The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) selected Phillip Chery, a Program Compliance Officer in the Human Resources Division, as its 2015-2016 Employee of Year during a May 17 awards ceremony.

Mr. Chery is the DPW employee that everyone seems to know. He serves as an American Disabilities Act Coordinator for the agency, ensuring employees with disabilities have adequate accommodations to perform their job duties.  Mr. Chery also works as a workplace violence investigator for DPW.

In addition to his regular job duties, Mr. Chery served as the Loaned Executive for the 2015 Combined Charities Campaign (CCC). As the Loaned Executive, Mr. Chery made sure that each of the agency’s CCC coordinators met the contribution targets set for DPW. In recent years, Mr. Chery has been instrumental in coordinating DPW’s Youth Works program, which places City youth in summer jobs at the agency.

“Mr. Chery is an exceptional DPW employee whose work and dedication is well-known and respected throughout the agency,” said DPW Director Rudy S. Chow, P.E.  “As an agency that operates 24-hours, seven days a week, DPW’s success is dependent on workers like Mr. Chery who are driven to serve the citizens of Baltimore.”

Accepting his award, Mr. Chery thanked his immediate supervisors and many co-workers, especially those who have supported agency-wide efforts to raise money for the Combined Charities Campaign and operate the Youth Works summer jobs program. During his acceptance speech, Mr. Chery said he takes special pride in administering Youth Works on behalf of DPW. “When I see those kids, I see myself,” Mr. Chery said.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and City Council President Jack Young attended the Employee of the Year Ceremony, which was held at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mayor Rawlings-Blake praised the dedication of the DPW workers, noting that they work hard to make Baltimore a cleaner and healthier place to live.

In recognition of National Public Works Week (May 15-21), American Public Works Association (APWA) President Brian Usher, PWLF, and APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter President Matthew F. Villareale participated in DPW’s Employee of the Year ceremony. The 2016 National Public Works Week theme is "Public Works, Always There."

DPW will end National Public Works Week by hosting its annual Big Truck Day, which will take place on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

DPW established the Employee of the Month program in May 2011 to recognize and encourage high quality work and service to Baltimore City residents and customers by Public Works employees. Every month, an employee is honored from the Bureaus of Solid Waste, Water and Wastewater, and DPW Administration. From these employees, six finalists were nominated for the Employee of the Year Award.

In addition to Mr. Chery, the Employee of the Year finalists included:

Gregory Cole, Instrumentation Technician II, Bureau of Water and Wastewater;

Anthony Hall, a Pest Control Worker, Bureau of Solid Waste;

Loretta Harris, laborer/warehouse assistant, Bureau of Solid Waste;

Raymond Perales, Systems Analyst, Office of the Director; and

Anita Taylor, supervisor in the Customer Support and Services Division, Bureau of Water and Wastewater.

An employee committee reviewed the nominations, interviewed the candidates and ranked them. The criteria included customer service, relationship with co-workers, and contributions to the community.

As Employee of the Year, Mr. Chery receives three days paid leave, and an engraved clock or plaque; one night’s stay at a downtown hotel; a gift certificate for Fogo De Chao; tickets to an Orioles game and to Cirque de Soleil; and $500. Gifts were donated by local businesses or paid for by members of DPW’s executive staff.