The Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT) 2019 and 2020 Commissioner's Excellence in Public Service Awards (CEPSA) shined a light on some of the agency's top performers during a special ceremony in the Indiana Government Center S. Auditorium May 4.
Begun in 2018, CEPSA honors INDOT employees in three different categories: Exemplary Achievement and Performance, Distinguished Customer Service and Personal Interactions, and Outstanding Creativity in Process or System improvement. This year’s ceremony, which was broadcast live over Microsoft Teams, was unique in that it honored 2019’s winners as well as those from 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the ceremony from taking place last year.
With the opportunity to resume an in-person program, this year’s CEPSA was full of goodwill, laughs, and heartfelt appreciation for a handful of the many INDOT employees who continue to go above and beyond for Hoosiers in every corner of the state.
The winners were as follows:
2019 honorees:
- Exemplary Achievement and Performance - Elsadig Ibrahim, Construction Engineer for Greenfield District
- Distinguished Customer Service and Personal Interactions - Lisa Shrader, Consultant Services Manager for LaPorte District
- Outstanding Creativity in Process or System Improvement - Adam Tyra, Highway Engineer for Greenfield District
2020 honorees:
- Exemplary Achievement and Performance - Steve Fanning, Senior Budget Manager for Central Office
- Distinguished Customer Service and Personal Interactions - Mike Jewell, Highway Mechanic Supervisor for Seymour District
- Outstanding Creativity in Process or System Improvement - Mark Fligor, Office Engineer for Vincennes District
Kevin Cole, of INDOT’s Communications team, presided over the live event, which also featured comments from INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness, those who nominated the CEPSA winners, and the winners themselves. Due to the inability to host an event in 2020, Cole described this year’s program as a way to “make up for lost time.”
Commissioner McGuinness complimented the INDOT team as a whole and expressed optimism for 2021, due in no small part to the continued dedication of his agency’s employees. He also noted how the CEPSA program has rapidly expanded.
There were 26 total nominations in 2019 and 31 in 2020. The initial program held in 2018 honored Director of Traffic Engineering Dan McCoy and Greenfield District Senior Project Manager Jennifer Beck, who were nominated, respectively, by Brad Steckler and Travis Underhill. The expansion to three categories, and the ability for all INDOT employees to nominate colleagues for the awards, took place in 2019. Looking ahead, it’s possible even more nominees will be up for consideration in the coming years. For now, all involved received the praise of their agency’s leader.
“So, please keep up the good work, please spread the word of what kind of program this is,” said the commissioner. “Because we do really want to honor those folks who are doing outstanding work for our agency. I don’t care where you’re at in the state, in any of the 92 counties, we want to make sure we honor those folks that are going above and beyond what their job description is and making sure that not only INDOT, but Hoosiers, are getting exceptional service. And for that, I thank you, and I’m looking forward to doing this again next year – maybe with even some more nominees.”
Commissioner McGuinness took time to discuss the nominees’ individual contributions before ceding the stage to the nominators as well as the award recipients, all of whom were given time to share their feelings.
The 2019 honorees had their “moment in the sun” first.
Elsadig Ibrahim, who has been an integral part in numerous current and recent INDOT projects, such as the US 31 Kokomo Bypass and the 106th St. Interchange, was nominated by Communications Director Mallory Duncan.
“El,” as Ibrahim is known to his colleagues, was described as “an amazing person to work with” by Duncan.
Ever modest, the award recipient kept his remarks short, using his time to compliment the commissioner, executive staff, and others. El said the support he receives from INDOT is what “drives me to do my job.”
“For me, it’s not a job,” Ibrahim said. “It’s fun. Every day I wake up, went out there to have fun. But, I still have job to do. INDOT gives me that opportunity.”
Amber Thomas, a Senior Project Manager for INDOT’s LaPort district, accompanied honoree Lisa Shrader to the stage. Thomas noted that she was joined by several of her colleagues in selecting Shrader for the award. The 22-year INDOT veteran lauded Thomas for her positive attitude amid ongoing change.
“She’s always been a leader in our group,” said Thomas, noting that she and Shrader had mutually decided to keep details to a minimum in order to avoid becoming emotional.
“She’ll cry and then I’ll cry,” joked Thomas.
A few of those happy tears broke through as Shrader thanked her colleague of eight years.
“I am extremely honored and I feel like, with the COVID, this has extended the honoree award, so it’s made me feel really good and I’ve gotten to enjoy it even longer,” she said.
Shrader called her LaPorte colleagues her “second family” and called her work of 25 years her “past, present, and future.”
“I love what I do, and INDOT is a wonderful family,” Shrader said.
Engineer Adam Tyra took on a role vacated by Amy Groff, a Highway Engineer Supervisor in Greenfield. She said Adam’s adeptness with data helped him succeed immediately in his new position.
“When I hired Adam, it was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Groff said.
She added that Tyra’s ideas are useful not only for the Greenfield team, but also for INDOT as a whole. Groff said her nominee’s work has, at its core, helped the agency maintain Hoosier roads and bridges.
Tyra, like Ibrahim earlier, lauded his colleagues and noted the importance of collaboration and acceptance of innovative ideas among all levels as a key element of the agency’s success.
“For me to be singled out for that, it’s very humbling,” he said.
He echoed the sentiments of Groff, but turned the tables a bit and expressed gratitude for her support as he took on his present role. He said Groff has been critical in providing training opportunities and has advocated for his ideas, allowing them to be adopted throughout the agency. He attributed his success to that continuous support.
Project Finance Director Karen Hicks and Aviation Manager Marty Blake nominated Steve Fanning, a “problem solver” whose work on INDOT’s Budget Forecasting Tool has had a positive impact statewide.
Hicks joked that her portion of the presentation would be more akin to a “roast,” but any ribbing aside, she said Fanning had earned his award.
“This is so deserved,” she said. “I jest, but Steve deserves this. He deserves a lot more than this. He’s a great guy.”
Discussing the breadth of Fanning’s work and bringing up another colleague’s humorous comparison of budget personnel to Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge, Blake highlighted how Steve’s attitude and accomplishments are far removed from any pre-spectral visit Victorian era miser. Quite the contrary, Fanning is generous with sharing his budget knowledge.
Steve used his time on stage to thank the many who took the time to nominate him, in addition to others whose efforts are central to INDOT’s mission.
“Thank you, I appreciate it, and it’s great to have a good team and organization to work for,” Fanning said in closing.
Mike Jewell’s work in Seymour was honored by Technical Services Director Becky Packer. Packer talked about Jewell’s dedication and expertise, which involves keeping Seymour’s fleet running as well as assisting other agencies in keeping their vehicles on the road, including the Indiana State Police and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
“He goes above and beyond in customer service,” Packer said.
All smiles, Jewell joked he’s “not much for words” before thanking those that made the honor possible.
Mark Fligor was the day’s final award winner, and he took the stage flanked by Vincennes Construction Director Bart Mueller.
Mueller said Fligor’s nomination had been in the offing for some time prior to it becoming official. It, like the others honored, was clearly well-deserved. Mueller said Mark’s work is collaborative and innovative, and that others can turn to him for help.
Fligor credited others with helping him learn what he needed to learn with INDOT.
Learn more about INDOT at in.gov/indot.
Story by Brent Brown, Indiana State Personnel Department
Photos by Gene Fore, Indiana Department of Transportation
Elsadig Ibrahim (center) received INDOT’s Commissioner’s Excellence in Public Service Award in the category of Exemplary Achievement and Performance for 2019. “El” is seen here with INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness (right) and Communications Director Mallory Duncan, who nominated him for the award.
Seen here are Matt Deitchley (LaPorte District Deputy Commissioner), Amber Thomas (Senior Project Manager and one of Lisa Shrader's nominators), Michaela Shrader (Lisa’s daughter), Lisa Shrader (CEPSA honoree), INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness, and Jessica Miller (Capital Program Management Director).