Alice Lunn, second from left, circulation director for the Butler Eagle, and Alexandria Jones, third from left, tutoring coordinator for Butler County Community College, were named co-winners of the eighth annual Employee of the Year award Wednesday during a luncheon at The Atrium. The winners were introduced by Rebecca Traggiai, left, the 2011 Employee of the Year winner, and the awards were presented by Stephanie Roskovski, vice president of operations for Butler Memorial Hospital.

FRANKLIN TWP — The eighth annual Employee of the Year Award for 2012 is shared this year.

Alexandria Jones, tutoring coordinator for Butler County Community College, and Alice Lunn, circulation director for the Butler Eagle, were named co-winners Wednesday at The Atrium on Route 422.

About 100 people celebrated the winners at the 18th Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon sponsored by Butler Memorial Hospital, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, the Butler Eagle, The Atrium and Medure's Catering.

Here are the winners:

Jones, who has worked for BC3 since 1990, was nominated for the employee award for “going above and beyond to make Butler County Community College's tutoring program the best it can be.“She is diplomatic, professional and she sets the bar high for those with whom she works,” said Rebecca Traggiai of Community Care Connections and the 2011 Employee of the Year, who introduced Jones.Jones, who attended the lunch with her husband of 40 years, Ron, and her sons, was surprised with the award.“I'm overwhelmed,” she said. “Butler County Community College is a special place and a special place to work, and I meet people who inspire me every day.'Traggiai told the audience that 2012 is a special year because there are two award winners, the second being Lunn.

Lunn is described as giving 110 percent “and demonstrating a work ethic that far surpasses the majority” as two of the reasons why she was nominated for the honor, according to Ron Vodenichar, Butler Eagle co-publisher and general manager, who nominated her.“The ability to supervise nearly 100 employees plus contractors who are dedicated and respond positively to management is also noteworthy,” he added.Lunn began working at the Eagle as a part-time worker. In her nearly 25-year career from that part-time position to full-time, she has been office manager, operations manager and now a department head.In that position, Lunn is responsible for sales, distribution and collection of all products printed at the Eagle Production Center on Wayne Street.In 2011, Lunn's job greatly expanded when the Eagle began printing the Erie Times News, a seven-day-a-week newspaper, at night.

Getting the papers printed in Butler and then delivered back to Erie each night fell primarily to Lunn, including the hiring and training of 40 new employees.For seven nights a week for six months, Lunn worked to get the job running smoothly. It has become a success for the Eagle and the Erie TimesNews, and this new printing work has provided 50 new full- or part-time jobs in the community.Lunn was equally surprised with her award, saying, “The Butler Eagle has been great to me over the years from the laborers to the management, and I thank everyone for this award.”The Butler Eagle is the first company to have two winners of the Employee of the Year award.Tammy Schuey, director of technology and information at the Eagle, received the honor in 2006.<BR></BR>

Here are the previous Butler County Employee of the Year Award winners:2005 — Jennifer Roxbury, NexTier Bank2006 — Tammy Schuey, Butler Eagle2007 — John Brock, Burt Hill2008 — Becky Craig, Sonneborne2009 — Debbie Sinz, Butler Health System2010 — Benjamin Kline, Keystone Specialties, and Rebecca Swartzentruber, Trinity Living2011 — Rebecca Traggiai, Community Care Connections.<BR></BR>

Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, emcees the 18th Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon sponsored by Butler Memorial Hospital, the chamber, the Butler Eagle, The Atrium and Medure?s Catering.

Butler County Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Year luncheon winner Alice Lunn circulation director for the Butler Eagle smiles as she was presented with her clock at the luncheon at the Atrium in Franklin Twp.

Butler County Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Year luncheon winner Alexandria Jones, tutoring coordinator for Butler County Community College gets a hug at the luncheon at the Atrium in Franklin Twp.