Bravo
Congratulations to Terry Hodgkins, Police, left, George Allen, Information Technology, and Capt. John Garcia, Fire, who were selected as Bravo Award winners for excellent work and contributions to the community. Mayor Bill White and Councilwoman Ada Edwards recognized them Sept. 12 with a mayor’s certificate. For more information, visit www.houstontx.gov.
Legal eagle
City Attorney Arturo Michel received the Excellence in Legal Service Award at the 22nd Annual San Antonio Awards Gala sponsored by the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Peak newsletters
The Human Resources communications division snagged six APEX awards. The Silent Killer series, written by John Perry and Dave Schafer for the spring, summer and fall 2005 issues of Benefits Pulse, won a Grand Award for writing. The division also won five Awards of Excellence: Leslie Denton-Roach won two awards for newsletter design for City Savvy and Benefits Pulse. Schafer’s “How do you spell relief? H-O-U-S-T-O-N,” published in the fall 2005 City Savvy, won for Feature Writing. Perry’s “Is your heart a ticking time bomb?” published in the summer 2005 Benefits Pulse, won for Health and Medical Writing. The HR Web site also won an Award of Excellence.
Center of attention
The George R. Brown Convention Center received the Inner Circle Award from Association Meetings magazine. The GRB also claimed the Planners’ Choice Award from Meeting News for excellence in service and facilities. Both awards were determined by magazine subscriber votes.
Acknowledgement for her horticulture culture
The Garden Club of Houston awarded Dee Howell, Parks and Recreation, the Horticulture Certificate of Acknowledgement. In her 20-year city career, Howell has reduced the chemicals used in parks and implemented natural habitat landscaping.
A distinct administrator
The Houston chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators presented Liliana Rambo, Convention & Entertainment Facilities, with the Award of Distinction for exemplary leadership and distinction in public service.
Poster presentation
At the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada, Nick Sloop, Health & Human Services, presented a poster describing the negative impact new HIV testing technology has had on the number of clients that community-based organizations tested for syphilis. The department has since provided technical assistance to community organizations on how to do the new HIV test and successfully get a test for syphilis on the same client.
Environmental expert expounds
Joseph Majdalani, Public Works & Engineering, discussed Houston’s past, present and future approaches to solving customer and environmental needs at a Wastewater Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance Workshop is Austin.
Flooding ’em with information
Larry Nierth, Planning & Development, was recognized at the ESRI International User Conference for his geographical information systems map series detailing flooding in Houston’s central business district. His map included 3-D representations of buildings and elevations and illustrated flood levels and the effects of Tropical Storm Allison on the CBD and tunnel system.
Preaching cooperation
At the University of Houston Law School, Center for Interagency Environmental Cooperation, Paulette Wolfson, Legal, discussed how the city works with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to address health risks from air toxins and the city’s authority for taking action on environmental matters.
Marcum judged judge of the year
Judge Gordon Marcum was named 2006 Municipal Judge of the Year by the Texas Municipal Courts Association. The award recognizes a judge who made an outstanding contribution to the fair and impartial administration of justice.
