPN, Northampton VA Medical Center.
• Professional Employee of the year Technical and Scientific. Lt. Col. Craig L. Tomilla, Chief Pilot, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base.
• Outstanding Support Employee:
  Category 1- GS 1-6: Cynthia Russell, Test Coordinator, Springfield.
  Category 2- GS 7-11: Paul Benjamin, Civil Engineering Technician, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 
• Outstanding Service or Trade Employee: MSgt. Mark Willette, C-5 Aircraft Maintenance Technician/Crew Chief, 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS), Westover Air Reserve Base.
• Outstanding Customer Service Effort for an Individual: Nicole D. Remy, Supply Fuel Accountable Officer, 439th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base.
• Outstanding Customer Service Effort for a Team:  Eric Acosta, Holly Bannish, Bill Carrie, Sue Cayer, Sally Gautheir, Tom Goodwin, Melissa Lachance, Catherine Livingston, Janice Parmelee, Fatima Santos, Joanne Schmidt, Linda Schreiner, and Lynn Shapiro, Claims Department, Social Security Administration in Holyoke, MA.
• Outstanding Federal Volunteer: Francis Yestramski and Leo Vance, Volunteers, Northampton VA Medical Center.
• Outstanding Creativity and Innovation: Norene Roberts, Nursing Assistant, Northampton VA Medical Center.
• Outstanding Community Service: Daniel Beaudette, Community Porgrams Director, USDA, Rural Development.
• Unsung Hero Award: Melodie Turner, RN/Case Manager, Northampton VA Medical Center.

The Board of Directors Award was presented to the following member: Linda Repasky, Department of Interior.

A special Chair's Award for Outstanding Service to the FEAWM was presented to Patrick DeFalco, Social Security Administration. 

Thee FEAWM is an association of more than 20 federal agencies that serve the people of western Massachusetts. The FEAWM includes leaders from the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Interior, Justice, Labor, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, US Postal Service, Homeland Security, 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.