Lake County judicial circuit announces annual employee awards
The 19th Judicial Circuit has announced its annual employee awards to recognize staff members who are nominated and selected by their peers in five categories.
Winners of the Environmental Sustainability Award; Exceptional Employee Award of the Year; Bonds Officer of the Year; Leadership and Excellence Award; and the Employee of the Year were announced at the Feb. 26 event in the Jury Assembly Room at the main courthouse in Waukegan.
• The Environmental Sustainability Award: This year, in place of rewarding one person or an organization, the 19th Judicial Green Team and the County Green Team shared a couple of accomplishments and activities reached in 2015.
The Green Teams sponsored and participated in Swalco's "Reuse-A-Shoe" Program, where 800 pairs of shoes were collected. Another was the first organized raised community gardens. These gardens were built by facilities and are near the jury commission parking lot on Martin Luther King Avenue, at the health department on Grand Avenue, and at the Central Permit Facility in Libertyville.
Lake County employees planted and tended to these gardens over lunch hours and after work and shared the harvest at the end of the summer.
The award is presented to an employee or organization for their dedication to green practices in the workplace and in the community that promotes recycling, waste reduction and energy conservation.
• The Kay S. Finn and Sarah G. Anderson Exceptional Employee Award: Amy Weltlich, executive assistant in psychological services. Amy joined the division in November 2011 to oversee the new Fee for Service Program.
She was instrumental in development of the program, working independently to bring about its success with more than $63,000 in collections, to date. The award is given to a non-sworn administrative employee who best demonstrates the highest effort in support of the circuit's mission.
• The Lawrence Bonds Officer of the Year Award: Cristina Thornton, senior probation officer in adult probation. Cristina has worked in adult probation for more than seven years in field supervision and general field units. She works with probationers, encouraging them to fight for sobriety and to help individuals find treatment programs.
She volunteers, assisting with Spanish-speaking clients, the Mentoring Program, female drug testing and training new employees. The award is given to a sworn officer who supports and promotes the values of the organization in terms of loyalty, ethics, and delivery of service.
• Leadership and Excellence Award: Mario Urbina, principal juvenile probation officer. Mario has been with the juvenile division for 27 years. He is recognized for his creative initiatives, including the Jr.'s Challenge experiential learning program. This award is presented to a judicial staff employee who best illustrates the circuit's mission to the citizens of Lake County, the judiciary and fellow employees by setting the standard in leadership and excellence.
• Employee of the Year: Cassandra (Cassie) Smith, who is a member of the jury commission. This award is looked upon as the highest honor bestowed on any employee. The successful contender is selected from the 12 employees who were recognized as an employee of the month.
Nominations are made by fellow employees, with the winners selected by a committee of peers representing the divisions of the circuit.
Cassie was honored for being a self-starter, teaching herself the process and responsibilities of the jury system (in a very short period while her supervisor was on medical leave), and having an excellent work ethic.