February 2024 #TEAMCITY Awards Highlight 5 Remarkable Staff

Last week we gathered to celebrate 5 outstanding City of Madison employees of various backgrounds for their work in a wide variety of City services. This latest ceremony continues our nearly 4-year tradition of recognizing exemplary members of Team City.

I’d also like to thank the Madison Mallards for hosting us for last week’s ceremony. We hold these ceremonies at some of the most iconic City facilities each time.

The employees we honored were selected from a large pool of candidates, nominated by their peers from within or outside their own division. Because our various City divisions perform such a wide variety of work on behalf of our community these nominations are always interesting to read. The efforts described have made a significant impact on City of Madison’s success. So, let’s meet the February 2024 #TeamCity Award winners.

The #TeamCity Administration Award goes to Rebecca Hoyt. 

Rebecca is our Disability Rights and Services Specialist. She is responsible for administrative and professional work in implementing the City’s Disability Rights and Services Program. Rebecca supports City programs, activities and facilities to ensure they are inclusive of persons with disabilities and those with language barriers. Rebecca started in 2022 and fully embraced her role and forged meaningful relationships to catalyze equitable change. She shaped major policy implications and built intersectional coalitions centered on equity, inclusion, access, and belonging.

A few highlights of her impact include working closely on a grant with the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities to create employment opportunities for those with disabilities, working in partnership with other City staff to create the City’s first Disability Affinity Group, and creating almost two dozen new, tailored disability related trainings for City staff, Commissioners, community members, and community based organizations. Rebecca was nominated by Equity and Social Justice Division Manager Kristy Kumar.  

The #TeamCity Community Service & Support Award goes to Jill Maidenberg

Jill is a Library Assistant at Monroe Street Library. Her job responsibilities include managing daily library operations, collaborating with fellow staff on special projects, help and customer service to members of the public to meet their informational needs. Jill plans and facilitates library activities, ensures that library collections are well curated and accessible, and provides excellent customer service for people from all walks of life. One of her accomplishments was implementing a community puzzle project where anyone in the library could help complete a puzzle that was always out and available for the public to participate in.

Jill is well-known at the library with her familiar and friendly face, and everyone who visits depends on her book recommendations, resource explanations, updates on upcoming library programs, and assistance in connecting to other City services. Jill’s kindness and commitment to innovative community service that supports social equity is an integral part of what makes Monroe Street Library such a warm, welcoming place for library patrons and her coworkers. Jill has worked for the City for over 15 years and has been at Monroe Street Library since 2012. Jill was nominated by Library Assistant Tyler Furo. 

The #TeamCity Public Health & Safety Awards goes to Wendy Krugman.

Wendy is an Apparatus Engineer at the Madison Fire Department. Her job responsibilities include driver/operator of engines and ladders. Every morning, she inspects the vehicle for proper operations and safety. She checks and documents everything from the light bulbs to engine oil. At an emergency scene, she operates the pumps or the aerial ladders. Wendy is also the instructor for the hands-on portion of First Aid, CPR, and AED training that is administered for City employees. She trained nearly all Fleet employees at Fire Station 13 in September. She was precise, professional, and easy to follow during the training. Her work ethic and values are praiseworthy.

Wendy exemplifies the Fire Department’s core values of honesty, integrity, care, compassion, and respect. The Madison Fire Department is exceedingly fortunate to have someone as dedicated and dependable. She began her career with the City of Madison Fire Department on November 22nd, 1993.  Wendy has served as a firefighter, paramedic, apparatus engineer and chief’s aide. Wendy will retire soon and her dedication to work harder than yesterday is an example to everyone. Wendy was nominated by Fleet Superintendent Mahanth Joishy. 

The #TeamCity Public Works & Land Use Award goes to Cody Austin.  

Cody is an Arborist and Ash Injection Team Lead for the Emerald Ash Borer Management Program. This program aims to protect ash trees with the implementation of a chemical treatment program. His job responsibilities include regularly assessing trees while updating records and ensuring safe and efficient pesticide application by the team. He serves as a lead City representative in the field for residents to answer any questions about the injection process, ash management program, and community tree benefits. Cody has a wealth of knowledge about these trees and treatment options. His actions significantly reduced the management burden for the coordination of the injection program. He also took personal pride and responsibility to engage with interested residents about how and why the City treats mature ash trees. 

A few quotes from residents about him: “I deeply appreciate the City treating our ash trees in the Lake Forest neighborhood. Cody was beyond professional, knowledgeable, and kind addressing my concerns.” “Cody, the City Arborist, whom I spoke with earlier today, was very educational in informing me more about the trees in our neighborhood, particularly the Ash, but others, too.”

Cody is nominated by City Forester Ian Brown. 

The #TeamCity Mayor’s Choice Award goes to Greg Brickl. 

Greg is a Crossing Guard at the Traffic Engineering Department. His job responsibilities include safely guiding students, parents, and pedestrians on their way to and from the school at hazardous intersections.

On November 18th, 2023 at 3pm, Greg went to his assigned intersection and assisted a woman who had been pulled into the roadway by her dog. The woman had hit the pavement with her head and was badly injured. Once Greg saw the women was injured, he went into action and called 9-1-1 and went to assist the woman. He stayed with her while trying to keep her, her young child and dog calm until the first responders arrived at the scene. He was able to remain calm during this very stressful situation and showed compassion and care to a stranger. Greg has been with the crossing guard program for 8.5 years. Greg is nominated by the Crossing Guard Cheryl Francis.

Congratulations to all awardees and thank you to all those that nominated them. Every day Madison benefits from the energy and commitment Madison staff bring to their work. I’m glad we have the opportunity to celebrate them and the difference they all make.