OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – A New Bethlehem woman received the PennDOT Star of Excellence Award for her outstanding performance.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Leslie S. Richards on Wednesday recognized 29 PennDOT employees for their outstanding performance with the Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT’s highest recognition. Among those honorees was New Bethlehem resident Bree McDonald-Stewart (pictured above), whose contributions as a Maintenance Manager at the District 1 headquarters earned her the recognition to receive the prestigious award.
“The Star of Excellence award recognizes PennDOT’s top performers, the very best of the more than 11,000 people who work long and hard day in and day out to improve their individual performance and address the many transportation challenges,” Richards said. “All of us take our responsibilities very seriously, and our award winners serve as outstanding role models.”
McDonald-Stewart and fellow local-winner James “Jim” Carroll of Oil City were honored Wednesday afternoon at an awards luncheon at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
“On behalf of all the employees at District 1, I congratulate Bree and Jim on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud to call them colleagues,” said District 1 Executive James Foringer, P.E. “Through their hard work and dedication, Bree and Jim are fine examples of the high level of commitment District 1 employees hold toward providing a quality customer service, and a safe and efficient transportation system.”
McDonald-Stewart is a Maintenance Manager at the District 1 headquarters in Oil City. Since 2016, she has worked tirelessly to take the position to the next level of service and productivity.
With a constant eye on cost-saving, Bree has been a strong proponent of the district’s pre-cast bridge program by partnering with local municipalities to identify possible projects. She also leads a squad of employees to produce roadway designs efficiently and has worked to develop data-based processes to ensure maintenance units within PennDOT’s county offices are using the best roadway treatments. Her hard work has led to an estimated cost-savings to PennDOT of $100,000 during her time as Maintenance Manager.
Jim Carroll
Carroll, meanwhile, is the Community Relations Coordinator and manages the district’s press office. Since taking the position in 2010, he has strived to maintain very clear and transparent lines of communication with regional media outlets, businesses, legislators, contractors, and fellow employees.
As part of a focus on reaching customers and employees in a unique and valuable way, Carroll provides a high-level of responsiveness that is indispensable as PennDOT works alongside various partners to share information about construction projects, traffic safety, and roadway conditions.
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, visit www.penndot.gov.
