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Jeffco Hall of Fame
Welcome to the Jeffco Hall of Fame page, where we display the awards, commendations and certifications received by Jefferson County employees. We are excited for you to be able to see all of the amazing work and talent that we have here at Jefferson County.
2022
County Wins NACo Award for Unified Cellular Services Program
Jefferson County's Unified Cellular Services Program has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
NACo recognized Jefferson County's Unified Cellular Services Program winning in the County Administration and Management category for 2022. To find out more about the program, visit the NACo site.
Through this project, departments found ways to reduce costs and maintain quality service. The Business Innovation and Technology's Innovation Team looks forward to collaborating with them again in the future and generating even more efficiencies and savings for the county.
NACo selects Jeffco for 2022 Achievement Awards
The Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s office has been recognized with two Achievement Awards from the NACo.
The Jeffco Motor Vehicle division (DMV) was recognized in the Information Technology category for its online chat program, which enables customers to obtain assistance in real time from a live agent. Chat not only allows for state forms and other information to be shared in a convenient way, but it also relieves pressure on the call center, reducing phone wait times. Since introducing chat, the office has used it to serve more than 100,000 constituents.
“Our team takes pride in delivering exceptional customer service, and that means making it as easy as possible to complete everyday transactions,” Clerk and Recorder George Stern said. “We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about our online chat since it offers customers yet another alternative to visiting a DMV office.”
The Elections division won in the Civic Education and Public Information category for its mobile Voter Services and Polling Center (VSPC), which staff created by retrofitting a surplus trailer from Jeffco Open Space. The mobile VSPC allowed voters who wanted to vote in person or who required additional services to do so outside—limiting the contagion risk of COVID-19. The Elections division also created pop-up voting sites in the parking lots of its busiest locations, which substantially reduced wait times on Election Day.
“Even though the vast majority of our voters cast their ballots by mail or drop box, in-person vote centers are still an important part of the Colorado elections system,” Stern said. “I appreciate that NACo recognized how much work the Elections team put into security and accessibility.”
2021
Budget Document Awarded National Award
The Government Finance Officers Association awarded Jefferson County the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.
The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as:
- a policy document
- a financial plan
- an operations guide
- a communications device
Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award. This award was presented to Mary O'Neil, director of Strategy, Planning & Analysis.
Jeffco Elections Wins National Innovation Award
The Jefferson County Elections division is the recipient of a 2020 Clearinghouse Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a federal body that recognizes election administrators across the country for innovation.
Jeffco was honored for its online chat service that allowed voters to interact virtually with a live elections representative by visiting VoteJeffco.com during the 2020 state primary and general election. Voters could then access information such as drop box locations or registration forms via electronic means, which many said was more effective than over the phone.
“Our team continues to set the bar for accessible, secure, and efficient elections, and I could not be prouder of them,” Clerk and Recorder George Stern said. “The online chat feature was a hit with Jeffco voters and we certainly plan to bring it back in future elections.”
Election staffers borrowed the idea from the Jeffco Motor Vehicle division—also part of the Clerk and Recorder department—which uses an online chat feature to assist hundreds of DMV customers on a daily basis. In addition to convenience, the elections chat provided another safe way for voters to get their questions answered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EAC, which was established by Congress in 2002, is an independent, bipartisan commission that serves as a national clearinghouse of best practices for local election officials.
2020
Jefferson County Recognized for Innovation in Local Government
Jefferson County received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation from the Alliance for Innovation (AFI). The county was honored during AFI’s annual Transforming Local Government (TLG) conference, this year held virtually, for the Getting from How? To Wow! | Building a Culture of Innovation program and the impact it has made on our community.
The program used a multi-faceted approach to encourage a culture of innovation at Jefferson County. It built a support system to launch the creative ideas of Jeffco staff, including training, recognition programs, collaboration with CU Denver on a human-centered design project approach and other collaborative opportunities. Successes from the program, to date, include a 20 percent increase in employees’ beliefs that Jeffco is an innovative place to work, 130 staff trained, $1.3 million in annual savings, and 14 innovation projects.
AFI received more than 100 nominations for the Innovation Awards and Jeffco’s innovation program was one of eleven projects selected for demonstrating positive community and organizational impacts, quantum leaps in creativity, and tangible results toward building antifragile communities.
- Winning department: Business Innovation and Technology - Resilient Jeffco Program
Jeffco Receives Excellence Award from CGAIT
The county received an excellence award from the Colorado Government Association of Information Technology (CGAIT) for providing exceptional customer service for equipping and empowering employees to work remotely. The county was catapulted into working remotely and providing our services virtually. Jeffco's Business Innovation & Technology (BIT) department united to support this immense task.
BIT needed to provide training, documentation and communications to support employees on the tools and services needed to work remotely. Jeffco's Chief Information Security Officer increased awareness about scams around the country. BIT staff established an unyielding dedication to serving our partners and the surrounding community. The team worked countless hours including long days and weekends to implement its tasks
- Winning department: Business Innovation and Technology
2019
Historically Jeffco Magazine Wins Coveted 'Best in Show' from the National Association of County Information Officers
This award recognizes the great work being done by county communications professionals across the country, and the Historically Jeffco magazine not only won their category that had more than 235 entries, but also the 'Best in Show' award for the 2018 issue.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Historically Jeffco, with contributions from Jeffco Archives, Planning & Zoning and others.
2018
The American Business Awards Recognized Jefferson County with Three Stevie Awards
Gold Stevie Award - Organization of the Year in the Non-Profit or Government Category
This award recognized all the incredible achievements Jefferson County had in 2017, everything from launching a new brand and website to offering new motor vehicle services to becoming a Health Links Certified Healthy Business Leader. In Jefferson County, we strive to keep our communities healthy and thriving by being responsive, innovative and acting with the highest integrity in all that we do, which we truly exemplified in 2017.
- Winning department, division or elected office: All Jefferson County departments, divisions, elected offices and employees
Gold Stevie Award - Updated External Websites
Our new websites, created in partnership with CivicPlus, have enhanced the users' experience and make our most accessed items easy to find. When our residents can easily access information about county services, their lives can improve.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Public Affairs and Information Technology Services
Bronze Stevie Award - Updated Brand Project
With the new brand, created in partnership with Philosophy Communication, the county has brought together all departments and allows us to be better identified by the public as Jeffco. So often in government, we are behind the times and old fashioned, but the new brand is modern, fresh and is ushering in a culture of innovation and inclusiveness through better partnership.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Public Affairs
RMMA Chosen Community Partner of the Year Award by the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation
The Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) serves as a reliever airport to Denver International Airport and is the fourth busiest general aviation airport in Colorado, averaging 170,000 operations annually. International travelers at RMMA have convenient access to an on-site U.S. customs office operating 24 hours per day. With the absence of landing fees at RMMA, clearing U.S. customs is easy and cost effective. RMMA brings prospects to the forefront, advocates for businesses wanting to locate in the County, and is a strong partner in the effort to establish a Foreign Trade Zone in Jefferson County. The airport continuously plays a critical role in the economic development efforts of Jeffco EDC.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
American Heart Association: Workplace Health Achievement Index – Gold Level 2018
The Workplace Health Achievement Index scores organizations on 55 individual best practices, organized into seven categories of organizational best practices (leadership, engagement, programs, policies and environment, partnerships, communications, and reporting outcomes) and the objective, unbiased science-based assessment of overall workplace heart health using aggregate data from My Life Check or aggregate an equivalent source. Earned 191 points out of 217 maximum points.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Human Resources Wellness group
Jeffco Coroner’s Office Employees Earn Advanced Certification
Two of Jeffco’s Deputy Coroners, Melinda Rose and Stacy Salmon, became Board Certified Fellows through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). They are the first ABMDI Board Certified Fellows at Jefferson County, and in Colorado, they are two of only 12 active Certified Fellows. The ABMDI the certification board that promotes the highest standards of practice for medicolegal death investigators in the United States. Advanced certification (Board Certified Fellow) is available to medicolegal death investigators who prove their mastery of all aspects of medicolegal death investigation.
Best Transportation Project under $5 million awarded by the American Public Works Association
The Waterton/Wadsworth intersection was reconstructed with the addition of a traffic signal to improve traffic flow and storm water drainage. Development to the south is increasing traffic at this intersection that is both a gateway to Jefferson County and also the entrance to Lockheed/Martin, one of the largest employers in the county. During the project it was critical to maintain access to Lockheed-Martin both for employees on a daily basis as well as occasional deliveries of high-security equipment. Several Transportation & Engineering employees were involved with this project during planning, design, and construction including: Brad Baur, Gary Campbell, Mark Winnen, John Suess, Mike Vanatta, Dixie Shear, and Derek Schuler.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Transportation & Engineering Division
Enhanced Digital Web Strategy, Transparency, Innovation Award to Jefferson County from the Center for Digital Government
The Government Experience Awards recognize the achievements and best practices of states, cities and counties that have gone to the web and beyond to radically improve the experience of government and push the boundaries of how citizen services are delivered. This year’s Government Experience Awards winners have well-designed websites and innovative channels that provide citizens meaningful information and services, robust data integration and an exceptional user experience. Jefferson County was named as a Finalist.
- Winning department, division or elected office: All Jefferson County departments, divisions, elected offices and employees; Public Affairs and Information Technology Services
HealthLinks Certified Healthy Business Leader
An organization that continually demonstrates the highest level of commitment and dedication of resources to team member and community health and safety.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Human Resources Wellness group
2017
2017 Colorado Communities Award awarded by the State of Colorado and Compact of Colorado Communities
Colorado Environmental Leadership Program Bronze Achiever awarded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
These awards recognize innovative programs and initiatives in the public and private sectors that demonstrate a bold vision for a clean, resilient and prosperous Colorado. Projects implemented through the Energy Performance Contracting included lighting efficiency upgrades, water-saving measures, high-efficiency HVAC equipment, and installation of solar photovoltaic systems at several sites. These facilities improvements are a shining example of our organizational commitment to sustainability, saving approximately $674,450 annually while reducing our carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Winning department, division or elected office: Facilities Management and the Sheriff’s Office
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
Throughout the year the Accounting Division works with all departments and divisions in the county to ensure that financial transactions are recorded correctly in order to prepare for the annual audit prepare the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). To be awarded the Certificate of Achievement, a government must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized CAFR. This report must satisfy both generally accepted principles and applicable legal requirements.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Jefferson County Accounting Division in collaboration with financial partners throughout the county including Budget, Human Services, Health Department, Public Library, and the Airport
UHC Well Deserved Award
The Well Deserved Golden Apple Award recognizes organizations that motivate and empower their employees to improve their health and well-being through the creation of a culture of wellness in the workplace. Only 10 employers are honored each year.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Human Resources Wellness Group
HealthLinks Certified Healthy Business Leader 2017
An organization that continually demonstrates the highest level of commitment and dedication of resources to team member and community health and safety.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Human Resources Wellness Group
SolSmart Gold awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy
This award recognizes communities that have taken key steps to address local barriers to solar energy and foster the growth of mature local solar markets. The county was awarded for taking steps to make it easier, faster, and cheaper for citizens and businesses to go solar. Jefferson County was one of only 40 counties across the nation to receive designation at the Gold level, the highest level awarded in the program.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Development and Transportation
Fiscal Responsibility & Accountability Award 2017 awarded by the Commissioners during Jeffco Employee Appreciation Week
The team worked together in order to make timely electronic payments to Hill Petroleum in order to take advantage of a discount provided by this vendor. By implementing this process, the county is saving approximately $25,000 each year.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Team from Accounting, Purchasing, Fleet, and IT Services
- Team included Kay Aberle (retired), Erika Heck, Kathy Budd, Marcia Sieben, Rick Hellickson, Janet Garbrecht, and Rick Hellickson
American Heart Association: Workplace Health Achievement Index – Bronze Level 2017
The Workplace Health Achievement Index scores organizations on 55 individual best practices, organized into seven categories of organizational best practices (leadership, engagement, programs, policies and environment, partnerships, communications, and reporting outcomes) and the objective, unbiased science-based assessment of overall workplace heart health using aggregate data from My Life Check or aggregate an equivalent source. Earned 126 points out of 217 maximum points.
- Winning department, division or elected office: Human Resources Wellness Group