October 22, 2008 Contact: Rick Jager/Marc Littman Metro Media Relations 213.922.2707/213.922.2700 www.metro.net/pressroom

Metro Honors the Best of the Best at ‘Night of Stars’ Ceremony; Eleven Metro Spotlight Awards Given

Over 240 Metro employees were recently honored for their achievements over the past five years of service during a special “Night of Stars” ceremony held in downtown Los Angeles.

Metro transportation and maintenance employees who met certain criteria including no lost work-time due to injuries, receiving no disciplinary action, zero traffic accidents and no excessive absenteeism over the last five years received a special medallion presented by Metro executive staff.

Metro’s “Night of Stars” event was held Oct. 17 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles during a special dinner and awards presentation. A total of 241 Metro employees received awards honoring their outstanding performance.

Metro also honored 11 individuals who were selected as outstanding Metro employees and received the Metro Spotlight Award for going above and beyond the call of duty. This category was open to any Metro operations, maintenance or administrative employee with a minimum of six months on duty. Their performance exemplifies the agency’s mission and core values.

The 11 “Spotlight” award winners were nominated by the five Metro Service Sectors, Metro Rail, and administrative staff. The winners received a commemorative plaque.

The 11 outstanding “Spotlight” award winners included nine Electronic Communication Technicians (ECT’s) who formed a tag team a year ago from each of the five Metro Service Sectors to meet monthly with members from the Automated Transit Management System (ATMS) to develop maintenance reports and action plans to make the system work better and more efficient. These nine individuals recognized during the ceremonies were Blanca Montiel-Harris and Jens Bernardino (San Fernando Valley Sector), John Estel and Carlos Ortiz (Westside/Central Sector), William “Carl” Sullivan (South Bay Sector), Fred Minook (San Gabriel Valley Sector), Jose Ramirez (Gateway Cities Sector) Ed Turienzo (Metro Revenue Collections) and Al Martinez (Transit System Engineering).

In addition, Phong Nguyen from Metro Rail operations (Metro Blue Line Fleet Services) and Marie Tervalon from Metro’s administrative staff (Customer Relations) received “Spotlight” awards.

Nguyen was recognized for his efforts in working with the transportation department at the Metro Blue Line and successfully maintaining a 100 percent on-time compliance for the past several years.

Tervalon was recognized as the “go-to” person in Customer Relations who consistently demonstrates extraordinary customer service performance, always going the extra miles above and beyond the call of duty, taking personal pride in her job and the agency.
In the special “Can Do” recognition category, two award were presented to Bruce Shelburne (Metro Rail Division Transportation Manager) and Steve Rank (Assistant Operations Control Manager), recognized for their leadership role in coordinating all of Metro’s special event service and working with operations to set up various detours as well as providing the needed staff support for the numerous special events that occur throughout LA County.

In the Leadership category, new this year, ten AFSCME employees received awards for strong leadership skills and mentoring skills, demonstrating expertise in day-to-day operations. They are: John Cohen, Bus Operations Control; Lee Quick, Bus Operations Central Instruction; Marco Pedemonte, South Bay; Tom LaPatka, San Gabriel Valley; James Irvin Green, Westside/Central; Joanna Ricci, San Fernando Valley; Robert Ponce, Rail Operations; Esther Pippins, Rail Instruction; Thurmon Green, Rail Operations Control, and William Marshall, Gateway Cities.

The annual “Nights of Stars” event recognizes Metro’s outstanding employees for their meritorious work records and contributions to excellence. Over 400 Metro employees and staff members attended this year’s event.

Metro-174

Editors Note: “Metro” should be used when referring to this agency.

Copyright © 2008, LACMTA | Privacy Policy