FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2009

CARY, NC – For only the third time in recent memory, two staffers will share the title of 2009 Town of Cary Employee of the Year; this year’s honors go to Accountant Ellen Lewis and Community Center Supervisor Sonya Snyder. Each will receive a plaque and a $1,000 savings bond. They were selected out of six finalists from a field of 18 nominees from the Town’s nearly 1,150 employees. The announcement was made today at the Town’s Annual Employee Recognition Luncheon at the Herb Young Community Center in downtown Cary, during which dozens of staff were also recognized for reaching years-of- service milestones.

"We’re very proud of Sonya and Ellen and appreciate their commitment to providing our organization and community with outstanding service,” said Town Manager Ben Shivar. “I congratulate them as well as all of this year’s nominees who represent the type of exemplary employees we strive to attract and retain in the Town of Cary.”

An accountant in the Town’s Finance Department, Ellen Lewis, 54, has been with the Town for just over nine years. Those who nominated her said in part that “"Ellen’s high standards for accuracy, legal and contractual compliance and her attention to detail protect the Town’s reputation for managing our money well. She also highly values teamwork, ethics and personal and organizational integrity.”

Sonya Snyder, 48, heads up the Town’s Herb Young Community Center and has been with the Town for over 13 years. Those who nominated her said in part that Sonya’s “personality and willingness to help others in the workplace and community is both noteworthy and inspiring. Sonya genuinely cares about doing a great job for the public. Sonya also shows tremendous compassion for her staff and co-workers and is truly a role model for us all to follow.”

The Town of Cary’s Employee of the Year program was established in 1989 to recognize employees who consistently perform well beyond what the job description requires. Nominees are consistently courteous and helpful to others, and they strive to improve themselves and participate in the community. Nominations often include accolades from Cary citizens. For more about the program, see Employee of the Year at www.townofcary.org.

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