ROBERT S. HUTCHISON AWARD
Mike Hill
Mike Hill is often referred to as the “grandfather of his agency.” He was one of the first employees hired at LEIC and has been tireless in his efforts and willingness to adapt to his customer’s ever-changing needs. As LEIC has moved from focusing on Tennessee, to the Southeast, and now nationally, the involvement that he has in the success of LEIC has been a major contribution to the national reputation of excellence in training, technical assistance and support for law enforcement and their missions. Some of the programs that he has been directly involved in are: Project Safe neighborhoods with the U.S. Attorney General’s office in East Tennessee, the School Safety programs with the Tennessee Department of Education, and the Southeast Command and Leadership Academy in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
TOM AND DIANE BALLARD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Sandy Selvage
Sandy Selvage has been with MTAS for more than two decades and has served in several different positions. She is described as one who takes care of everything. She is a great team player and understands the level of support the consultants need in order to deliver effective training classes. The staff has complete confidence in her capabilities, knowing that she will prepare all the class materials and make all the arrangements, and everything will be there when needed. Sandy is excellent at communicating with customers. She knows what to say and is very good at follow through. Customers and employees call her with questions and get answers immediately. She gives them the attention they deserve with a level of service that is unexpected these days. She never forgets who the customers are, and in that sense, she embodies the ideas behind MTAS and helps to “keep our eyes on the ball.”
HORIZON AWARD
Leigh Lawson
Leigh Lawson of MTAS is described as dependable, dynamic and energetic with a team spirit and a big smile. She is always ready to assist others regardless of the task. She listens to instructions and asks questions to be sure that she understands her assignments. She is dedicated to excellence in her work and always shows a positive attitude with office personnel and customers. Leigh also is courteous and adaptable. She works with all the consultants treating them in a professional manner. She does an excellent job of prioritizing her work and has never missed a deadline for getting the job ready. One of her colleagues describes her as having a wonderful personality and always being upbeat. When staff members find themselves in a sour mood, one encounter with Leigh will get them back on track.
CUSTOMER SERVICE MVP AWARD
Kevin Lauer, Ben Rodgers and Doug Bodary
Kevin Lauer, Ben Rodgers and Doug Bodary of CTAS are recognized for their work with a small county to secure a federal grant. Cannon County has a population of 12,826 and is located southeast of Nashville. These employees worked with the chief of the county to analyze the major needs of the fire department and help prepare a grant application for the Cannon County Fire Department to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The application was written to 
convey the bleakness of the department’s situation and the major impact the grant money would have on Cannon County fire safety. The county received an award of $101,034, the second largest award in of its kind in Tennessee. The county is using 16-year-old self contained breathing apparatus patched with duct tape and held together with wire. Replacing the old equipment will be the major allocation of the funds.
CUSTOMER TEAM MVP AWARD
IPS Communications Team – Queena Jones, Susan Robertson and Judy Wilhite
The nomination for this year’s award is a collective award given to the IPS Communications Team – Queena Jones, Susan Robertson and Judy Wilhite. These three employees work very hard to ensure that IPS and all of its agencies are viewed in a positive light and that the good work that is done within the agencies is appropriately disseminated to customers, the university, and our many stakeholders. They work hard to ensure publications are complete, correct and delivered in a timely manner. They are willing to work with everyone and always make time for those that need their services. They are creative in the development of their work products and always willing to work with IPS employees to make the product eye-catching and appealing to the reader.
PUBLIC SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Beth Phillips
Since the arrival of Beth Phillips to IPS, she has made immediate and notable impacts on the Institute’s economic development agenda. With more than 20 years of economic development experience prior to arriving at UT, she was well-acquainted with the state’s economic development infrastructure. Beth has elevated the Institute’s relationships with other parts of the University, with state and federal agencies,and more importantly, with the customers we serve. She also took the lead in the development of the Tennessee Basic Economic Development course taught in the spring and certified by the International Economic Development Association. In her spare time, she also chairs the board of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, guides two college-age daughters and serves as resident counselor to a local economic development practitioner who happens to be her spouse.
PUBLIC SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Claire Marsalis
Claire Marsalis came to CTAS less than two years ago but already has made a big impression on her fellow workers and her agency. She has been described as coming to work with a smile and an attitude of the energizer bunny – she just keeps going and going and going. CTAS co-workers say they still haven’t found anything that she can’t do and when she is asked to do something, she does it willingly and flawlessly. She staffs training programs, prepares articles for the Exchange, develops and produces the CTAS e-newsletter, answers customer inquiries, prepares and sends blast e-mails, and edits and proofs publications. Claire brought a breath of fresh air to the office with her enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
FIVE FRANKLINS AWARD
Sherri Brown
Sherri Brown has been given additional work duties, without additional compensation, and does the work willingly and correctly. During the past year, she has been given additional duties by taking over the support for an assistant vice president, providing support for the economic development staff, assisting the budget director with analysis and production of financial documents for both the Central Office and the IPS agencies, developed a computer program to help analyze training evaluations and assist other employees with completing their work.She has taken it upon herself to take college courses to help her do her job better; she has completed the communication certification program, and just recently completed the STAR achievers program. In addition to her new duties this past year, she continues to complete time entry, enter travel documents for the Central Office, reconcile ledgers and compile mailing logs.
FIVE FRANKLINS AWARD
Kasey Draney
During this past year, Kasey Draney of the Jimmy Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership was assigned to assist the Economic Development team with putting together a Basic Economic Development course. Since she acts as a coordinator for all the leadership programs and helps with the TGEI, TMEI, TDOT, and LGLP programs, she was a natural to work on this project. She helped with the marketing and promotional materials, registration process, course venues, program and instructor logistics, meals, events and all the things that go with keeping 40 participants happy for a week. One participant said “I have never attended a training course that stayed on topic and on schedule throughout the entire course.” These great comments come because of the attention to detail that made things run smoothly and seamlessly, and Kasey was the main reason for that.
FIVE FRANKLINS AWARD
Lori Ungurait 
Lori Ungurait of LEIC works closely with the Tennessee Department of Education to provide the training that meets its ever-changing needs. She must be flexible in the environment where training is delivered, be conscious of the types of individuals who may be attending the training, and adaptable to the attitudes of attendees who are receiving the training. The Department of Education program manager has nothing but praise for Lori and the partnership between the two agencies. It is without a doubt that she contributes greatly to a sustained working relationship and partnership, not only with the Tennessee office, but also statewide throughout the local school districts.
FIVE FRANKLINS AWARD
Libby McCroskey
Libby McCroskey oversees a staff of three legal consultants responsible for a range of duties, including issuing written legal opinions and providing information regarding legal issues to officials, authoring numerous publications, monitoring the General Assembly for what actions it takes that might affect customers and compiling private acts. Libby has been with CTAS since 1991 after working for a private law firm in Chattanooga for six years. Her contributions have been well documented over the years. In 1997, she was the recipient of the Robert S. Hutchison Outstanding Public Service Professional Award and in 2008, was recognized by the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT) with the Outstanding Public Service Professional award at its annual meeting. She has contributed her time and energies to help coordinate the Christmas giving project for CTAS. She has also served on the Employee Relations Committee.
FIVE FRANKLINS AWARD
Josh Jones
Josh Jones, a legal consultant with MTAS, has made a definite impression on his agency and customers. He works with the other legal consultants in analyzing legislative bills that affect city government and provides training for local municipal officials on changes to laws by the legislature. He is the author of numerous comprehensive legal publications on topics ranging from ethics reform to information technology, taxation and legislation. He took the lead in developing Tennessee’s first open records manual for Tennessee cities. He has led statewide training on critical issues such as ethics reform, open government and federal identity theft legislation. He also teaches in the Elected Officials Academy, where his presentations are well received and he always receives excellent evaluations. In the short time, that this employee has been with MTAS, he has contributed greatly to improving how cities deal with complex municipal issues.
PROJECT OF THE YEAR 
Certified Municipal Finance Officers program, MTAS
Sound financial management is essential to the survival and success of all local governments. Tennessee is one of the few states to establish and mandate a base level of qualifications for finance officers. MTAS is proud to be the instrument by which this landmark program is being successfully implemented. The project team is: Dick Phebus, Gail Cook, Kay Stegall, Ralph Cross, William Haston, Al Major, Izetta Slade, Sarah Holley, Michelle Buckner, Mike Tallent, and Sharon Rollins. Team members have worked through complex issues, both 
technical and logistical, to develop a truly remarkable program to enhance financial management capacity and awareness and to recognize achievement. Team members have designed, in cooperation with the State of Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, training curriculum and testing materials that cover the full range of financial management capabilities including cash management, debt management and financial reporting.
FACULTY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Dr. Don Dareing
Dr. Don Dareing, professor of mechanical engineering, has been working with the Center for Industrial Services through 
Bill Wiley and Norma Wilcox to assist Accu-Router, Inc. of Morrison with the design of its high-speed, computer numerical control routers that cut everything from plywood to composite materials. Accu-Router’s clients use these routers to mass-produce parts for products such as upholstered furniture, boats and airplanes. Don visited the company and assigned nine senior engineering students to analyze the router’s dust chip collection, router enclosure, and table top vacuum and to propose design improvements for each component. The students were able to develop variable design options and presented them to Accu-Router. The company was thrilled with the quality of the concepts. Accu-Router has since accepted the student’s design proposals and agreed to move forward with building prototypes of the re-designed equipment components.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
Homeland Security Disaster Preparedness Tabletop Drill
This year we recognize a project that encompasses all of the IPS agencies, several UT Knoxville departments and outside partners. This project involved development of a Homeland Security Disaster Preparedness Tabletop Drill for the Knoxville campus to provide mock training for emergency responders to situations involving terrorist activities and to assess the readiness of the campus to prevent and respond to such attacks. This exercise focused on the coordination, cooperation and communication of emergency responders. The tabletop drill involved both emergency responders and hospital responders and the exercise included both an immediate response scenario and a sustained local, state and federal response.
Gary West of MTAS served as the primary exercise leader. Kevin Lauer (CTAS), and Mike Hill and Deidra Phillips (LEIC) served as facilitators, players or observers. Walter Idol of CIS worked with the medical emergency responder personnel.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
Solution Point Implementation Project
The Solution Point project required the expertise of all of the IPS agencies to get it completed. For more than two years, a core team of IPS professionals worked to upgrade the online course registration and student information system for all agencies of the Institute. Chaired by John Erdmann of CIS, the IPS conversion team completed an institute-wide needs assessment, developed a request for proposal, evaluated bids, selected a successful bidder, deployed a contract, converted more than 75, 000 student records, and 
finally activated a Web-based tool that allows customers 24-hour access to upcoming course information and their training records. Many staff members throughout IPS spent a significant amount of time on this project. Receiving recognition are Erdmann, Scott Gordy, co-chair of the team, and the agency representatives, Sarah Holley of MTAS, Terri Kinloch of CTAS, Deidra Phillips of LEIC and Kasey Draney of the Central Office.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
David Hall
David Hall receives a Vice Presidential Citation for his work above and beyond normal job assignments and for his 
relentless work on many complex projects over the years. He began his career in the Navy in 1965 and served his country for 26 years. While in the military, he completed his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, master’s in business administration from Harvard University, and a master’s with the Naval War College. After completing a distinguished career with the military, he joined CIS beginning as a field engineer based in the Jackson office, as the assistant director for West Tennessee and MEP operations, and associate director of CIS. In 2004, he became executive director of CIS. During his tenure, he worked diligently to see that CIS achieved ISO 9000 certification and to see CIS recognized by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence with the “achievement Level 3” award. He helped CIS grow into an organization that provides service to small businesses and manufacturers and contributes more than $750M in economic impact to the State of Tennessee.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
35 Years
Brenda Moss
Brenda Moss came to IPS in 1974 after working in the hotel industry. She has worked with many different employees, managers and directors over the years. She can be depended on to be in the office, learn new skills, and help the consultants do their jobs better. She has seen a lot of changes over the years, going from manual typewriters and rotary dial telephones to computers, cell phones and voice mail. During her time with IPS, she has achieved her Certified Professional Secretary designation, the Communications certificate and the UT Leaders: Lighting the Way certification. Because of the location of the office and not being accessible to classes, she has gained these certifications online.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
20 Years
Pat Hardy
Pat Hardy, a municipal management consultant with MTAS, came to Tennessee from New Jersey and was working for the railroad swinging a sledge hammer. Upon discovering East Tennessee State University, he decided college sounded like a much better plan and graduated from ETSU with a master’s degree in city management. He served as a city manager in Texas and Minnesota and came to MTAS in 1989, where he worked for five years in the Nashville office. He then gravitated back to the hills of East Tennessee and has worked out of the Johnson City office for 15 years. Pat is married and has two children, one that has graduated from college and one still in college. Pat and his wife are heavily involved in their church and Pat also helps with home building for Habitat for Humanity. They have four mixed breed dogs. In his spare time, Pat is restoring his wife’s old home place, which is more than 100 years old.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
20 Years
Pam Peters
Pam Peters began with the State of Tennessee as a file clerk in 1971 and worked her way up through the ranks before landing at CTAS in 1996. Along the way, she has been through other departments at the state and at CIS for a number of years beginning in 1988. During her working career she attended and graduated from Draughon’s Business College and attended Tennessee State University and Nashville State Tech. She also achieved the certified professional secretary distinction. She has a twin sister and an older sister and says they are all the best of friends. She has been married almost as long as she has worked for the state and has three sons who have excelled in academics, athletics and art. Athletics runs in the family and Pam is a self-described health nut who does aerobics and works out with weights. In her spare time, she volunteers for St. Jude’s, Leukemia Foundation and the Feed the Children Fund.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Kim Arms
During the past 10 years, Kim Arms worked at the Center for Government Training, the Central Office and the Center for Industrial Services.Kim currently is the program manager of entrepreneurial and economic development programs at CIS and works with small businesses to help them secure grants and training.She began her career working in Oak Ridge for Lockheed Energy Systems, SAIC and Oak Ridge Associated Universities in training. She works with the Tennessee Small Business Innovative Research Proposal Assistance Center to coordinate other program efforts to support the creation, retention and expansion of job opportunities in Tennessee.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Warren Nevad
Warren Nevad is a municipal management consultant with MTAS. He received his master’s in public administration from Florida Atlantic University. He began his career in Florida as a finance director before moving to another Florida city as the assistant city manager. He then moved to Sugar Hill, Ga. as the city manager before coming to IPS in 1999. In 2007, he took on the Tennessee Urban Forestry program for MTAS. He became certified in urban forestry to help administer the program and provide support to cities across Tennessee.He also serves on the Tennessee Urban Forestry Commission and works hard to make people aware of the importance of trees. He recently helped plan and coordinate the first Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development conference at Fall Creek Falls. After the coal ash spill in Kingston, he facilitated a goal-setting session with Kingston officials discussing the long-term implications of the spill from the TVA plant. Three goals came out of the session and he will continue to work with them to help achieve those goals.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Chris Payne
Chris Payne has been with CTAS since coming to Nashville in 1999 and is responsible for GIS projects. He was born in Auburn, Ala. and graduated from the University of Alabama with his degree in geography. In addition to his work with GIS, he also works with IT. Chris works with the Tennessee Department of Transportation offices located from middle Tennessee to the west end of the state by installing highway database software for counties and provides training in the use of the software. He recently completed the Geographic Information Systems Professional certification. In addition to his work, he has served for several years on the Employee Relations Council both as a representative for CTAS and as the chair person of the ERC.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Bill Stetar
Bill Stetar secured his master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in vocational trade education. After completing his degree, he continued to work for MTSU for several years coordinating a grant to develop and disseminate a statewide auto mechanics curriculum. In 1999, he came to CIS and is a consultant in human resources/human performance technology which includes analysis, design, development and implementation of training programs for CIS customers. He began the first e-learning initiative for CIS and it is used by many of CIS’s customers. He is a certified Performance Technologist and is one of only a few in the state of Tennessee who works in higher education. He was selected to serve as one of five judges for the 2006 Manufacturer of the Year award. The award program, hosted by The Manufacturer magazine, recognizes world-class levels of manufacturing excellence in the United States
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Kurt Frederick
Kurt Frederick is described as one of those people who is “just a great customer service representative: working hard to meet the needs of all his customers.” He goes out of his way to help city officials and has worked hard to make the TAMCAR program the success that it is. He serves as a training consultant and is versatile in the topics that he teaches. He also serves the Municipal Management Academy for middle and west Tennessee. He began his career with the state of Tennessee in 1986 and worked for eight years with federal and state grant programs. He then went to Nashville State Tech for three years where he worked as an assistant to the president. In 1999, he came to IPS as a training consultant.
He recently married a woman who he grew up with and has known for 48 years. He has twin sons that just graduated from high school and are off to college.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Ralph Cross
Colleagues say that Ralph Cross “makes customer service seem fun”. He brings a sense of levity to otherwise tedious circumstances; he approaches problems from new angles and learns in the process of helping others. He serves as a finance and accounting consultant with MTAS. He obtained his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Memphis. Ralph began his career in the early 1980’s in engineering technology, moved to the medical field, and then went to the City of Lawrenceburg as finance director before coming to MTAS in 1999. His customers say that he is a big help to them by responding to questions, no matter how big or how little, he returns their calls promptly and is available when needed. He also conducted some tutoring sessions for city finance directors who were participating in the Certified Finance Management Officers program to help prepare them for the test.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
10 Years
Gary Jaeckel
Gary Jaeckel came to MTAS from Illinois where he obtained both this bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Northern Illinois University. He began his career as assistant city manager in Elmhurst, Ill. and then moved to Streamwood, Forsythe and finally Dwight before he moved south and came to MTAS. He currently serves as a municipal management consultant in the upper portion of middle Tennessee. A variety of topics and questions from cities and managers makes his job interesting and challenging. He teaches a number of courses in the Elected Officials Academy along with working with customers on strategic planning. He lives in Hendersonville and has three sons, two who are currently attending Volunteer State Community College and one who is a senior in high school.