IAWP Awards Recognize Those That Go Above & Beyond

We all like to get a pat on the back or see others being recognized for their hard work.  The IAWP Awards Program does just that.  Here is a list of people or groups who received IAWP awards for going above and beyond in calendar year 2006!

Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is the highest honor awarded in the SC Chapter.  Inductees must exemplify the best of IAWP through long-term dedication and support. One person was inducted for 2006.

Connie Martin was chosen because of her long-time dedication and loyalty to the association, including MANY positions on the chapter board. (Nominated by Linda Austin.)

Award of Merit

The Award of Merit is the highest award given my the association on the International level. It highlights outstanding dedication to both work and IAWP.

Individual: Clark Newsom was recognized not only for his outstanding work as the SCESC Communication Director, but for his service to IAWP by being an award chair for two awards, serving on the International Executive Board and overseeing the IAWP membership video. (Nominated by Lorraine Faulds.)

Group: The Coastal Workforce Center earned this award for their outstanding service to the high-volume customer base in the Myrtle Beach area, for their dedication to the local community, for their one-of-a-kind marketing program and, for their 100% membership in IAWP. (Nominated by Lorraine Faulds.)

Citation Award

The Citation Award recognizes outstanding contributions to workforce development programs by an individual or group from the private sector or a non-governmental entity.

Individual: Linda Leslie’s work with the rejuvenation of the State Employer Council and her support of the workforce system through sharing the story with legislators in Washington, DC earned Linda this award.  (Nominated by Chena Melvin.)

Group: The Group Citation Award was presented to the Shaw Industries in Irmo, SC.  Shaw worked with ESC to place 305 new employees in 2006.  The company promotes agency services  and was also nominated for a 2006 Palmetto Workforce Award. (Nominated by Keith Lucas.) 

Employee Performance

The Employee Performance Award recognizes individuals employed by the SC Employment Security Commission who have demonstrated outstanding, conscientious service by way of their diligent, dependable and trustworthy performance of assigned duties. 

Individual: This year’s winner is Doug Reeves who was instrumental in getting the State Legislature to appropriate over $933,000 for the agency purchase of the South Carolina Enterprise Information System.  He was also called upon to assist in testimony before the South Carolina Ways and Means Committee several times in 2006.  (Nominated by Chrystal Wiley.)

Group: The Communications Department of ESC garnered this award through its work in overseeing outside communication, publicity, and visual presentation of what SCESC does in assisting the workforce of South Carolina. They produced in-house a video for a UI Integrity Meeting and an IAWP Membership Video in 2006 and they produced the monthly TV show “Carolina Works,” which airs on SCETV, “Job Market Monday” with WIS-TV in Columbia, JobCast which is an audio listing of openings on the agency website, the employee newsletter “On The Job”, and columns on workforce issues for newspapers across the state. (Nominated by Linda Austin.)

One-Stop of the Year

The IAWP One-Stop of the Year Award is a group award that recognizes the provision of outstanding workforce development services in a One-Stop setting.  Achievements should include one or more of the following: Universal Access; Customer Choice; and Service Integration.

With over 1,000 visitors per week, the Coastal Workforce Center frequently processes more UI claims than any other one-stop in the state. The workforce center has averaged 198 direct placements per month for 2006 and, in addition to the direct placement activity, 5,051 entered employments were recorded in 2006. It has its own website to share information about the services it offers and staff is involved in helping create a county-wide 211 information service. In 2006, the center started processing youth eligibility for a new training program which primarily serves high school drop-outs, and they provide outstanding services for veterans in the one-stop’s Veterans Resource Area. (Nominated by Charlie Haneman.) 

Boyce Culp Unemployment Insurance (UI) Award of Excellence

The purpose of the Boyce Culp UI Award of Excellence is to recognize a person or persons who have contributed significantly to improvement and advancement of the Unemployment Insurance program in South Carolina.  The award highlights an outstanding, innovative UI program that features creativity, improved operational efficiency, and improved customer service.

Individual: The winner this year was Dianna Milhollin who oversees South Carolina’s UI program as our state’s regional administrator out of the Atlanta Regional Office.  Dianna has been vital to the UI program nationwide specifically in the area of Disaster Unemployment Assistance for victim of Hurricane Katrina.  (Nomination by Susan Hair.)

Group: The Quality Control Department is no stranger to hard work! The group developed and produced training on Benefit Accuracy Payment, reviewing, claimstaking, UI issues for area directors, and UI internal security.  The group performed economic forecasting for the UI Trust Fund, made personal contacts with over 900 employers throughout the state to provide technical assistance with the agency’s software, identified 702 individuals using social security numbers other than their own; and forwarded fifteen cases of fraud to Field Service for further investigation. (Nomination by Susan Hair

Specialized Customer Service Award

The Specialized Customer Services Award recognizes an individual or group that has provided exceptional services to specialized customers.  Judging emphasis will be placed on activities or accomplishments both on the job and beyond the call of duty.

Individual: Portia Parker Daise of the Beaufort Workforce Center has assisted her specialized customers by creating flyers, brochures, and newsletters sharing information about people with disabilities. As a Disability Program Navigator, she fosters collaboration in delivery of services to a diverse population of customers and educates staff, partners, agencies, organizations, employers/business community about the Disability Navigator Program. She has jointly provided two interactive training sessions on disability rights and works diligently in making contacts with the various partner agencies, organizations, and schools. Nomination by Jannie Allen.)

Group: The Palmetto Motorsport Program (PALM) serves economically disadvantaged, at-risk, unskilled young adults ages 16 to 21.  This non-profit organization provides a comprehensive alternative education program with a curriculum that builds skills in leadership development, mathematics and measurement, metal fabrication, safety, paint and body, welding, and assembling and testing.  It gives these youths marketable work skills in an industry that is growing steadily.  (Nomination by Charlie Haneman.)

Service to Veterans Awards

The Service to Veterans Award recognizes an individual and a group that has provided exceptional service to veterans.  Winning activity should be not only be placement and other employment services, but also participation in professional, community, church and veterans' organizations. 

Individual: Willie F. Robinson is the only Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) representative in his workforce center (Sumter) yet he placed a total of fifty veterans in the workplace during 2006, eight of these veterans being disabled.  He works with various veteran organizations, such as the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, to name a few. He has established an excellent rapport with Madison Industries and Tuomey Healthcare System as resources for helping veterans with employment and healthcare issues.  (Nomination by Willie Griffin.) 

Group: During 2006, the Sumter Workforce Center’s Veterans Service Unit placed 240 veterans. They provided 12 training sessions at the local Air Force base and conducted no less that 70 employer visits every month to educate employers about the benefits of hiring veterans.  They also provided education on employment and training opportunities through a partnership with the Homeless Samaritan House. (Nomination by Willie Robinson.)

Bill Griffin Community Service Award

The Bill Griffin Community Service Award is designed to recognize an individual who has given time, talents and service to an outstanding degree to benefit the community. Factors to be considered are what the nominee has done for the community beyond the demands of his/her job or IAWP function and what social or economic impact the achievement had on the community.

David Walker of Aiken was instrumental in organizing community support for the Aiken County Strategic Planning Committee.  He was also appointed to the Board of Diversity of Washington Savannah River Site.  He serves on the board of the Aiken County Board of Education -Area 1 Advisory Council and has been instrumental in organizing a city wide community service fair. He is a recent graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Citizen Academy and SCESC Leadership and Development Class. (Nomination by Tonya Delima.).

Charlie Enzor Hospitality Award

The purpose of the Charlie Enzor Hospitality Award is to recognize a person or persons who have contributed significantly to the morale of those involved in the workforce system through hospitable actions. The traits of hospitality, welcoming spirit, warmth, kindness, generosity, positive attitude and humor, which were embodied in Charlie Enzor’s contribution of the human touch to our workforce system, are used as criteria in the selection of a winner.

Florence’s Connie Ford displays a welcoming spirit and hospitality as part of her duties as chair of the Nominating Committee and member of the Oversight Committee of the Pee Dee Workforce Investment Board. She attends open houses when an industry expands, grassroots networking luncheons, business appreciation week receptions, and meetings/cookouts with the Florence County Economic Development Partnership. (Nomination written by Judy Jordan.)

Public Policy Award

The IAWP Public Policy Award recognizes an individual who performs outstanding public service in support of workforce development programs and/or personnel.  It recognizes successfully sponsored enacted legislation to improve the workforce system.

South Carolina Representative Daniel T. Cooper exercised his legislative skills and leadership as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee to secure state appropriated dollars earmarked for the South Carolina Occupational Information System (SCOIS).  Because of his work, SCOIS now provides 24 -7 career development information to every student in grades 6 through 12 as mandated by the 2005 Education and Economic Development Act.  (Nomination by Commissioner Becky Richardson.)

Administrator of the Year

The IAWP Administrator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding public service in the support of workforce development.  Achievements should include one or more of the following: Workforce Development Promotion; Legislation; Leadership; and IAWP Support.

Lowcountry WIA Administrator Sandy Fowler is the President of the State Workforce Administrator’s organization and is currently serving on the state taskforce charged with establishing Regional Education Centers mandated under the Education and Economic Development Act.  She is very involved in addressing workforce issues of the Latino community and continually promotes the services of the state’s workforce system.  (Nomination by Marjorie Thomas.)

Retiree of the Year

The Retiree of the Year Award was presented at the annul SCESC Retiree Reunion on April12th but was recognized at the conference also.  This award recognizes a retiree who has been active in chapter and community affairs. The nominee must have worked to strengthen the chapter and/or workforce development programs.  Some of the qualifying activities include (but are not limited to): IAWP membership recruitment, conference/institute support, and mentoring or community activities. 

Cecil Howard has been an IAWP member for 51 years!  He has worked in several positions with the agency and whenever he had a chance, he not only encouraged people to join the association, but to be an active member.  After his retirement in 1987, he became very active in the community teaching Sunday school and participating in Kiwanis activities. (Nomination by Cheryl Thomas.)

Subchapter Award

This is a new award whose purpose is to recognize the subchapter who performed outstanding service to its members through membership recruitment, community service, meetings, speakers, silent auction participation, and communication.

This year’s winner was the Lowcountry Subchapter.

International Development Award

The IAWP International Development Award recognizes an individual/group or chapter’s outstanding commitments to and achievements in IAPES international development. 

Although the chapter does not have an individual to honor in this category, the chapter did make efforts in 2006 to initiate a dialogue with an international country: Bermuda.  This attempts were unsuccessful, but the chapter was not deterred, and continued to support international development by making donations to the International Development Fund which helps bring international delegates to the International Conference.

President's Award

Each year the IAWP Chapter President has the opportunity to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to that president’s term in office.  The discretionary award is presented at the annual conference.  This year’s award recipients were Linda Austin, Lorraine Faulds, and Kathy Gibson.