Daily Herald honors 8 at annual awards ceremony

Eight Daily Herald employees with 143 years of combined experience with the company were honored for their work and service to the community at an awards ceremony this week.

Prepress Technician Kristen Brubach was given the Robert Y. Paddock Sr. Community Service Award for her work with patients at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. Two or three times a week Brubach, a 21-year veteran, and her dog Josie visit patients through the hospital's “Animal-Assisted Therapy Program.” Brubach credited Josie with doing the work saying, “I just drive her to work and escort her around the hospital.”

Sue Delagarza, a prepress technician, won the company's Process Excellence Award. She is a 15-year employee of the company. Her supervisors noted that Delagarza adjusted flawlessly this year when her department was moved from the company's main campus in Arlington Heights to the Press Center in Schaumburg.

Deb Finken won the company's Excellence Award for Part-Time Employees this year. Finken, a 17-year veteran of the company who works out of the DuPage County bureau in Lisle, is a senior copy editor who also took on additional responsibilities this year helping with the company's website.

Tom Johnson won the company's Circulation Excellence Award this year. The 19-year veteran and circulation division manager worked with advertising this year to help secure a major account in addition to overseeing the company's largest circulation area. Johnson's division also has one of the circulation department's best service records.

Kim Mikus, winner of the Editorial Excellence Award, has been a Daily Herald employee for 21 years and is currently editor of the Daily Herald Business Ledger, a business-to-business publication that began production a little more than a year ago. Mikus, a longtime business writer, took on the new role when the publication was launched in October 2010.

Jenni Price won the Margie Paddock Flanders Advertising Excellence Award. Price, a multimedia sales team leader, is an 11-year veteran of the company who works out of DuPage County as well. Her supervisors said Price thrives in an economy-challenged and competitive advertising sales market because of her unique approach to the job.

Liz Samp, who has worked for 18 years with the company in a variety of capacities, won the Administrative Award. Samp is currently an advertising assistant based at the company's headquarters in Arlington Heights. Her flexibility and ability to handle multiple assignments simultaneously were touted as her greatest strengths by her supervisors.

Teresa Schmedding, winner of this year's Stuart R. Paddock Jr. Manager Excellence Award, is another longtime employee who has worn many hats during her 21-year tenure at the company. Currently, as assistant managing editor in charge of content systems, she has responsibility for the company's digital media presentation and operations. She was recognized for helping streamline and simplify those efforts.