State Department of Agriculture Honors Employees with Long Service Awards,

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Oct. 5, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) honored 55 employees today for their years of service dedicated to the department and presented employee of the quarter awards. Don Lewis (State Chemist) received special recognition for 45outstanding years of public service to MDA. John Ralph Heard (Mosquito Control) was honored for 40 years of public service and Patricia Gavin (Human Resources) was honored for 35 years of service. Four employees were honored for 30 years of service, and 15 for 25 years of service.  The remaining honorees were recognized for public service of 10, 15, or 20 years.

“MDA and the agriculture community are fortunate to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable corps of employees working to strengthen the State of Maryland and this agency each and every day,” said MDA Secretary Buddy Hance. “For more than 35 years, MDA has been protecting consumers and the environment and ensuring fairness in the marketplace. It is a true testament to the value of our work that many of the employees honored this year have been with department since its founding.”

Secretary Hance also presented the Department’s quarterly employee awards. Dawn Littleton Bradley received the MDA Employee of the Quarter Customer Service Award. She serves as a vital link between MDA and the Soil Conservation Districts for the cover crop program, which enrolled a record number of farmers and acres this year. Ms. Littleton performed outstanding statewide outreach by going above and beyond her normal work schedule, often using her personal time, to ensure that the cover crop program is successful.

The MDA Team of the Quarter Award honored six analysts from the Turf and Seed section: Carleeta Carter, Stephen Hurst, Kadawedduwa Kumara, Kim MacFarland, Susan Wagner and Nancy Wilkinson. They were recognized for their willingness to cross trained across various functions of the two Turf and Seed labs to ensure that the heavy workload of the lab is effectively managed. This team is responsible for processing all seed samples used in the reporting and decision making necessary to accurately label quality seeds in Maryland.

The following is a listing by county of the MDA awardees who have reached a 25-year or greater milestone in their careers of public service.

Anne Arundel County

Brenda Alexander, Central Services (25)

Barbara Bassford, Turf & Seed (20)

Donna Birdsong, Turf & Seed (15)

Charles Burcaw, Animal Health (30)

Donna Crouch, Plant Protection & Weed Management (25)

my Eichelman, State Chemist (10)

Patricia Gavin, Human Resources (35)

Tonya Jones, State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (10)

Louise Lawrence, Program Planning & Development (25)

Lynn McNally, Central Services (15)

Kimberly Parker, Fiscal Services (10)

Vada Ritchie, Plant Protection & Weed Management(10)

Karl Roscher, Aquaculture Development & Seafood Marketing (20)

Laura Smith, Animal Health (25)

Tracey Smith, Human Resources (10)

Cindy White, State Chemist (20)

Allegany County

Biff Thompson, Forest Pest Management (20)

Baltimore County

Rowland Agbede, Program Planning & Development (20)

Donald Lewis, State Chemist (45)

Mary Martin, IT Services (25)

Karen Wick, State Chemist (20)

Caroline County

D. Elaine Friel, Resource Conservation (25)

Wilson Hignutt, Resource Conservation (10)

Colin Jones, Resource Conservation (10)

Merry McNeil, Fiscal Services (25)

Carroll County

Jason Watt, Resource Conservation (10)

Cecil County

David Wilson, Resource Conservation (15)

Dorchester County

Charles Coleman, Weights & Measures (25)

Roy Scott, Jr., Resource Conservation (25)

Frederick County

Kenneth Favorite, Resource Conservation (20)

Garrett County

Roger Kitzmiller, Resource Conservation (10)

Howard County

Lois Capshaw, Turf & Seed (30)

Kent County

Robert Hofstetter, Pesticide Regulation (10)

Robert Myers, Resource Conservation (10)

Montgomery County

Philip Davidson, State Chemist (10)

Prince George’s County 

Pegeen Morgan, State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (30)

Gaye Williams, Plant Protection & Weed Management (30)

Queen Anne’s County

Thomas Bramble, Resource Conservation (25)

St. Mary’s County

Edward Dean, Resource Conservation (10)

John Heard, Mosquito Control (40)

Parran Russell, Resource Conservation (10)

Somerset County

Glenda Mrohs, Resource Conservation (20)

Talbot County

Daniel Schwaninger, Nutrient Management (10)

Peter Councell, Pesticide Regulation (10)

Kimberly Rice, Plant Protection & Weed Management (10)

Washington County

Lane Heimer, Plant Protection & Weed Management (25)

Christopher Herbert, Resource Conservation (10)

Wicomico County

Dawn Bradley, MACS (10)

Richard Glasgow, Resource Conservation (25)

Thomas Phillips, Resource Conservation (10)

Worcester County

Ina Ingraham, Resource Conservation (25)

Clayton, Del.

Laura Iacona, Food Quality Assurance (10)

Marydel, Del.

Deborah Hayes, Plant Protection & Weed Management (25)

Chambersburg, Penn.

Jay Duell, Resource Conservation (25)

Hanover, Penn.

Bryce Miller, Food Quality Assurance (10)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos available upon request.

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