Agriculture Department Recognizes Three Outstanding Employees

New Quarterly Awards Recognize Innovation, Leadership and Customer Service

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 20, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has recognized three employees for their outstanding innovation, leadership and customer service contributions last quarter.  The awards were presented on May 12.

“The strength of the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the quality of the services we provide are a direct result of the quality and the dedication of our employees. We are very fortunate to have the best staff around,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “I was very pleased to recognize three outstanding employees who were nominated by their peers and their supervisors for their contributions to the agency this past quarter.”

Carol Council, Pasadena (Anne Arundel County) resident and Administrator with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation received an award for her leadership. Examples include her pro-active public outreach explaining the program; impact on policy issues such as natural gas drilling rights in Garrett County; and for mentoring interns to encourage their interest in land preservation and public service.

Jason Keppler, Glen Burnie (Anne Arundel County) resident and Programmer/Analyst with the Resource Conservation Office received an innovation award for his work to establish dynamic data-based projects that track and report agricultural best management practices and farm conservation planning that are part of the BayStat program and the new Conservation Tracker.

Diana Mullenix, Falling Waters (West Virginia) resident and front office manager at the Frederick Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, received a customer service award.  Diana is a key to the lab’s mission of diagnosing and assisting in the control and eradication of animal and zoonotic diseases through her recordkeeping, management and interaction with everyone from producers, veterinarians, government colleagues, and everyone who has interacted with the lab for 25 years.

For more than 35 years, MDA has been protecting consumers and the environment and ensuring fairness in the marketplace. Visit www.mda.state.md.us for more information.

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Editor’s Note: Digital Photos Available Upon Request.

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