NIEHS honors dedication and longevity
By Eddy Ball
A beaming Bishop, left, received his retirement plaque from Birnbaum. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Madhumita Ray was recognized for 10 years of federal service. Ray is a biologist with the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Recognized for 20 years of service, Dudley Riner is a member of the Financial Management Branch. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Health and Safety Branch team member VeeVee Shropshire showed off her winning smile, as she received the plaque honoring her 30 years of government service. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Vickie Englebright was one of just five employees celebrating their 40th year of service. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Members of leadership turned out to show their appreciation for dedication and longevity, by working the refreshment serving line. NTP Associate Director John Bucher, Ph.D., left, and Division of Extramural Research and Training Director Gwen Collman, Ph.D., poured punch, as Rob Levine, right, filled his plate. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Continuing a long-standing tradition, NIEHS honored employees for their decades of service during a Sept. 13 ceremony. As in previous years, employees enjoyed refreshments served by members of the NIEHS leadership, in a reception following the presentation of plaques in Rodbell Auditorium.
Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., spoke briefly, before turning over the podium to Associate Director for Management Joellen Austin. “I think there’s a certain idealism for those of us who work in the government and stay in the government,” Birnbaum told the audience. “We like being responsible to the taxpayer and the American public. … We’re really here to recognize those of us who have logged a lot of time in federal service.”
Birnbaum, herself a 33-year veteran of federal service, noted that NIEHS was recognizing a collective total of 1,100 years of service with the awards. “When we work for the government, we know we’re really working for the American people,” she said.
Appropriately enough for a celebration of dedication and longevity, the presentation of awards began and ended with the recognition of NTP geneticist Jack Bishop, Ph.D. Bishop was the sole retiree in attendance and one of three 40-year veterans in attendance.
In 2009, Birnbaum began a new tradition by establishing a separate ceremony specifically to honor longevity of service.
Awardees
| 10 Years | |
|---|---|
| Judy Bartz | Marilyn Diaz |
| Sally Eckert-Tilotta | Paul Foster |
| Dagoberto Grenet | Michael Humble |
| Anna Jansen | Melissa Jones |
| Steven Kleeberger | Elizabeth McNair |
| Theodore Outwater | Madhumita Ray |
| Manas Ray | Troy Simpson |
| Jason Stanko | Marva Wood |
| 20 Years | |
|---|---|
| Lisa Edwards | Susan Hart |
| Denise Lasko | Beth Ragan |
| Yvette Rebolloso | Dudley Riner |
| Tonya Stonham | Tatsuya Sueyoshi |
| Gregory Travlos | Carol Trempus |
| David Umbach | Richard Weaver |
| Belinda Wilson | |
| 30 Years | |
|---|---|
| Lois Annab | Alma Britton |
| Alan Clark | Debra Del Corral |
| Rachel Frawley | Harvey Gates |
| Margaret George | Cynthia Innes |
| Thomas Kunkel | Patricia Lamb |
| Christopher Lee | James McDonough |
| Connie Riley | Margarita Roque |
| Valeria Shropshire | James Westmoreland |
| 40 Years | |
|---|---|
| Jack Bishop | Vickie Englebright |
| Jennie Foushee | Eugenia Goulding |
| Sharon Soward | |
| Retired | |
|---|---|
| Jack Bishop | Po Chuen Chan |
| Joyce Daye | Gregg Dinse |
| John Drake | Franklin Johnson |
| Elizabeth Kennington | Jo Ann Lewis |
| James Mason | Mary Myers |
| Judy Palmer | Lee Pedersen |
| John Peterson | Sharyn Rigsbee |
| Joseph Roycroft | Michael Shelby |
| Julius Thigpen | Kenneth Tomer |
Along with his plaque, 10-year veteran Troy Simpson, left, received best wishes from colleague Dona McNeill. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
This group of awardees represented a combined total of 130 years of service. Shown, left to right, are Margaret George, Lois Annab, Shropshire, Alma Britton, and Dagoberto Grenet. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
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