Maria Thomas named county Employee of the Year
Maria Thomas spends her days juggling.
Whether it be meeting agendas, public interaction or pursuits in her free time, Thomas always has a lot to manage.
Her ability to do that with grace and precision has earned her the 2018 Butler County Employee of the Year Award, which was presented on Wednesday as the Butler County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 24th annual Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon at the Atrium.
Thomas is the administrative assistant to Butler County Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer, who nominated her for the award. She schedules meetings, prepares agendas and meeting minutes, processes documents and serves as a liaison with other departments and the public.
In their nomination letter, Osche and Geyer describe Thomas as the person who keeps the government center running — all while offering a smile.
The commissioners describe Thomas as having strong, faith-based values and a positive, caring and compassionate attitude that makes her respected and valued by her peers. They added that Thomas exemplifies the type of leadership that is recognized through the award.
The Butler County Employee of the Year is chosen by the past Employee of the Year winners from submissions made by businesses and county leaders.
When the 2017 award recipient, Sunnyview's Darlene Christy, began listing facts about the secret winner, Thomas's eyes grew wider and wider until she realized that she would be announced as the 2018 Employee of the Year.
“I'm completely honored and humbled,” she said.
The Chamber's 24th Annual Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon was sponsored by the Butler Eagle, Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, Butler Health System, Moses Jewelers, The Atrium and Medure's Catering.
A full story will appear in the Butler Eagle.
