Pasco County recently honored its Star Performer, Star Leader and Star Team of the year for 2022.
During the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 24 meeting, board members formally acknowledged their contributions by adopting a resolution.
They also took a few minutes to honor the recipients, to allow them to share their remarks and to pose for photos with them.
Pasco County Administrator Mike Carballa explained how the selection works.
“I just want to give you an appreciation of what it takes to really get here,” Carballa said. “We took from every department. We’ve got star performers and star leaders in these departments. Those departments have to make those decisions within their own sphere.
“It goes to the branch level. Then the branches decide, from that group, how do we narrow this down?
“Then they come up to the executive leadership team who really has to make that tough call, at the end of the day, with so many fantastic applications, as to which group of folks and which individuals are going to rise to that level to what we call Star Performer, Star Leader and Team of the Year.
“My hat’s off to these folks. They’ve done a phenomenal job. It is about people.
“These are the folks, not only do they accomplish our mission of serving our community to create a better future, but they do so in such an exemplary manner. That is the example and they set the gold standard for those to follow.”
Here are the county’s outstanding performers:
Star Performer
Jordan Miltner, digital media coordinator with Pasco County Libraries. In a county news release, she is described as achieving impressive engagement on the Libraries’ social media channels. She also was praised for routinely going above and beyond, making a daily difference with her work.
In accepting the honor, Miltner told the county board: “I was absolutely thrilled and honored when I learned that I’d been selected for the Star Performer of the Year.
“I just have to say that I wouldn’t be able to be up here and I wouldn’t be able to do all of the work that I do without our amazing Libraries team. I am so fortunate to work with a group of unbelievably talented people who freely share their skills and knowledge with me.
“They’ve inspired me. They’ve mentored me and they have pushed me so much to grow during my time here. I’m very honored and humbled by this. I plan to continue to work hard and impress. I feel like the best is still to come. Thank you so much for this honor.”
Star Leader
Veronica Ignat, program coordinator in the county’s Senior Services Division, was described in a county news release as being “the embodiment of Pasco County’s core values. Her leadership style is transformational, having a major impact on the Senior Services Division and Community Services Department. She’s pioneered several, innovative methodologies for motivating and inspiring team members.”
Ignat told the county board: “Thank you so much for this honor. I am very humbled and grateful to be in this country and in this county. This is because of the team that I lead and the team that leads me. And, again, I am so grateful for this wonderful gift.”
Star Team
The Plat Review Team. This group guides the subdivision plat process, working in step with developers to ensure a smooth process, according to a county news release. They average about 60 plats a year, using innovative technology to make sure reviews and comments are processed quickly.
Alex Parnes, county surveyor, spoke on behalf of the plat team. That team is made up of Lisa Kral, Gary Howorka and Cody Vaughn.
Parnes said: “I would just like to say publicly, in this forum, thank you to my Plat Review Team, Gary, Lisa and Cody.
“They’re definitely unsung heroes in the critical role, in the whole development process, and certainly with respect to subdivisions and plats here in Pasco County, in our division.
“I would like to say that I feel surprised, and quite pleased, that this hardworking team won this award at this level. So, now other departments and other teams at all levels are able to recognize this team and all of the work they do, behind the scenes, every day, as we do, in house, in our division, on a daily basis, from our tiny little division.
“Every day this entire surveying and mapping team does the plat process and we’re very thankful that they do it so well.
“They help us get through this plat review process on a daily basis.
“It’s a very long and tedious process.
“Of course, this is not a solo effort. They work with many other departments and divisions, as well as Jeff Steinsnyder, county attorney; Margaret Smith (county engineer), and we thank them for their assistance and direction every day, as well as our field crews.
Published February 08, 2023
