County Chamber of Commerce awards Employee of the Year
FRANKLIN TWP — Ave Jack, of the Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Center, was recognized by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce as its Employee of the Year during the Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday afternoon, April 26, at the Atrium.
“If you know me, I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of girl,” Jack said as she addressed the crowd. “I don't know what to say, but I'm honored and everyone in the room has been amazing to me. In Butler County, we need to support one another to make it a great place to be."
This is the 29th year that the county Chamber of Commerce has presented the Butler County Employee of the Year Award. Wednesday’s event also was held on National Administrative Professionals Day.
Jack’s role at the Gaiser center is executive assistant supporting executive director Joe Mahoney.
Since 1971, the Gaiser center has been known as one of Butler County’s most well-known treatment programs for alcohol and substance use disorders.
"Ave is really deserving,“ Mahoney said. ”I was really excited when Jordan (Grady) contacted me to let me know she was chosen. We are really excited for her.
"She is a thinker and very detail orientated. She never complains and has a good positive attitude. She will take on any project we pass off to her."
Jordan Grady, chamber president, presented a wooden mantel clock to Jack, which is part of the award each year.
“I think her reaction was priceless,” Grady said. “Ave is a total behind-the-scenes person, never really wants to be in the limelight. It was nice to recognize all of her hard work."
According to Mahoney, the Gaiser center was just granted its Request for Proposal from the county to help open a women's recovery house.
“A lot more on that will be coming, but that will be our next big project,” Mahoney said. “In addition, we have a center for excellence that we are getting up and moving. Ave has been tremendous in helping with that."
Jack said she would like to thank Grady and the chamber board members for their consideration, as well as her colleagues at the Gaiser center where she has been for almost eight years.
“I have been in the HR field for many years, which is what my degree is in,” Jack said. “Then an opening occurred at the Gaiser center. I want to continue to support it and help it grow. I look forward to collaborating with other organizations and contributing to the community."
The chamber is in its 18th year of presenting this specific award, and Grady said he thinks it is something that helps recognize those who don’t get as much attention, such as administrative professionals.
"I think it's a great way to recognize the vital and behind-the-scenes work that administrative professionals do,“ Grady said. ”I'm thankful to have inherited this event that was already set up."
