 Building beds, fighting fires and
teaching children – those are just
some of the things that employees
were recognized for at Central
Hudson’s 23rd Annual Community Service
Awards Dinner on June 8, 2012.
“It’s no secret that this is one of
my favorite events, because it captures
the essence of what Central
Hudson is known for – citizenship,”
said Chairman, President and CEO
Steven V. Lant.
“
"Central Hudson’s employees
volunteer in hundreds of ways with
organizations throughout the service
territory,” said Director of Human
Resources Sharon McGinnis,
who hosted the event. “But these
award winners really stand out.”
This year's award winners included:
Manager of New Business Development
& New York State Governmental
Affairs Steve Burger; Customer
Choice Coordinator Darlene Clay;
Manager of Transmission and Distribution
Operations & Emergency
Response Tim Hayes; Customer Account Services Supervisor – Consumer
Outreach Teresa Leske; and Gas
Mechanic 1/C Robert Miller.
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Steve Burger - Transformation Life Center
Manager of New Business Development & New York State Governmental Affairs Steve Burger was recognized for
his work with Transformation Life
Center’s Build a Bed Campaign. The
Transformation Life Center teaches
life-changing skills to men with substance
abuse issues, through a structured
six-month residency program.
During his involvement with the organization,
Burger took the lead of the
Build a Bed Campaign, which included
raising the funds to purchase the steel,
overseeing the construction of the 40
bunk bed-and-desk structures, which
were built by the residents, and raising
the funds for the 40 box springs, mattresses
and linens. A total of $20,000
was raised under Burger’s leadership,
which resulted in a safe and secure environment
for 40 residents. |
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Darlene Clay - Hudson Valley Knights
Customer Choice Coordinator Darlene Clay wasn’t just awarded for
being the president of the Hudson
Valley Knights Basketball Club, she
was also recognized for coaching two
seventh-grade teams. As president,
she handles the administration of the
organization, which includes 130 girls
who participate in Cold Spring, Beacon,
Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, Highland
and Walden, oversees 10 coaches
and organizes about 60 teams in the
Joust Tournament. As if that’s not
enough, as a coach, Clay is responsible
for teaching young ladies the basic
fundamentals of being successful on
and off of the court. |
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Tim Hayes - Mid-Hudson Civic Center
Manager of Transmission & Distribution Operations and Emergency Response Tim Hayes has been a member of the Board
of Directors of the Mid-Hudson
Civic Center since 2007 and doubles as
the Chair of its Building Committee.
The Civic Center’s Mair Hall is
a 15,475-square-foot space that can
host 3,050 spectators, and with that
capacity come signif cant and unique
maintenance issues that must be prioritized
and addressed. Hayes has
worked with the Board and staff to
ensure that the limited funding is applied
to the most critical issues. He
has also overseen projects with building
contractors to ensure the Civic
Center is receiving the promised value
for the repairs that are made. Hayes
has applied his knowledge and expertise
of energy and lighting to his volunteer
work. |
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Teresa Leske - Silver Starlites Baton Twirling Team
Customer Account Services Supervisor Teresa Leske became involved with the
Silver Starlites Baton Twirling Team
six years ago, and for the past three
years, she has served as the organization’s
president. Since taking the
helm, Leske has organized the team
into a nonprofi t organization and has
increased enrollment 100 percent.
She and her board members have developed
team bylaws, established rules
and guidelines, and a structured team
handbook that allows the coaches to
do their jobs while concentrating on
the children. Under Leske’s watch the
Silver Starlites have organized and
began hosting a NYS Baton Twirling
Championship each year. In three
years the attending teams have increased in number from 26 to over
92, and the organization has grossed
over $10,000. This fundraising allows
the team to compete at the National
Baton Twirling Association’s National
and World Championship at Notre
Dame University, and to fund scholarships
to team members to further
their education. |
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Robert Miller - Kiskatom Fire Department
Gas Mechanic Robert Miller began his volunteerism with
the Kiskatom Fire Department, in the
town of Catskill in July 1986, and during
the past 26 years he has served in
many capacities, giving about 24 hours
of his time each month. Currently
serving as chief of the department,
Miller is not only responsible for organizing
and coordinating all of the
fire calls, he also spends time training
recruits, mentoring, coordinating fire
drills, attending commission meetings
and organizing Monday night fire
training. He determines which equipment
and personnel will respond to
calls, and the parking location of the
vehicles, and he arranges for traffic control and backup or additional
equipment when needed. |
| Click here for the full list of past award winners |
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