Pittsburgh, PA – At a ceremony today, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll recognized 30 PennDOT employees for their outstanding performance with the Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT’s highest recognition. Three employees from PennDOT’s District 11, which represents Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties were among the honorees.
“Our employees work hard to provide the very best transportation services to Pennsylvanians, and the millions of people who travel through the Commonwealth every day,” said Carroll. “Our Stars of Excellence exemplify a dedication to public service and a strong work ethic, and I’m proud to honor them today.”
Local winners Nicole Haney, Ashley Parello, and Michael Zimmerman were honored this afternoon at an awards luncheon at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg.
As Parello and Zimmerman were recognized by District 11, Haney was nominated by Harrisburg’s Communications Office.
“Nicole, Ashley, and Mike embody the dedication, professionalism, and commitment to service that define our department,” said PennDOT District 11 Executive Jason Zang. “Their hard work and contributions have made a meaningful difference in our communities, and I am proud to recognize them for their outstanding service and the positive impact they have made through their work.”
Nicole Haney, Press Officer
Nicole has a unique position where she develops and coordinates special community involvement programs, specifically where significant community impacts are likely to occur, and she works with District staff to evaluate the effects of proposed projects on the local community. She has served as the primary contact for legislators in the District and has coordinated District Right-to-Know requests. Along with this, Nicole assists the District Press Office by building solid relationships with media outlets and for internal communications. She has also assisted neighboring districts in an acting capacity, performing those duties with the highest level of professionalism and capability. She is recognized for her calm and professional demeaner in any situation, always ready to assist the department’s various business areas.
Ashley Parello, P.E., Bridge Inspection Supervisor
Ashley’s role as the Bridge Inspection Supervisor has proven to be exemplary and vital to the district. Although newer to her position, her quick acclimation to the duties, mixed with her attention to detail and leadership skills have contributed to her earned respect among her peers. Through the process of learning various procedures for her role, Ashley has taken current standards and enhanced the tracking systems to increase efficiency and work production. Had it not been for Ashley’s thorough work behavior, emergency repairs needed on a major bridge structure would not have been recognized. Due to her immediate thinking, a larger issue was revealed early enough to allow the district to assemble a solution that would impact the public minimally, while keeping the region safe. In addition to this, her ability to foster and maintain positive working relationships with the department’s industry partners is extremely impressive. Ashley has done a fantastic job managing field inspections and has taken the position to a new level.
Michael Zimmerman, P.E., Beaver County Maintenance Manager
Mikes performance as the Beaver County Maintenance Manager has been instrumental in the success of what was once a failing county maintenance organization. Under Mikes leadership, the county management team began working toward a common goal of completing cycle maintenance activities, county crews have expressed a complete change in atmosphere, staff are showing more pride and ambition to complete new tasks, suppliers who previously were reluctant to bid work with PennDOT are now working with the county, and previous vacancies are now filled. His hands-on approach to customer service and excellent communication skills have allowed him to develop successful and positive relationships county-wide. Mike brought his geotechnical skills to the county and started an in-house geotechnical crew to perform slide repairs with department forces. This not only brought monetary savings to the county but also led to higher morale with the crews. Mike is widely recognized for turning around Beaver County.
The Star of Excellence Awards are presented annually to employees who represent the department’s values of service, performance and integrity. The recipients represent a variety of organizational positions, spanning from highway maintenance and driver and vehicle services workers to traffic control specialists, engineers and more.
For more information, visit https://www.pa.gov/district-11 or call 412-429-5000.
Travelers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict11.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Yasmeen Manyisha, ymanyisha@pa.gov or 412-429-5044
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