For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: January 22, 2007

Vocational rehabilitation honors ‘All-Stars’ and ‘Superstars’

RALEIGH – The N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is honoring employees in Dunn, Durham and Raleigh with statewide VR All-Star Awards for performance in 2006. In addition, the division is recognizing regional winners in Asheville, Elizabeth City, Kinston, Monroe and Wilmington.

Employee volunteers manage the awards program in which agency staff nominate and vote on their co-workers. Three statewide Superstars emerged from recipients of the regional-level All-Star Awards:

• Angie Boyce, a quality development specialist in the Dunn office, honored for outstanding achievement in leadership. The award praises Boyce as “an excellent listener, role model, team player, creative thinker, organizer, planner and leader.” It also cites her for “providing quick and workable solutions” and “continuously promoting the VR vision and mission.”
• Patsy Tilley, a retired secretary in the Durham office, cited for “exceptional dedication to her customers, internal and external.” The award also points to a commitment and pride in her work that helped her “take on the most challenging customer situations without complaint and with a let’s-get-it-fixed attitude.”
• Freya Brannon, a computer training specialist in the state office in Raleigh, cited for creativity. The award recognizes her for being “invaluable to staff through her tireless ability to see the potential in using computer technology for daily work.” The award also points to her “thinking beyond herself to see the bigger perspective for the good of the agency.”

All-Star honorees, listed by award category, include:

• Leadership – Jeffrey Herring, a counselor-in-charge in the agency’s Kinston office; and Terri Cato, a counselor-in-charge in the Monroe office.
• Customer Service – Karen Wright, a rehabilitation counselor in the Elizabeth City office; and Kim Wilson, a business relations representative in the Asheville office.
• Creativity/Innovation – Sean Fitz-Simons, a rehabilitation engineer in the Wilmington office; and Michael Cifaldi, a rehabilitation engineer in the Asheville office.

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides counseling, training, education, medical, transportation and other services to people with physical or mental disabilities to assist them in living independently or in becoming job-ready. Last year, the agency assisted more than 8,000 North Carolinians in achieving employment and more than 2,000 in achieving their independent living goals.

For local office contact and other information: http://dvr.dhhs.state.nc.us