Sept. 17, 2009

Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed today recognized five individuals and two teams with service awards.

Employee efforts to improve employee morale, plan a statewide poverty summit and develop new treatment methods for juvenile justice youths were among examples of outstanding efforts by DHS employees to carry out the department's mission and values, and demonstrate superior leadership.

Tony Ryan, of Traverse City, a Grand Traverse/Leelanau County community resource manager, was awarded the Best Practice Leadership Award for his efforts to raise staff morale and improve service to clients. Ryan holds regular ice cream or fondue events for staff, sends a "Daily Fun Fact" via email and holds "Guess Who" contests using pictures of staff members when they were infants and children. These simple, low-cost strategies have paid big dividends for his staff, helping them project a positive attitude for clients.

"They say laughter is the best medicine and our staff is proof of that because Tony's humor and kindness inspires us to be better people," according to adult services supervisor Allison Sumerix, who nominated Ryan for the award.

Six departmental Star Awards were given to four individuals and two teams. The Star Award honors outstanding DHS employees and teams whose abilities and achievements exemplify DHS values and goals including leadership, integrity, excellence, inclusion and teamwork.

Star Award individual honorees included:

• Jeannine Benedetti, of Dearborn Heights, social services specialist with Western Wayne Child and Family Services.
• Pamela Buhs, of Charlotte, family independence manager for Eaton County DHS.
• Kendra Masunas, of Hart, children's protective services specialist for Oceana County DHS.
• Annegret Remmert, a social services specialist with Cass County DHS.

Star Award team honorees included:
The Neurotherapy Research Project Team at Nokomis Challenge Center, which includes:

• Todd Serby, of Traverse City, wilderness instructor.
• Linda Walker, of Fife Lake, wilderness instructor.

The Voices for Action Poverty Summit Core Team, which included:

• Charles A. Jones, of Albion, deputy director for Financial Quality and Technology Services.
• Maria Candy, of Holt, summit project manager and communications specialist for the Office of Child Support.
• Mary Hall-Thiam, of Ann Arbor, summit co-project manager and rights specialist for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programs.
• Patricia Headley, of Lansing, summit co-project manager and fund development coordinator for the Children's Trust Fund.
• Linda Schmidt, of Saginaw, summit regional lead coordinator and DHS poverty policy director.
• Stacie Gibson, of Lansing, executive director of the Bureau of Community Action and Economic Opportunity.
• Brant Wimbush, of Detroit, a departmental analyst in the Inkster District of Wayne County DHS.
• Barbara Anders, of Clio, director of the Bureau of Adult and Family Services.
• Edward Woods III, of Delta Township, director of the Office of Communications.
• Larry VanDeSande, of Mason, administrative assistant in the Office of Communications.

"These people are everyday heroes and continue to help DHS fulfill its mission to protect vulnerable adults, families and children," Ahmed said. "I thank them all for their outstanding service and dedication."

For more information, please visit the DHS Web site at www.michigan.gov/dhs. Follow us on Twitter @MichiganDHS and become a fan at www.facebook.com/MichiganDHS.