Other LanguagesOLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna announced the 2006 Employee Recognition Awards during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia on Monday, September 17.
The Attorney General’s Office Employee Recognition Awards are peer-driven. Employees nominate their colleagues and award recipients are selected by a panel of award recipients from prior years. Awards are given for innovation, diversity advocate, pro bono, volunteer, safety and security advocate, and outstanding team, leader and employee.
“I am very proud of each of this year’s winners,” Attorney General McKenna said. “I look forward to this opportunity each year. The awards showcase outstanding employees of the best public law office in the country.”
Larry McKnight, investigator and domestic violence liaison, was awarded with the Innovation Award for creation of the domestic violence outreach program to local communities. McKnight has traveled the state providing technical assistance to local domestic violence task forces and commissions.
The Diversity Award was presented to Jeanette Taylor, a paralegal with the Labor and Industries division for her work in creating a program held this July with one of the Lost Boys of Sudan.
Traci Friedl, assistant attorney general and Mary Street, legal secretary, were both awarded with the 2006 Pro Bono Award. Friedl has served as chair of the office Pro Bono Committee. Through her efforts, a variety of pro bono activities have been initiated including work with the Thurston County Legal Services group. Street was nominated based on her years of organizing the Labor and Industries Night at the Thurston County Volunteer Legal Clinic.
The Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Stevie Nichols, compliant analyst in the Bellingham office. Nichols’ outstanding volunteer contribution is recognized through her continuous efforts to provide outstanding customer service.
Patrick Colvin from the Natural Resources division is the 2006 recipient of the Safety and Security Award. Colvin was instrumental in the development of the offices’ safety and security plan.
There were 2 awards given for 2006 Outstanding Team. The team responsible for the relocation of the Seattle offices to their new building on Fifth Avenue was awarded for its efforts. The other recipient was the Consumer Protection division’s High Tech Unit. The high tech unit works to identify, investigate and stop unfair and deceptive conduct in internet commerce.
Jeff Goltz and Laura Watson are the 2006 Outstanding Leaders. Goltz is a deputy attorney general and a key member of the leadership contributing to impact decisions on technology, safety and security and performance management.
Watson is an assistant attorney general in the Ecology division and oversees the Environmental Quality Section representing the state in areas of water quality, oil spills, shorelines and air quality.
The 2006 Employee Recognition Awards showcased the efforts of 4 outstanding employees. Julian Bray, assistant attorney general and team lead from the Social and Health Services division was recognized as a key attorney in the Tacoma office and a mentor to the Tacoma division.
Hoang Truong is the Agriculture and Health Division’s Office Assistant Senior. He is recognized this year for his work in developing a central filing system and managing a multitude of responsibilities.
Assistant Attorney General Kristie Carevich is the lead attorney to the Department of Ecology’s Toxic Cleanup Program. The program is charged with overseeing and managing the cleanup of thousands of sites contaminated with hazardous substances in our state.
Scott Peterson is a graphic designer for the Public Affairs Unit. Peterson has played a key role in the success in the overall look and feel for numerous conferences, redesign of the Attorney General’s Office annual report, and the re-formatting of the award winning website.
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