State Department of Agriculture Honors Employees with Long Service Awards; MDA Employee of the Year also Recognized

Deanna Baldwin (center) was named MDA’s Employee of the Year, with Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting and Secretary Buddy Hance.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) today honored 52 employees for their years of dedicated service to the department and to the state. Collectively, these 52 employees have provided the state with 1,000 years and 2.3 million hours of public service. Harwood Owings III in the State Chemist section received special recognition for celebrating 45 years with state government. Three MDA employees were recognized for 40 years of service; two MDA employees were recognized for 35 years of service; six employees for 30 years of service; 10 employees for 25 years; 10 for serving 20 years; 17 employees for 15 years; and three for serving 10 years.  In addition to recognizing long-time employees, MDA also presented its Employee of the Year Award to Deanna L. Baldwin, manager of MDA’s Food Quality Assurance Program since 1992.

“MDA is a relatively young department, founded in 1973 as a unit in the executive branch. Many employees have been with the department from the beginning or shortly thereafter,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “Our staff takes their public service responsibilities to the taxpayers of Maryland very seriously, and I thank them for their deep sense of mission and their unwavering commitment to our state’s most important industry. The fact that so many stay so long and work so hard is a testament to that dedication.”

Ms. Baldwin, MDA’s Employee of the Year, directs the activities of 25 staff members of the Food Quality Assurance Program. This is a particularly complex and challenging state program to manage because of the wide range of services and activities, each of which requires familiarity with detailed specifications, record keeping and reporting requirements. Demand for many services is seasonal and unpredictable. Customers need grading services on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year, and often must request services on short notice. In addition to being an excellent manager, Ms. Baldwin was selected as Employee of the Year for developing five new elective services to meet the evolving needs of Maryland’s farmers and agribusiness. She developed these services without any additional state funding, while continuing to fulfill the program’s regulatory responsibilities and satisfy customers’ demand. The five are: containerized export grain grading, on-farm poultry and rabbit processing certification, Maryland Good Agricultural Practices Certification, meat grade certification, and Maryland Organic Certification Program and its cost share assistance. Ms. Baldwin began her career with MDA in 1978 as an Agriculture Inspector Technician I. She steadily advanced, mastering all aspects of the program prior to being promoted to manage the section in1992. 

“Deanna is known throughout the Maryland agricultural community as a go-to person who goes out of her way to assist,” said Secretary Hance. “She routinely gives up her weekends and evenings to help constituents. Producers who need grading services know they can count on Deanna to make sure they have qualified staff on site when they are needed. I frequently hear constituents and customers express their appreciation for the extra effort that Deanna makes to be helpful. It is not an exaggeration to say that it would take three good managers to replace Deanna Baldwin. After her long and productive 37 year career she is most certainly worthy of this great honor and recognition.”

The following is a listing by county of the MDA employees who were recognized with long-service awards. 

Anne Arundel County

• Carol West, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 35 years
• Sherry Weygant, Food Quality Assurance, 35 years
• Donna Hill, Marketing Services, 25 years
• Nancy Wilkinson, Turf and Seed, 25 years
• Derrick Howe, State Chemist section, 20 years                    
• Offiah Offiah, State Chemist section, 20 years
• Sheila Saffell, Fiscal Services, 20 years
• Jennifer Schaafsma, Resource Conservation, 15 years
• Mary Darling, Human Resources, 15 years                          
• Karen Fedor, Marketing Services, 10 years                          

Baltimore City

• Aaron Webb, Weights and Measures, 40 years
• Joseph Boako, Weights and Measures, 15 years

Baltimore County

• Rona Flagle, Resource Conservation, 25 years
• Theresa Brophy, Marketing Services, 25 years
• Warren Bontoyan, State Chemist, 25 years
• Sonya Gaynor, State Chemist Section, 20 years
• Erika Nix, State Chemist Section, 10 years

Calvert County

• Anuradha Teachout, Information Technology, 20 years
• Jennifer David, Resource Conservation, 15 years
• Jennifer Snoddy, Resource Conservation, 15 years

Caroline County

• Deborah Minnich, Resource Conservation, 20 years

Carroll County

• Charles Null, Jr., Resource Conservation,  40 years
• Jeanine Deleonardo, Food Quality Assurance, 10 years

Dorchester County

• Keith Connolley, Food Quality Assurance, 30 years
• Ronald Mitchell, Mosquito Control, 25 years
• Paul Nuwer II, Mosquito Control, 15 years

Frederick County

• George Nicholson, Resource Conservation, 15 years
• Peter Rupp, Plant Protection and Weed Management, 15 years

Garrett County

• Cheston Miller, Resource Conservation, 30 years

Harford County

• Stephen Grossi, Forest Pest Management, 25 years
• Darren Alles, Nutrient Management, 15 years                              

Howard County

• Harwood Owings III, State Chemist Section, 45 years

Prince George’s

• Christal Stanbrough, Animal Health, 40 years
• Catrilla Simpkins, Resource Conservation, 30 years
• Roshawn Diggs, Mosquito Control, 15 years

Queen Anne’s County

• Lynne Willson, Resource Conservation, 30 years
• Gloria Chambers, Executive Direction, 25 years
• Royden Powell III, Resource Conservation, 20 years
• Laura Downes, State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 15 years
• Phyllis Riggin, Resource Conservation, 15 years

St. Mary’s County

• Sara Burbage, Resource Conservation, 15 years

Talbot County

• Craig Zinter, Resource Conservation Operations, 25 years
• Levin Schwaninger, Resource Conservation, 15 years

Washington County

• Nancy Tucker, Animal Health, 20 years

Wicomico County

• Mark Taylor, Plant Protection and Weed Management, 30 years
• Kimberly Arnold, Animal Health, 25 years
• Daniel Schamberger, Mosquito Control, 20 years
• Jean Kerley, Mosquito Control, 20 years
• Barbara Kunie, Animal Health, 15 years

Other

• Stephanie Knutsen, Resource Conservation, 15 years (Delaware)
• Charles Hayes, Resource Conservation, 15 years (West Virginia)

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Note to Editors: Photos of award presentations are available here.