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Volusia County honors 170 employees for milestone service at annual recognition ceremony
Summary
Volusia County held an annual employee recognition ceremony honoring 170 staff with service anniversaries from 10 to 35 years; county leaders and department heads praised institutional knowledge and asked long‑tenured staff to mentor newer employees.
Volusia County honored 170 employees for milestone service anniversaries at an annual recognition ceremony on a date not specified, celebrating workers with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service.
County Manager George Rechtenwald opened the program and praised the workforce’s commitment, saying, "You guys are the team that really forms the heart and soul of this organization." Director of Emergency Services Aaron Van Cleek served as host and Deputy County Manager Suzanne Conchin and Vice Chair Matt Reinhardt also spoke. Personnel board members and several county council representatives attended.
The ceremony recognized staff across departments and highlighted a mix of frontline and administrative roles. Deputy County Manager Suzanne Conchin noted examples of honorees who rose through county ranks, including employees who began as temporary staff and advanced into leadership. The event named individual honorees from several departments, including Darlene Fisher (Volusia County Emergency Medical Services, lead EMT), Leticia Graham (began in Head Start and later served in parks and recreation and fire services), Sean McClinn (service supervisor, public works), Ronald Michalco (Division of Corrections, promoted to sergeant), Jordan Threlfall (Parks and Recreation, maintenance worker 3), Kathy Williams (procurement manager), Michael Booth (engineering assistant), Lucinda Cooley (regional library services director), Kevin Montgomery (senior trades worker, road and bridge) and Alan Peacock (parks and recreation supervisor). Those named were offered photographs and certificates during the program.
Vice Chair Matt Reinhardt and other council members thanked employees for service during emergencies and daily operations, including hurricane response and facility maintenance. Chaplain Rick Cawthorn delivered an invocation. Human Resources staff coordinated the event; Jessica Paul was identified as the lead coordinator. Organizers told attendees that certificates for honorees and parking validation tickets were available at the recognition table and at the information desk.
Speakers used the ceremony to emphasize continuity and mentorship. County leaders asked long‑tenured employees to share institutional knowledge with newer staff; Rechtenwald and others framed that handoff as essential to sustaining county services. The program closed with a call for honorees and colleagues to continue the county’s core values and to support newer employees through mentoring and knowledge transfer.
The recognition was ceremonial; no formal county policy, budget action, or vote occurred as part of the event. Attendees were encouraged to collect certificates at the recognition table before leaving.
