Orbie Little, Parks Maintenance Crew Leader with Parks and Recreation, is the Dare County Employee of the Month for July.  Little was recognized at the July 19, 2010 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting in a presentation by Tim White, Public Services Director for Dare County. 

Little began working with Dare County Parks and Recreation in 1999.  He begins his work day at 6:00 a.m. each morning and is charged with the overall maintenance of the equipment and the grounds of many Parks and Recreation locations.
 
“I talk to him just about every morning on my way to work,” said White of Little.  “There is nothing he can’t fix and there is nothing he won’t do for the employees of Parks and Recreation and everyone in Dare County.”
 
White went on to describe how Little often works 12 or 16 hour days during special events such as tournaments or the Outer Banks Marathon events.  He also told of how Little’s wife has probably not seen him on the Fourth of July in years since there are always baseball tournaments held at Parks and Recreation fields during the holiday. 
 
Congratulations to Orbie Little for being named the Dare County Employee of the Month for July.  

Becca Cooke, a 911 Telecommunicator with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, is the Dare County Employee of the Month for June 2010. She was presented the award at the June 7 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.
 
As a Dare County Telecommunicator, Cooke coordinates emergency responders for residents and visitors dialing 9-1-1 with an emergency. She is certified with the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatching Services.  She dispatches law enforcement, fire service, EMS and/or ocean rescue personnel, and others depending on the nature of the emergency.  While sending first responders, Telecommunicators maintain contact with the 911 caller to offer ongoing assistance while help is on the way.
 
“Becca is the type of employee who always goes the extra mile and gives 100% to all those she helps,’’ said Dare County Sheriff Rodney Midgett, in comments he made while introducing Cooke to the Commissioners.
 
Midgett cited Cooke’s skill dealing with “challenging’’ situations.  He said, “She treats everyone with courtesy and respect, and gathers all the pertinent information to handle each type of emergency response.
 
Midgett added, “She has worked as a telecommunicator for seven years and is a great representative of Dare County 911.”
 
The Dare County Sheriff’s office operates the 911 Call Center which dispatches all emergency services.  Dare County utilizes state of the art enhanced 911 technology.  For all emergencies dial 911.   
 
Becca Cooke, a Telecommunicator with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, is the Dare County Employee of the Month for June, 2010. She was presented the award at the June 7 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.

William R. ``Skeeter’’ Sawyer, the Public Safety Director for Dare County, is the Dare County Employee of the Month for May, 2010. He was presented the award at the May 3 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.

As the Public Safety Director, Sawyer directs the county’s EMS efforts to provide high quality and cost effective pre-hospital medical care – a task that he is achieving well, according to County Manager Bobby Outten, who presented the award.

``He has all the institutional knowledge you can have about the Emergency Medical Services Department,’’ said Outten to the Commissioners. ``He is proactive and comes to me often with new ideas and ways to better serve our community.’’
 
Sawyer joined Dare County in 1976 as an ambulance driver and achieved the rank of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1981. He earned EMT Intermediate status in 1984 and was named EMS Captain in 1985.  After serving a year as Interim Public Safety Director, Sawyer was named Public Safety Director in 1999.
 
Upon receiving the award, Sawyer humbly thanked everyone for helping him to become ``…what I am today.”  “ Dare County has been a home to me. The people and employees of Dare County have been my family and friends,’’ said Sawyer.  ``I am very proud of the job they do.’’
 
The audience rose to give Sawyer a standing ovation when Outten announced him as the Dare County Employee of the Month for May.  In recognizing Sawyer’s loyalty and dedication, Outten added, ``Just as blue as the color of the Dare County flag, so too Skeeter’s blood must certainly be Dare County blue.’’

Sue Hewitt, In-Home Aide Supervisor for the Department of Social Services (DSS), is the Dare County Employee of the Month for April, 2010. She was presented the award at the April 5 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.
 
Jay Burrus, DSS Director introduced Hewitt to the Commissioners and presented her the award.
 
As In-Home Aide Supervisor, Hewitt coordinates and directs the efforts of 25 aides who provide services to the elderly and disabled, helping them remain in their own homes.
 
``She does an excellent job in a position that would overwhelm almost anyone,’’ commented Burrus while introducing her to the Commissioners. ``She has both a head and a heart for the job.’’
 
Burrus went on to praise Hewitt for her ``phenomenal’’ organizational skills and her ability to effectively deal with crises that often arise when assisting a frail population.
 
Hewitt was hired in October, 1993 as an In-Home Service Aide working her way up to the position of In-Home Aide Supervisor in July, 1999.
 
She serves on the Dare County Safety Committee and is active in community issues in Gum Neck along with her husband, Ronnie. She has been a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician in Gum Neck for over 20 years and has proven herself to be an instrumental member.
 
``If you spend a little time talking with her, it will quickly become clear that this is more than a job for Sue,” added Burrus. ``She very much cares about the clients served by the In-Home program and goes above and beyond to see that their needs are met. She has made a difference in the lives of many Dare County citizens.’’
 
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Sue Hewitt, In-Home Aide Supervisor for the Department of Social Services (DSS), was named the Dare County Employee of the Month for April, 2010. She was presented the award at the April 5 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners by DSS Director Jay Burrus.

Dare County employees Brandi Combs and Elliott ``Robbie’’ Robinson were announced as Employees of the Month during the Monday, March 15 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.

Combs, Finance Technician, is the Employee of the Month for February, and Robinson is the Employee of the Month for March 2010. Combs was scheduled to receive her award in February; however, a conflict delayed the presentation until Monday’s meeting.

Combs was presented the award by Dare County Finance Director David Clawson.  During his introduction of Combs to the Commissioners, Clawson cited her as an employee with an excellent work ethic.

``Everything we ask her to do, she gets it done and keeps track of it,’’ he said of Combs.

As a general accounting clerk, she works with many different professionals including attorneys, bond writers and auditors.  According to Clawson, these clients remember and ask about her because she impresses them with her exceptional skills and demeanor.

Combs began working for Dare County in June, 1989 as a Clerk for the Water Department. She transferred to Public Works in 1993 as a Secretary and joined the Finance Department in March, 1996 as an Accounting Clerk and working her way up to her present position of Finance Technician.

Robinson received his award as March Employee of the Month from Dare County Utilities Director Ken Flatt.  Robinson has worked for Dare County as a Water Distribution System Specialist since October 2004.

In his introduction of Robinson to the Commissioners, Flatt praised Robinson for his skills as well as his work attitude. He has proven himself extremely capable in getting the job done well while maintaining a positive and friendly attitude.

``Robbie is a very valuable employee in the Water Department,’’ said Flatt. ``He is great to work with, in large part, because of his great attitude.

Congratulations to Brandi Combs, Dare County Employee of the Month for February 2010; and congratulations to Elliott ``Robbie’’ Robinson, Dare County Employee of the Month for March 2010

Brandi Combs, Finance Technician, was named the Dare County Employee of the Month for February 2010 at the March 15 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Combs was  presented the award by Finance Director David Clawson. Elliott ``Robbie’’ Robinson, Water Distribution System Specialist was named the Dare County Employee of the Month for March 2010 at the March 15 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Robinson was presented the award by Utilities Director Ken Flatt.

Jerry Stevens, an Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate (EMT-I) for Dare County, is the Dare County Employee of the Month for January 2010. He was presented the award at the January 4 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting. William ``Skeeter’’ Sawyer, Public Safety Director, was on hand to present the award to Stevens. 

``If anything needs doing, Jerry jumps right in and gets it done. He doesn’t wait for someone to tell him,’’ Sawyer said in comments to the Commissioners. ``I can’t say there is a more deserving person for this award than Jerry.’’ 

Stevens started with Dare County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in November 2003 in the position of EMT-Basic and earned his EMT-Intermediate credentials in September 2004. 

As an EMT-I, Stevens has a wide range of duties and responsibilities including such tasks as daily inspection and maintenance (both mechanical and equipment/medical supplies) of the ambulance he is assigned to, station cleaning, supply inventory and restocking.  

``Jerry is a vital part of a response team that responds to calls for service from EMS that includes everything from medical illness to trauma victims,’’ added Sawyer. ``That also includes documenting and submitting the necessary patient care reports that are a crucial part of the system process.’’ 

Stevens also is required to attend Continuing Education classes that are designed to keep skills sharp and up to date with new developments in the EMS field. 

Congratulations to Jerry Stevens, Dare County Employee of the Month for January, 2010. 

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Jerry Stevens, EMT-Intermediate, was named the Dare County Employee of the Month for January, 2010 at the January 4 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Stevens presented the award by Public Safety Director William ``Skeeter’’ Sawyer (right). 

Jerry Stevens, EMT-Intermediate, was named the Dare County Employee of the Month for January, 2010 at the January 4 meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Stevens was nominated for and presented the award by Public Safety Director William ``Skeeter’’ Sawyer.