Leonardo Blair, Enterprise Reporter
Andrew Walters, advertising sales representative (third left) smiles as he holds the 2005 Gleaner Employee of the Year trophy. He is surrounded by the top finalists in the competition and the Company's chairman, Oliver Clarke (second right). Others in the picture (from left) are Ricardo Makyn, photographer; Phillipa Ennis, administrative assistant; Paulette Donaldson, administrative assistant and Shernett Maragh-Deer, cashier. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THERE WERE only winners at the table yesterday morning when the Gleaner Company gathered its 12 top employees of 2005 in a special breakfast ceremony.
But Andrew Walters, one of the company's advertising sales agents, was the biggest winner of them all.
He beat out a strong field of employees selected from The Gleaner's various departments to become the Employee of the Year. And he wasn't shy about it.
"There is a part of me that basically enjoys being thrown in the limelight but there is also a part of me that wants to shy away from it," he said at the end of the warm-hearted recognition ceremony attended by Gleaner Chairman, Oliver Clarke and senior managers.
"I am a bit overwhelmed and on behalf of all the other nominees, I would like to thank the company for putting in place this wonderful form of appreciation. We work long hours, we like what we are doing and we do appreciate being awarded for doing it well," he said.
RESPONSIVE TO STAFF NEEDS
Mr. Walters received a handsome cash award, along with the Employee of the Year trophy.
Other nominees from the respective departments for the top award were: Caulette Edwards, Advertising; Paulette Donaldson, Technology; Ricardo Makyn, Editorial; Shernette Maragh-Deer, Accounts; Phillipa Ennis, Accounts; Jacqueline Tyndale, Personnel; Joseph Curtis, Gleaner Online; Sheree Rhoden, Information Systems; Isaiah Jackson, Circulation; Ralston Getfield, Circulation and the affable Hilma Brown, Editorial.
Mary Dick, The Gleaner's training manager, said: "This is a good example of the company being responsive to the needs of the staff, our internal customers."
Nominees in the Employee of the Year programme, in addition to being selected by their departments, were judged on job performance and general involvement in the life of the company.
