WAIKIKI, Hawaii - Members of U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii are making room on their walls for the awards they received in recognition of their outstanding service at the 53rd Annual Excellence in Federal Government Awards Luncheon and EXPO, May 6, at the Waikiki Sheraton Hotel, Hawaii Ballroom.
More than 1,000 federal workers attended the luncheon, sponsored by the Honolulu Pacific, Federal Executive Board (FEB), in order to recognize the best in Hawaii.
A quick glance at the award list for the Installation Management Command (IMCOM), Pacific Region, shows the strength of the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) family, with its members garnering seven of the nine awards.
All awardees said they were honored, but they acknowledged that teamwork and family were the reasons for their nominations and recognition.
"I am honored to accept this award for my team; any individual award is a always a team award," said Rod Oshiro, engineering division chief, DPW and winner of the Supervisor/Manager of the Year, IMCOM-Pacific award. "Part of winning this award is making your work environment your second home and treating everyone like your family."
Oshiro manages more than $180 million in construction, repair and infrastructure projects.
Even the winners of the team excellence award, the Individual Job Order Team, DPW, deferred their success to the offices who helped them accomplish their mission.
"Really the recognition goes to all the shops in DPW, cyclic maintenance, recurring shops, system maintenance, pest control, central team," said Calvin Acosta, maintenance mechanic supervisor, DPW, who accepted the award for the team. "We were just the key players ... they deserve recognition for the work they did to help us get this award."
Never mind that the team was responsible for repairing and renovating facilities so the 25th Infantry Division could meet its mission or that the team responded quickly to repair flood damage done during the last December's storm.
True to DPW form, David Mesiona, maintenance mechanic leader, DPW, who was named Employee of the Year-Trades and Crafts, also recognized his team as the driving force behind being named Employee of the Year.
"Really the guys did all the work and earned the award ... all I did was give them a little guidance and direction," Mesiona said.
He joked that he wouldn't mind half of the $7.2 million he saved the garrison by finishing a 12-month project of preventative maintenance repairs to 5,217 barracks rooms and six dining facilities, in six months.
Other awardees cited their desire for service as their motivation.
The awardee for Exceptional Community Service was one such person.
"I am thankful for the honor, but I would do the service I do whether or not I am recognized," said Catherine Henderson, housing specialist, Residential Communities Initiative Housing Division, Housing Services Offices, DPW. "I love to do it because I know I'm making a difference in other people's lives. I love seeing the faces of gratitude in the people I help."
John Beatty, engineering technician, DPW, who was named Employee of the Year-Professional, Administrative and Technical, IMCOM-Pacific, ensured that the Army's mission is funded by getting the right information to the right people at the right time. He said, "What is really important to me as a retired Soldier is that I am helping improve the lives of Soldiers currently serving in the Army."
As a "servant leader," Alan Goo, deputy director, DPW, was proud to be named Mentor of the Year, IMCOM-Pacific. He is a respected mentor and coach dedicated to "growing leaders" and "building the bench":
He said he loves "moving folks towards excellence."
Rosemarie Jimenez, administrative specialist, DPW, Employee of the Year-Clerical and Assistant, IMCOM-Pacific, loves the family of DPW, says what drives her toward excellence is the diversity of tasks and challenges she faces every day.
"Every day is different; every day brings a different challenge," Jimenez said.
"On behalf of everyone within the garrison, I want to congratulate the awardees on the individual as well as team efforts," said Col. Matthew Margotta, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii. "These people represent the very best of the garrison. These are employees with a focus on taking care of people and the customer and who believe excellence is the standard they should strive for.
"Congratulations on a job well done," Margotta said.
IMCOM-Pacific, the garrison's higher headquarters, was named an Employer of Choice by the FEB due in large part to improved communication with its employees through quarterly town hall meetings, shared Web site folders, and a blog site to dialogue with the director.
IMCOM-Pacific has also made workforce development and training the clear priority for the entire organization.
Named as Leader of the Year, IMCOM-Pacific's cheif of staff, Gregory Kuhr, suggested the people who need to be honored are his employees.
"I serve as chief of staff, but it is really the 120 employees who perform excellent work all year-round who deserve this award," Kuhr said. "I am humbled to be the chief of staff to all these great employees."
Awardees
Employer of Choice: U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Pacific Region
Leader of the Year: Gregory Kuhr
Mentor of the Year: Alan Goo, deputy director, Directorate of Public Works (DPW)
Supervisor/Manager of the Year: Rod Oshiro, engineering division chief, DPW
Team Excellence: Individual Job Order Team, DPW (Calvin Acosta, Wendell Akagi, John Barros, Reynante Ben, Terry Dacosta, Dennis Kaio, Stephen Maloy, Vic Pereira, Edward Rick, Kevin Rost, Lydia Sato, Roland Thompson, Gerald Wade, and Art Yamilao)
Employee of the Year-Trades and Crafts: David Mesiona, maintenance mechanic leader, DPW
Employee of the Year-Professional, Administrative and Technical: John Beatty, engineering technician, DPW
Employee of the Year-Clerical and Assistant: Rosemarie Jimenez, administrative specialist, DPW
Exceptional Community Service: Catherine Henderson, housing specialist, Residential Communities Initiative Housing Division, Housing Services Offices, DPW
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