2015 Award Winners and Honorable Mentions
You can find photos from the 2015 Governor's Denali Peak Performance Award ceremony below or go to the Office of the Governor Flickr site to download a copy of the photos.
- Co-Worker Recognition
- Crisis Responder
- Customer Service Excellence
- Exceptional Performance
- Innovation in Cost-savings
- Leadership
- Heroism
Co-Worker Recognition Award Winner
Honorable Mentions:
Jeremy Hegge
Military and Veterans Affairs
Crisis Responder Award Winner
Robert Dunning accepting on behalf of the team
- Robert Dunning
- Mark Hanson
- Darren Reese
- Peter Carter
- Robert Edgett
- Phillip Price
- James Sparks
- Dillon Burnett
- Jeffrey Town
- MoAnna Bradshaw
- Clayton Kramer
- Andrew Shidner
- David Wiley
- Jason Breivogel
- Anthony Knutson
- Benjamin Ables
- Dwight Dietrich
- Stuart Brown
- Lonnie Fleming
- Jake Remme
Honorable Mentions
- Karen Martinek
- June Pounder
- Shawne Johnson
- Ju Lee
- Michael Cooper
- Katy Krings
- Melody Niichel
- Gina Carpenter
- Teresa Seybert
- CJ Kim
- Jason Grenn
Customer Service Excellence Award Winner
Honorable Mentions
Randall Burns
Health and Social Services
Forrest E. Powell III
Military and Veterans Affairs
Evelyn Kirstine
Labor and Workforce Development
Customer Service Excellence Team Award Winner
- Cynthia Derning
- Katheryn Calloway
- Fran Martin
- Jordan Sisto
- Jackie Hunter
- Lyn Brooks
- Lisa Kowalkowski
- Jessica Veldstra
- Tonia Thayer
Honorable Mentions
Riley Woodford accepting on behalf of the team
Fish and Game Wildlife Conservation Sanctuary Staff
Fish and Game
- Thomas Griffin
- Drew Hamilton
- Ryan Morrill
- Benjamin Histand
- Larry Aumiller
- Polly Hessing
- Samantha McNearney
Member Services Call Center
Administration
- Ben Curtis
- Roman Castro
- Emil Robert Mackey
- Krystle Dewitt-Narino
- Kevin Dilg
- Anna May
- Suzanne Morris
- Clara Perez
- Connie Riley
- Jordan Saceda
- Ronan Tagsip
- Lori Wilson
Katharine Eldemar accepting on behalf of the team
Local Government Assistance
Commerce, Community and Economic Development
- Margaret Hansen
- Ken Berlin
- Leroy Seppilu
- Andy Durny
- Jeremy Johnson
- Iura Leahu
- Fred Broerman
- Eli Jacobson
- Brendan Smyth
- Lynn Kenealy
- Jedediah Smith
- Jeff Congdon
- Jane Sullivan
- Roberta Eleazer
- Ryan Wilson
- Carol Luckhurst
- Melody Nibeck
Exceptional Performance Award Winner
Honorable Mentions
Shad Parker
Transportation and Public Facilities
Simone Montayne
Natural Resources
Exceptional Performance Team Award Winner
- Tony Wegrzyn
- Andrew Ballesteros
- Eric Taylor
- Timothy Cronin
Honorable Mentions
Sandra Woods accepting on behalf of team
Waste Erosion Assessment and Review Project Team
Environmental Conservation
- Bob Blankenburg
- Lori Aldrich
- Rebecca Colvin
- Marty Brewer
- Doug Buteyn
- Kim Jordan
- Kym Bronson
- Doug Huntman
- Stephen Price
- Trisha Bower
- Sandra Woods
- Sarah Durand
- Jacob Timmons
- David Carlson
- Jamie Gorman
Tom Howarth accepting on behalf of team
Team Kantishna
Transportation and Public Facilities
- Tom Howarth
- Donald Holum
- Harold Mowery
- Caleb Holum
Glen Marunde accepting on behalf of team
Tok District Patch Crew
Transportation and Public Facilities
- Norman Gallen
- Glen Marunde
- Mike James
- Steve James
- Ted Roach
- Francis Carbon
- Bob Brooks
- John Olding
- John Birke
- Henry Brinkman
- Mark Sakalaskas
- Charlie Lamphear
- Justin Reetz
- Doug Pine
- Robert Hanson
- Darryl Ueeck
- Nick Herman
- Eric Child
- Dave McCombs
- Wade Harbison
- Michael Coon
- Cody Omta
- Wade Heller
- Chester McCain
- Pete Weidner
- Chris York
- Cindy Gowins
- Jeff Summar
- Rick Rallo
Innovation in Cost-savings Award Winner
This is the first year of a sixth permanent category – the Innovation in Cost-savings Award. During these challenging fiscal times for the State of Alaska, it is more important than ever for State employees to take seriously and personally the responsibility for saving money and finding efficiencies as we work to serve Alaskans. Many State employees are seeking to tighten belts and streamline processes in their offices, divisions, and departments. This kind of innovation and personal responsibility is one thing that makes Alaska unique, and is critical as we together rise to the current fiscal challenge.
Honorable Mentions
John Frison
Transportation and Public Facilities
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Child Care Program Streamlining
Health and Social Services
- Carolyn Spalding
- Erin Walker-Tolles
- Miriha Scalf
- Brooke Katasse
- Jesse Parr
- Marcey Bish
- Janice Braden
- Dee Pearson
- Shawnda O’Brien
Leadership Award Winner
Honorable Mentions
Michael Daigneault
Fish and Game
Awards for Heroism
Of particularly special note this year is the posthumous recognition of two of our Alaska State Troopers who fell in the line of duty. Sergeant Patrick “Scott” Johnson and Trooper Gabriel “Gabe” Rich were murdered last May while working to protect other Alaskans. Their sacrifice represents the highest service any Alaskan could render another, so their families are being presented with Heroism Awards as a small token of the State of Alaska’s enduring gratitude. May we never forget these two good men or the others like them who daily put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
Sergeant Patrick “Scott” Johnson (posthumously)
Department of Public Safety
Trooper Gabriel Rich (posthumously)
Department of Public Safety