June 29, 2023 (Event Photos) - The City of Center rolled out the red carpet for their employees at the 2023 City of Center Awards Banquet on Friday, May 12, 2023 at the John D. Windham Civic Center.
City of Center Manager Chad Nehring began the evening with thanks, “It’s great to be back together again and I’m glad that we have the chance to do that. It’s that one time a year that we really get a chance to say thank you and I’m going to say thank you to everybody.” He continued, “We know that we’re able to accomplish a lot together and it’s because of the effort and the diligence that y’all put into it.”
Nehring added that often times the work they do can go unappreciated, “We’ve got people that work really, really hard, and we are doing so much more, and so much better than so many different areas and its all due to the effort and the time that each and everyone of you put in.” He then referenced the work put in by the utility crews during the winter storm over the past Christmas holidays and asked those who worked to stand to which the audience applauded. He gave special recognition to all the times the city employees respond all hours of the night, day, or weekend.
He ended saying, “Thank y’all. This is our one chance to really tell all of you at the same time… thank you! If you don’t hear it enough everyday, if you don’t feel appreciated every night when you go home, at least tonight, please, please listen to me when I say ‘thank you’ and we really mean it.”
Prior to Mayor David Chadwick giving the invocation he spoke, “I was thinking earlier today how much I always look forward to this event and the opportunity to see all of us together at one time. We all work independently, we all have our own things that we are more involved in and it’s good to see how we all come together, we all share responsibilities to make our city great.” He praised the many accomplishments and accolades the city has achieved giving credit to the employees for all doing their job so very well. “The main thing that I want you to remember is that the council and I realize that you are a great value to our community. You have just proven it day in and day out and we could never replace you and the attitudes that you have towards the city. The attitude which is reflected in the work you do, the work you do is reflected in the community that we live in. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Council members present at the banquet were Mayor Pro Tem Leigh Porterfield and council members Terry Scull, Howell Howard, Joyce Johnson, and Marlene Hernandez.
Chad Nehring (right) presents Maegan Wright (left) with a 10 years pin and plaque.
City Secretary and HR Manager, Esther Elizondo announced new employees and then recognized employees with years of service pins presented by Nehring.
- One Year Pins - Charlene Jackson, Francis Mings, Daniel Norris, Jerry Payne III, Sandra Valle Luna, and Anthony Bluford.
- One Year Part Time Pins - Aaron Beltran and Jacob Garcia
- Five Years Pins - David Edmond and Brian Wright
- Ten Years Pins - Linda Thornton and Maegan Wright
Returning Employees: Anthony Bluford, Barbara Boyd (Part time), Danielle Kendrick (Part time), and Sharon Stewart (Part time).
New hires recognized: Luis Acuna, Tomeika Cartwright, Mariah Dowling (Part time), Juan Gonzalez, Jennifer Granados (Part time), Charity Hill, Robert Hudnall, Alejandro Huerta, Fern Thomas Jernigan, Michael Parrish, Garrett Rocchi, Donna Ruppert, Stacy Simmons, Brandon Tyler, Adam Vigil, Dion Williams, Anaicia Zamora, Scott Zimmerman.
