City of Milwaukee holds first employee recognition awards ceremony at City Hall
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- For the first time, the City of Milwaukee is honoring a group of outstanding employees in a special way.
The inaugural Milwaukee City Employee Recognition Awards (CERA) was held Tuesday at City Hall. Five employees from different departments were honored on stage by Mayor Cavalier Johnson for their dedicated work.
Honorees:
Kendria Donaldson - Milwaukee Fire Department (Under 30 Award)
Tyronda Williams - Milwaukee Police Department (Career Achievement Award)
Jannie Albright - Department of Public Works (Acts of Service Award)
Kate Riordan - Department of Public Works (Innovator of The Year Award)
Phyllis Whitley - Election Commission (Trailblazer Award)
Each awardee was honored on stage by a colleague before receiving their award from Mayor Johnson.
CBS 58 spoke to Phyliss Whitley moments after she received the Trailblazer Award. "It feels great. I was shocked. I didn't expect anyone to nominate me," she said.
Whitley is a field coordinator for the election commission. She's been with the department since 1988, but that's not where her career began. Whitley has also held positions with the Milwaukee Public Library, Department of Public Works, and Department of Water Works.
"It's gone by so fast that I didn't even realize that it's been 50 years," she said. Mayor Johnson said it's important to recognize outstanding employees who have dedicated their life to public service. "If they don't do their jobs, then I can't do my job. The common council can't do its job. City government would come to a halt, so that's why it's important to say thank you for the work that they're doing," he said.
Whitley says she's grateful to be recognized and she's happy for the others who were honored as well. "I feel that it's very important. All these years I've worked here, it's the first time I've ever been nominated or awarded something, and I think it should happen on a regular basis," she said.
Whitley said she's especially proud to see Donaldson win the Under 30 Award, showing a younger generation taking on the same dedication to service as she did years ago. "The city of Milwaukee means the world to me," said Whitley.