Employee Service Awards

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Employee Service Awards April 7, 2009
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Board of County Commissioners Employee Service
Awards

• Todays honorees are recognized for outstanding
  service and dedication.

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Administrative ServicesFacilities Management
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Jose J. Sonera - 20 Years

• Jose was born and raised in Puerto Rico.
• He and his family moved to New York in 1972 and
  then to Central Florida in 1987.
• In 1989, Jose was hired at the Meadow Woods Water
  Treatment Plant, where he remained until the
  plant was de-commissioned.

• Jose transferred to the Alafaya Plant and then
  moved to the Presidents Drive facility until
  1998.
• Jose later joined Facilities Management as a jack
  of all trades, where he ran the bucket truck,
  changed lamps and ballasts and performed other
  electrical work.

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Jose Sonera 20 Years

• Jose was promoted to Refrigeration and Heating
  Mechanic I and worked the West District for many
  years. In 2008, he moved over to the East
  District.
• Jose prides himself in his can do attitude,
  that helps him get along with everyone.
• He has been married to Filomena for 40 years and
  they have three children Roberto, Brenda, and
  Rosalina and five grandchildren Kayla, Caesar,
  Isabell, Jacob and Sophie.
• Jose loves to fish, and spend special moments
  with his loved ones.

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Corrections Professional Services
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Catherine Roberts - 30 Years

• Catherine was born and raised in Orlando. She
  graduated from Jones High School and has attended
  Valencia Community College and Webster University.

• Catherine was originally hired by Orange County
  under the CETA Program as an accounting clerk.
• In 1987, she was transferred to Corrections as a
  Dockets Clerk and she is currently an
  Administrative Specialist in Inmate Records
  Management.

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Catherine Roberts - 30 Years

• Catherine is a single mom to Catrina, 20, who
  attended Dr. Phillips High School.
• In her spare time, Catherine enjoys cooking,
  grilling and baking.
• She serves as a Youth Supervisor with her church
  and loves helping children, and the elderly.

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Corrections Security Operations
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Benito Arzon 20 Years

• Benito was born in New York City, lived in Puerto
  Rico, then moved to Orlando in 1984.
• He was hired by the Department of Corrections in
  1989.

• Benito started at the jails Main Facility.
• He was one of the first to finish the Field
  Training Officer Program and is still active in
  that program.

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Benito Arzon - 20 Years

• Benito was a Chaplain for the Fraternal Order of
  Police for eight years and he remains an active
  board member.
• He has worked in all Corrections facilities.
• Benito has two sons Christian, 23 and Matthew,
  14.
• His hobbies include Camping and anything
  outdoors.
• He volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America,
  Troop 551 in Clermont where he serves as the
  Assistant Scoutmaster.

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Louis A. Quinones Jr. 20 Years

• Louis was born in the Bronx, NY and moved to
  Central Florida in 1979.

• He is currently attending college and will
  graduate this semester with a degree in Criminal
  Justice Administration. Next fall, he will begin
  the Masters Program in Strategic Leadership.
• Louis was hired in 1989 to work at the Adult
  Booking Facility.
• He was promoted to Corporal in 1995 and assigned
  to the Municipal Justice Building.

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Louis Quinones - 20 Years

• Louis was promoted to Sergeant in 2000 and moved
  to the Main Facility.
• In 2007, he was promoted to Lieutenant and
  assigned to Direct Supervision.
• He has received numerous awards and citations.
• Louis is a certified Jail Inspector for the
  Florida Model Jail Standards Program. He is also
  a certified Jail Manager.
• He is currently attending the Certified Public
  Managers Program.
• Louis has been married to Zanoni for 8 ½ years
  and they have two children Carissa, 20 and
  Bianca, 15.
• He loves all sports, especially golf.
• Louis works with a youth program to develop
  future Hispanic leaders.
• He says his top priority is spending time with
  his family.

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Fire Rescue Department Office
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Daniel K. Kucik 20 Years

• Dan was born in Gary, IN and moved to Central
  Florida in 1973.
• He graduated from Merrillville High School,
  Structural Pipefitter Apprenticeship Training and
  Barry University.

• Dan started with Orange County in 1989 as a
  Municipal Fire Inspector in the Fire Prevention
  Bureau.
• In 1990, he was promoted to Inspector I - Staff
  Lieutenant with the Office of the Fire Marshal.

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Dan Kucik 20 Years

• In 1995, Dan was promoted to District Chief,
  Group Supervisor - responsible for all new
  construction projects.
• In July 2001, he was promoted to Assistant Fire
  Chief to manage fire prevention activities.
• Dan has received numerous awards Employee of the
  Month Unit Citation Fire Chiefs Award and
  many letters of appreciation.
• He has been involved in several noteworthy new
  construction projects including Rosen Shingle
  Creek Complex Marriott World Center and Grande
  Lakes Intrawest High-Rise Wyndham Bonnet Creek
  Resort Waldorf-Astoria, and Hilton Hotels at
  Bonnet Creek.

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Dan Kucik 20 Years

• Dan has established partnerships with various
  groups and organizations Central Florida
  Construction industry Council Economic
  Development Committee Architectural
  Engineering Professionals CF Hotel Lodging
  Association CF Apartment Association CF
  Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association and many
  other local and state organizations.
• Dan has been married to Gwen for 21 years and
  they have two barkless dogs (Basenji)-Penny and
  Kelly.

• He likes to dedicate his spare time to area
• charities.
• Dan like to camp, hike, fish, travel, and make
• people smile.
• Dans advice to everyone is You make your
• own happiness and have a wonderful life!

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Fire Rescue Training
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LaRon S. Graham 20 Years

• LaRon was born in Miami and moved to Orlando in
  1987.
• He graduated from Miami Norland High School.

• LaRon attended Florida AM and Valencia Community
  College. He graduated from Barry University with
  a degree in Professional Studies.
• LaRon was hired as a Firefighter in 1989. He was
  promoted to Lieutenant in the Public Education
  and Information Bureau in 1994.

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LaRon Graham 20 Years

• LaRon created the 1st fire service television
  show, Safety Matters for Orange TV.
• He has presented Fire Safety Awareness
  information to more than 100,000 Orange County
  students.
• LaRon was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2001.
• He has received numerous Letters of Commendation
  and awards.
• He has been married to Mildred for 21 years and
  they have one daughter La Rondra.
• LaRon volunteers with the Black History Month
  Committee, United Way, the Omega Psi Phi
  Fraternity, the Masonic Lodge and the Elks
  Lodge. He is also Vice President of the Central
  Florida Progressive Firefighter Association.

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Fire Rescue Operations
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Terrance B. Darby 20 Years

• Terrance was born and raised in Orlando.
• He graduated from Oak Ridge High School with
  honors in R.O.T.C.

• Terrance attended Mid-Florida Tech for
  auto-mechanics and Valencia Community College.
• He was originally hired in 1989 as a Firefighter
  Recruit.
• He achieved certification as a Paramedic in 1993,
  and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2003.

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Terrance Darby 20 Years

• Terrance is a CPR Instructor and a Trainer for
  the implementation of LOTUS Notes EMS Report
  Writing System.
• He participates with the Orange County Teach-In
  Program every year.
• He has been married to Sondra since 1988 and they
  celebrated their anniversary with a Renewal
  Ceremony at Union Hall.
• They had three children, two of whom are now
  deceased, and 11-year old-Terrance Jr.
• In his spare time, Terrance enjoys music, martial
  arts, golf, family, community involvement. He is
  also an ordained minister.

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Growth Management Building Division
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Alan C. Plante 25 Years

• Alan was born in Providence, RI and moved to
  Central Florida in 1972.
• He graduated from Oviedo High School and attended
  Valencia Community College.

• Alan holds the following state licenses Building
  Code Administrator, Building/Mechanical/Plumbing
  Plan Examiner, Building/Mechanical/Plumbing
  Inspector.
• He was hired in 1984 by the Building Department
  as a Residential Plans Examiner.

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Alan Plante 25 Years

• Alan was promoted to Commercial Plans Examiner in
  1984, Chief Plans Examiner in 1989, Acting Deputy
  Building Official in 2003 and in 2006, he was
  appointed the Orange County Building Official.
• He received the County Chairmans Excellence
  Award in 1994.
• Alan is the current Treasurer of the
  International Code Councils Gulf Coast Region
  IX and Vice President and President-Elect of the
  Central Florida Chapter of the Building
  Officials Association of Florida.
• He has been married to Cynthia for 21 years and
  they have one son Christopher, who attends
  Timber Creek High School.
• In his spare time, Alan enjoys coaching baseball,
  fishing, and woodworking with the tools his dad
  gave him.

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Public Works Roads and Drainage
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Allan K. Middlebrooks 20 Years

• Allan was born and raised in Orlando and
  graduated from Evans High School.
• He was hired by Orange County in 1989.

• Allan came to work for Orange County as a
  Maintenance Person I with the Highway Department
  and has been promoted Equipment Operator I, II,
  III and IV.
• He has worked with the MSTU hand crew, inmate
  crew, as a Jetter Truck Operator and with the
  Support Crew as a concrete truck driver.

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Allan Middlebrooks 20 Years

• Allan attended the Future Leaders of America
  program at Rollins College.
• He is certified in CPR and the Drivers Safety
  Program.
• He has been married to Antoinette for 11 years
  and they have three children Allan Jr., 19,
  currently in the Air Force Demarco, 22, who
  works for Orange County and Kadejha, 15, who
  attends Robinswood Middle School.
• Allan is involved in numerous charity events,
  including Black History Month, United Way and
  Great Oaks Village.
• He coaches football at the West Oaks Academy and
  for a youth football league at the Northwest
  Center.
• Allan enjoys playing football and basketball and
  looks forward to early retirement.

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Public Works Highway Construction
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Johnnie L. Workman 30 Years

• Johnnie was born in Charleston, WV, moved to
  Texas and then to Florida in 1969.
• He served in the Marines for 4 years and worked
  for the Orlando Police Dept. for 3 years.

• Johnnie graduated from UCF with a major in Math.
• He was hired in 1979 at Public Works as a Trades
  Helper and has since been promoted to Engineering
  Inspector II and III. He was recently promoted to
  Senior Engineering Inspector.

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Johnnie Workman 30 Years

• Johnnie has been in charge of the Sidewalk
  Construction Program and has built over 50 miles
  of sidewalk and handicap ramps over the past 5
  years.
• He has also worked on a number of projects
  including Installation of essential guardrails
  and a river diversion program.
• He is now responsible for the Highway
  Construction Divisions North and West areas of
  Orange County and a 35 million road project
  contract.
• John is married to Judy. They have 4 grown
  children Thomas, a Sheriffs Detective in East
  Virginia a daughter that works with the Florida
  Dept of Transportation in Bartow and two
  daughters that are stay-at-home moms.
• Everyone in the family is an avid football fan,
  and Friday night, Saturdays and Sundays revolve
  around all kinds of football games.

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Public Works Fiscal and Administration
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Yvette Caldwell - 20 Years

• Yvette was born and raised in Orlando. She
  graduated from Evans High School and Columbia
  University.
• She was hired in 1989 to work at Corrections as
  an Administrative Specialist.

• Yvette was promoted and transferred to the
  Utilities Customer Service Division where she
  worked in the Call Center and Delinquent
  Accounts.
• She was then promoted to Human Resources
  Technician, Fiscal Coordinator and is currently a
  Senior Fiscal Coordinator.

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Yvette Caldwell 20 Years

• Yvette has received numerous appreciation awards
  for her work with the Great Oaks Village, Black
  History Month, Junior Achievement and United Way.
• She has been married to Darryl for over 21 years
  and they have 3 beautiful children, daughters
  Shayla, Shanelle and a son Deion. They also have
  one grandson Cordero, 4.
• Yvette has two dogs, both boxers Winston and
  Chester.
• In her spare time, she enjoys movies on Lifetime
  and AMC watching sports on ESPN weightlifting
  and going to the Fun Spot with her daughter and
  being on the football field with her son.
• She attends the Kingdom Hall for worship, service
  and community involvement.
• Overall, Yvette says its a pleasure working for
  Orange County, where she has met a lot of people.
  She says she loves being around her colleagues.

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Utilities Customer Service
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Kathy Ann Gibson 20 Years

• Kathy was born in York, PA, and moved to Central
  Florida in 1988.
• She graduated from William Penn High School and
  served 4 years in the Marines.

• Kathy joined Orange County in 1989 as a Clerk
  Typist in Public Utilities.
• She was promoted to Customer Service
  Representative, Account Analyst, Senior Utility
  Account Representative and Account Supervisor.

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Kathy Gibson - 20 Years

• Kathy has received several awards, including
  Employee of the Month, Employee of the Quarter, a
  Letter of Commendation from former Deputy County
  Administrator Byron Brooks. She is also a winner
  of the prestigious Jefferson Award for
  volunteerism.
• Kathy has been married to David for 3 ½ years.
  Hes a 2nd grade school teacher. They have a son
  Jerry three daughters Kaylesha and twins Zion
  and Zoe.
• Kathy is actively involved in her church and is
  an ordained minister.
• She is also K.C. the clown in her spare time,
  providing face painting and balloon art.
• Kathy has a real passion for serving others.

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Awards Presentation

• Administrative Services
• Facilities Management
• Jose Sonera 20 Years
• Corrections
• Professional Services
• Catherine Roberts 20 Years

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Awards Presentation

• Corrections
• Security Operations
• Benito Arzon 20 Years
• Louis Quinones 20 Years
• Fire Rescue
• Department Office
• Daniel Kucik 20 Years

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Awards Presentation

• Fire Rescue
• Training
• LaRon Graham 20 Years
• Operations
• Terrance Darby 20 Years
• Growth Management
• Building
• Alan Plante 25 Years

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Awards Presentation

• Public Works
• Roads and Drainage
• Allan Middlebrooks 20 Years
• Highway Construction
• Johnnie Workman 30 Years
• Fiscal and Administration
• Yvette Caldwell 20 Years

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Awards Presentation

• Utilities
• Customer Service
• Kathy Gibson 20 Years

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Employee Service Awards April 7, 2009