Meet the City’s 17 Co-Employees of the Year for 2022!
Ayauna Blair
Community Empowerment / Community Safety
Her nomination says it best: “Ayauna is kind and believes in treating everyone with dignity and respect. She is always eager to support Community Empowerment & Community Safety with their administrative needs and ensures that both departments are operating smoothly. The department can count on Ayauna to hit them with a ‘YOU GOT THIS!’ just when they need it.”
Austin Boswell
Stormwater Engineering
Team player. Hard worker. Always willing to do whatever is necessary to help the department and his co-workers.
That’s how co-workers describe Boswell. Plus, they say, he’s easy to talk to and work with, which makes it all the more enjoyable to work alongside him.
“Austin approaches his work with great care and performs exceptionally,” states his nomination. “He goes above and beyond. He is an asset to the City of Knoxville!”
A.J. Burritt
Fleet Services
Burritt is the face of the team at the Heavy Shop. His positive demeanor and commitment to serving others are strengths.
“A.J. is the personification of excellent customer service: attentive, engaged, and courteous,” his nomination states. “He has a genuine and firm commitment to helping Fleet customers.”
Robert Clark
Plans Review and Inspections
Clark’s greatest attributes are his strong work ethic and dependability, co-workers say.
He goes above and beyond his daily job requirements, routinely taking on additional work that creates a better working environment for co-workers and customers.
His ability to foster cooperation and communication is most evident in the design of the City's new online development application submittal process.
Brenda Conn
Law
Conn, a 45-year City employee, has a wealth of institutional knowledge. Co-workers say she’s always willing to help others negotiate the bureaucracy in order to acquire necessary knowledge.
She also earns praise for her diligent work and careful attention to detail.
But Conn’s nomination delves into her demeanor almost as much as her experience: “Her kind and patient manner of dealing with the public makes her an excellent ambassador for the Law Department and for the City.”
Joe Cope
Public Service
Cope, who works in Urban Forestry, sets high expectations for himself. He understands and appreciates that his tree care and management skills will make a long-lasting impression on the community – and his work often draws an audience.
Cope strives to make sure every job site is safe, and he communicates well with the public.
As his nomination states: “Joe goes above and beyond to make sure the site is in better shape when he leaves. He also values his role in the community through volunteer opportunities.”
Angela Davidson
Parks and Recreation
Davidson gets high marks from peers for her ability to build relationships – both inside Parks and Recreation, and also with other departments. She’s proactive and costumer-focused.
From her nomination: “Angie strives to provide excellent customer service to everyone she works with. She is very organized and keeps a close eye on the department finances, often identifying potential issues before a problem arises. Angie is quick to respond and shares clear, concise information that has resulted in great relationships with many colleagues and partners.”
Lauren Earles
Parks and Recreation, Recreation Division
Earles is recognized for his team approach.
“He is flexible to assist where needed,” his nomination states. “Lauren is always smiling, never complains, and serves as a great mentor for some of the newer employees. Lauren has a wealth of knowledge and experience and shares that along with his passion for recreation on a daily basis with those he encounters.”
Dan Frye
Communications
As the City’s graphic artist, Frye’s handiwork has graced everything from billboards to T-shirts to car wraps to social media posts. He creates hundreds of logos, designs and illustrations each year. So it’s no exaggeration to say that Frye more than most shines a light on City services.
“Dan is a friendly, helpful and creative partner to all of the projects that come his way from across the City of Knoxville,” his nomination states. “Dan is definitely a team player, often finding places where he feels he can enhance or modernize a look, before being asked. Dan is a great cheerleader for others. He lifts people up and helps them be their best self.”
Lucas Gaulding
Information Systems
For hundreds of City employees, Gaulding is a go-to guy.
In fact, IS receives many requests from customers who ask to have Lucas attend to their problems. That’s because he excels at providing vital computer assistance to City employees whose desktops or laptaps are giving them fits.
Gaulding also gets high marks for his great in-person communications skills. He listens to the opinions of others, and he accordingly plans effective courses of action with co-workers on projects or to rectify technical problems.
Jacklyn Randell Hale
Police Department
Hale draws praise for her “diligent work ethic, positive attitude, and constant desire to help others.”
“She strives each day to become better at her job and encourages others to do the same,” her nomination states. “She takes pride in her work and the fact that her actions can help others; understanding that many times her work serves as the voice for victims who cannot or will not come forward.”
Evan Hoffman
Transportation Engineering
Hoffman is viewed by co-workers as “knowledgeable, organized, diligent, and very humble. … a true team player.”
“He always fosters positive discussions and brings the best out of other employees,” states his nomination. “He is eager to help all members of our team, especially younger engineers who can benefit from his mentorship.”
Michael Ishibashi
Civil Engineering
Ishibashi is highly regarded for his work ethic, dependability, efficiency and work excellence.
“He truly embodies the spirit of a public servant and gladly serves all customers with the highest possible standard of service,” his nomination states. “He performs his daily duties in an exceptional manner, but this is not just a job to him – public service is a high calling.”
Laura LeQuire
Employee Benefits / Risk Management
Co-workers describe LeQuire as the consummate team player.
“No matter what comes in, she works hard and always offers to help – even when it is outside of her normal time-intensive job duties,” her nomination states.
LeQuire has taken on additional roles, and she offers skillful assistance to both internal and external customers.
James McKeehan
Finance
McKeehan’s nomination speaks for itself:
“James has many tremendous attributes such as being responsive and hard-working, exercising superb initiative, and taking the time to learn and figure situations out.
“James has become a key source of leadership within the Purchasing Division, acting as a leadership figure to the various procurement specialists within the division. He often teaches and provides guidance to others in terms of how to proceed for various procurements.”
Kyle Ryan Noles
311 Center for Service Innovation
Noles is enthusiastic, conscientious and willing to offer assistance to both customers and other City employees. He facilitates solutions and creates opportunities, co-workers and admirers say.
As evidence that he goes the extra mile, 311 regularly receives positive responses from its customers regarding their experiences with Noles.
Eric Weaver
Fire Department
Weaver exemplifies service to others. And being named Employee of the Year is evidence that hard work and teamwork get rewarded.
As stated in his nomination: “What stands out most is his dedication to the employees, attention to detail, and his work ethic. He consistently performs at the highest level and makes KFD his priority. He puts the department and the employees first each and every day.”