The Tri-County Corrections Center held an Employee Recognition Event this afternoon in the University of Minnesota Crookston’s Bede Ballroom. The Center invited many of its officers and their families to enjoy a late lunch as well as a few events for the attendees to enjoy. “This is something we like to do every couple of years, but because of COVID, it’s been a little bit longer than what we want,” said Tri-County Corrections Center Executive Director Andrew Larson. “It was just an opportunity to get everyone together and recognize employees for their years of service.”
The Department heads came up to the podium individually to thank their department members for their work despite each department’s challenges. First was Probation/Transition Chief Jessica Hajicek recognizing her staff for their work in the courts and with inmates. Red River Valley Juvenile Center (RRVJC) Project Director Kyle Allen went next, thanking his staff for their hard work in the Center for the children there, despite the challenges COVID brought. Northwest Regional Corrections Center (NWRCC) Jail Administrator Joey Pederson expressed his thanks for his department staff’s hard work and gave some insight to the audience by giving some numbers and stats of the jobs the department did. He also mentioned the work and memory of Officer Charles “Chuck” Goering, who had passed away in late 2021, for all his work in the Center and the inspiration he gave to the officers. Paul Bissonette finished by thanking the Administration members for their work to keep each department working together.
Executive Director Larson returned to the podium with the department heads to hand out Years of Service Recognition Awards. “We recognize employees that have been with us for two years, five years, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years,” Larson explained. “It’s an excellent opportunity for us to recognize the employees for performing a very difficult job.” Each department head handed out the awards to the members that corresponded to their department, giving them a diploma for their service.
Two Years of Service –
Scott Gunderson, Jessica Grabowksi, Candace Stordahl, Doug Peterson, Kalie Drinkman, Daniel Macias, Teaunna Storey, Gabriela Trevino Valdez, Patty Dillabough, Kaytlin Avelsgard, Jodi Sullivan, Timothy Ingle, Matthew Marshall, Jake Mutzenbeger, Ashley Cardova, Hannah Cordes, Joan Forney.
Five Years of Service –
Donovan Hoffman, Matt Olson, Kelvin Kaste, Justin Schill, Guy Gullekson, Ricky Fillion
10 Years of Service –
Arika Hitchen, Melissa Hendry, Lindsay Cournia, Travis Nicholas, Kyle Allen
15 Years of Service –
Shawn Hogenson, Amanda Bochow, Josh Plante, Dorene Erickson, Raelene Aarhus, Nicolee Thompson
20 Years of Service –
Lisa Larson, Andrew Larson, Phil Schroeder, Catherine Barstad
25 Years of Service –
Joey Pederson
30 Years of Service –
Troy Cymbaluk, Paul Bissonette
The Committee then gave out two additional Peer Chosen Awards that the officers nominated and voted to receive for their extra efforts. First was the Excellence in Corrections Award, which was awarded to NWRCC Case Aide Kalie Drinkman and NWRCC Corporals Craig Magsam and Candace Stordahl for their many roles in the Corrections Center. “For the first time, we also had a Compassion in Corrections Award, in memory of one of our Correctional Sergeants, Chuck Goering,” said Larson. “Which was awarded to his longtime partner, Sergeant Catherine Barstad, retiring later this year.”
The event then ended with a presentation by Keynote Speaker Michael Kutzke called “Creating Your Preferred Future.” He gave multiple relatable and humorous stories and activities to remind them about the importance of finding a balance between family and work, finding meaning and positivity in their jobs.
Executive Director Larson believed the event was a great success and believed the presentation and awards were great motivators to the officers to help them find more happiness in their personal lives and their jobs and look forward to more success and work for the rest of the upcoming year.
