King of Prussia, PA – At a ceremony in Harrisburg today, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll recognized 31 PennDOT employees for their outstanding performance with the Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT's highest recognition. Two employees from PennDOT's District 6, which represents Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, were among the honorees.
"I'm continually impressed by the hard work and dedication of the PennDOT team," Secretary Carroll said. "These folks work tirelessly each day to provide safe and efficient transportation for Pennsylvania's residents."
Carroll and other department executives honored District 6 winners, Tamara Chiesa and Frank DiJoseph, during an event held at the State Museum of Pennsylvania.
"Tamara and Frank are true examples of what makes PennDOT a great place to work," said District 6 Executive Lou Belmonte. "Their commitment to their jobs has been a tremendous asset to us and their respective units as they continue to strive for excellence each day."
Chiesa is compassionate about her job everyday as the Operator Instructor for Chester County's Transportation Equipment Operator Training program. Tamara's dedication increases the department's efficiency and safety through ensuring trainees develop a deep understanding of how the equipment functions and operates.
In addition, Tamara worked with management staff to develop an effective training matrix. The matrix, a method to plan, track and manage employee training, along with her detailed trainee program, are crucial to ensuring the completion of Chester County's core maintenance activities. Tamara's goal is to be certified on every piece of equipment, so that she can provide superior training to new colleagues each day.
DiJoseph's leadership and experience as the Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) Manager helps efficiently operate the newly constructed $40 million RTMC. Frank is responsible for a 24/7/365 operation that monitors the Philadelphia region's vast transportation network through real-time camera feeds and electronic traffic sensors to accurately report critical information to emergency services to help save lives. He strategically promotes incorporating evolving technologies to improve the quality of service for customers.
Frank is frequently called upon to provide historical perspective and advise on detailed aspects to expand the District's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) infrastructure. In addition, he guides a system that conveys travel times to millions of customers through dynamic message signage. These activities promote safety at all levels and improve the efficient movement of people and goods throughout the region.
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, communications staff, and design and engineering specialists.
For more information on PennDOT activities in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties visit www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.
Contact: Robyn Briggs, robbriggs@pa.gov
# # #