Mayor to Present November 2024 Award of Excellence

Published on March 17, 2025

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today will present the Mayor’s Award of Excellence for November 2024 to Office Specialists Jamie Granquist and Pam Hoffman from the Parks and Recreation Department. The award will be presented at 3 p.m. at the beginning of the City Council meeting at the County-City Building, 555 S. 10th Street. The awards recognize City employees who consistently provide exemplary service and work that demonstrates personal commitment to Lincoln.

Granquist and Hoffman were nominated by Parks Department Liaison and Compliance Administrator Denise Pearce and Parks Operations Coordinator Mike Comstock in the categories of productivity and customer relations for their work to assist community members.

In their nomination, Pearce and Comstock wrote that as the public’s first point of contact with the Parks Department, Granquist and Comstock serve as reliable and trusted representatives who exemplify the Department's values and mission.

“In the area of customer relations, they treat everyone with kindness, care and professionalism. In the area of productivity, both volunteer for extra projects and often complete such projects ahead of schedule,” they wrote. “On a daily basis, they both demonstrate the power of a positive attitude, despite the pressures of their work.”

The categories in which employees can be nominated are:

  • Community Engagement – Fostering community member involvement and participation in local governance
  • Sustainability and Resilience – Promoting environmental stewardship and strengthening the City’s sustainability efforts
  • Inclusion and Belonging – Advancing equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging within City government and our community
  • Public Health and Safety – Enhancing public health, safety, and emergency preparedness
  • Economic Opportunity – Supporting local businesses, workforce development, and economic growth
  • Education and Lifelong Learning – Expanding educational opportunities and promoting lifelong learning
  • Civic Innovation – Creating and implementing new solutions that improve municipal services
  • Youth Empowerment – Encouraging young leaders and increasing youth involvement in the community
  • Cultural Vitality – Enriching Lincoln’s cultural landscape through the arts, historic preservation, and storytelling
  • Fiscal Stewardship – Demonstrating exemplary management of public resources through efficiency and accountability
  • Customer Service Excellence – Providing outstanding service to residents and enhancing their experience with City services
  • Valor and Bravery – Displaying extraordinary courage and dedication in the line of duty

Consideration also may be given to nominations that demonstrate self-initiated accomplishments or those completed outside of the nominee’s job description. All City employees are eligible for the award except for elected and appointed officials. 

Individuals or teams can be nominated by supervisors, peers, subordinates, and the public. Nomination forms are available at lincoln.ne.gov/awardofexcellence or from department heads, employee bulletin boards or the Human Resources Department, which oversees the awards program.

All nominations are considered by the Mayor’s Award of Excellence Committee, which includes a representative with each union and a non-union representative appointed by the Mayor. Award winners receive a $50 gift certificate, a day off with pay and a certificate. All monthly winners and nominees are eligible to receive the annual award, which comes with a $250 gift certificate, two days off with pay and a plaque.

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