Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E, announced the selection of Raquel Robbins as the 2018-2019 DPW Employee of the Year. The awards ceremony was held Thursday morning, May 23, in the Auditorium of the Back River Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Ms. Robbins is a Liaison Officer I in the Bureau of Water and Wastewater. She began working for the Department in 2015 as the only female and college graduate in DPW's inaugural YH2O Water Mentoring Program. She impressed her mentors and coaches in the Customer Engagement Unit, where she initially worked, with her ability to console and assist customers with water billing issues.

Her supervisor, Mr. Vince Pompa, took note of Ms. Robbins' time spent working with various crews to learn first-hand about the issues they must address every day in dealing with water, wastewater, and storm water. That has sharpened her skills when responding to citizens.

In addition to her outstanding work for the City of Baltimore, Ms. Robbins volunteers at her church, helps collect and distribute clothes to those in need, and looks after several elderly and infirm relatives. She stated that she is very grateful to work in a job where she can help so many others. 

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 (Office of the Director). From these employees, six finalists were nominated for the Employee of the Year Award. An employee committee reviewed the nominations, interviewed the candidates and ranked them. The criteria include customer service, relationship with co-workers, and contribution to the community.

DPW holds its annual Employee of the Year Ceremony during National Public Works Week and features a keynote address from an American Public Works Association (APWA) representative. At today’s ceremony, Mr. Kenneth M. Eyre, P.E.,  Past-President of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and Mr. William "Bill" E. Spearman III, the President-Elect of the American Public Works Association, both addressed the standing room only crowd. Mr. Spearman surprised Director Chow with the recently announced APWA Top Ten Public Works Leader Award.

All three leaders expressed their gratitude to all Public Works employees, noting that modern civilization would could not exist without their work. They are real unsung "heroes". 

In addition to Ms. Robbins, the Employee of the Year finalists were:

Kristin Gordon, Bureau of Solid Waste; Tony Johnson, Bureau of Solid Waste; Meghan Hazer, Office of Compliance and Laboratories; LaKeisha Hunt, Office of Human Resources; and Duwayne Mack of the Bureau of Water and Wastewater.

Visit the DPW YouTube channel to view videos for the 2018-2019 Employee of the Year finalists: https://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreDPW.

The Employee of the Year winner receives three days paid leave, an engraved clock, one night’s stay at the Lord Baltimore Hotel, a gift certificate to Gertrude’s Restaurant, four tickets to the Orioles, and $500 in cash. Gifts were donated and/or paid for by members of DPW’s executive staff, the Mayor, and Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.