2022 Employee Service Awards by City of Cedar Rapids

2022

EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS Celebrating service and dedication to the City of Cedar Rapids

COVER

TABLE OF CONTENTS CITY DIRECTORS 4 FROM THE CITY MANAGER

5 YEARS OF SERVICE

10 YEARS OF SERVICE

15 YEARS OF SERVICE

20 YEARS OF SERVICE

25 YEARS OF SERVICE

30 YEARS OF SERVICE

35 YEARS OF SERVICE

2022 RETIREES

CITY DIRECTORS

Jeff Pomeranz

Vanessa Chavez

Alissa Van Sloten

Sandi Fowler

City Manager

City Attorney

City Clerk

Deputy City Manager

Angie Charipar

Kevin Ciabatti

Jennifer Pratt

Casey Drew

Assistant City Manager

Building Services

Community Development

Finance

Chief Greg Smith

Teresa Feldmann

Fire

Human Resources

Bob Hammond

Roy Hesemann

Public Works

Utilities

Hashim Taylor Chief Wayne Jerman Parks and Recreation

Police

FROM THE CITY MANAGER

s we celebrate the 12th annual Employee Service Awards, we congratulate the 192 team members who have dedicated their professional lives in service to Cedar Rapids. It is my pleasure to thank each of you for your individual service to our community. This year’s honorees represent 2,550 years of combined service, with anniversaries marking between 5 and 35 years of dedication to the City of Cedar Rapids. I would like to thank each of you for your service and commitment to the City of Cedar Rapids. Together with the City Council, the City Director Team, and Department Leaders, it is my pleasure to honor all our employees who have reached significant milestones in their career. It is very important to take this opportunity to celebrate the work we do together to build a better community and provide a safe, healthy environment for the next generation. Thank you for all the work you do for your team and the Cedar Rapids community. Sincerely,

Jeff Pomeranz City Manager

5 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Eric Andrews

Eric Andrews has done an excellent job of embracing and enhancing the brand and aesthetic of the Cedar Rapids Public Library since he started with us five years ago. His development of our in-house magazine OPEN+, and his work to design our 125th Anniversary exhibits are two of his greatest accomplishments so far. His professionalism and creativity have helped to shape the patron experience for the better.

Design & Marketing Specialist Library

Rachel Barkley P&G Maintenance Repair Worker II Parks and Recreation

Melissa Bates Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Jake Bawek Firefighter Fire

Rachel has been with the Parks and Recreation Department for five years. She is always willing to step up and find a way to get what needs to be done. She is always trying to learn new skills to help her in her role as well. She loves working with all the volunteers and does a great job training/working with the Seasonal employees each year. Congratulations on five years with the department and hopefully many more to come! Over the course of the last five years, Melissa has volunteered to attend training focusing on the mental health of the JCA employees. Melissa is a member of the CRPD peer support team and also supports the JCA during critical incident debriefings. Melissa has a positive attitude towards co-workers and is always willing to assist others. Melissa has taken on trespass letters from businesses, keeping these up-to-date for when others need to access them. Jake Bawek has been serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids for five years in a wide variety of ways. He is currently assigned to central fire station as part of the department’s busiest engine company. Jake has assisted with the training of two probationary firefighters. He is a dependable member of his crew assisting with the training of new employees. Jake is a paramedic and fills the role of acting company officer when needed. Jake just received his rope rescue technician certification and will be expanding his role into other special operation disciplines. In particular, Jake has assisted with training the department’s water rescue technicians. Jake has only been with the department or five years but is a role model with his attitude and approach.

Dani Blin Zoning Coordinator Development Services

Jake Bruner Streets Heavy Equipment Operator Public Works, Streets

Jacob Buster Firefighter Fire

Fred Clark Cement Finisher Public Works, Streets

Since joining the City five years ago, Dani has enthusiastically taken on being an Administrative Assistant, Zoning Coordinator, and occasionally den mother for the Development Services Department. She doesn’t hesitate to question the status quo and since becoming a Zoning Coordinator a year ago has gone out of her way to learn the ins and outs of her new role. Dani is an invaluable member of our team. Jake has risen to equipment operator in a short period of time with the City of Cedar Rapids. Very talented running equipment for both summer and winter efforts. He is really becoming a leader on the crew and someone to count on to get the job done and done well. Looking forward to seeing what the next 25 years have in store for him! Jacob possesses a great work ethic, intelligence and a friendly demeanor. He has quickly earned the trust of peers and supervisors in the short time he’s been with the city. Jacob is on a panel that helps steer the alerting system for the 911 calls. He also manages the software program that allows firefighters to easily document daily inspections of vehicles, breathing apparatus, medical devices, medication and other equipment. Jacob is a valued member of the Hazardous Materials team and Urban Search & Rescue team. When asked to step up to an Acting Captain position, he has successfully supervised his crew and managed a station. Jacob has been a great addition to the team and has a very bright future. Fred is an important piece to our construction crew. Most of the work Fred performs is for Paving for Progress in the summer, and he plows City sidewalks and bridges in the winter. He is one of our leaders on the crew and is very proud of the work that he does. Fred is assigned to the Concrete Construction Crew.

Colton Dall Firefighter Fire

Nolan Deeds Firefighter Fire

YEARS OF SERVICE

Colton Dall came to the fire department after several years of honorable service to his country. He is a 2nd generation Cedar Rapids Firefighter who comes to work with passion and enthusiasm every day. As a new firefighter working in the shadow of his father, Battalion Chief Dan Dall (Ret.), Colton had extremely big shoes to fill. He took this challenge in stride, put his head down, and plowed forward. Colton is a subject matter expert in many areas of technical rescue, much of which is due to his time in the military. Colton without hesitation routinely shares his knowledge with others which makes the fire department a better place, and the City of Cedar Rapids safer. He has many excellent years ahead of him and will most certainly continue to develop as a leader. Nolan has been serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids for five years. He is currently assigned to Station 4 where he serves as the station’s paramedic. Nolan came to CRFD as an experienced paramedic and uses his skills daily to positively affect the city of Cedar Rapids. In just five years, Nolan has not only proven himself as a firefighter-paramedic but also as a leader. Nolan trains probationary firefighters in driver/ operator/pumping skills as part of their first year of training. Nolan regularly serves as acting company officer demonstrating his commitment to the department.

Ken leads a team of professionals who make it easy for developers to spend money building Development Services Manager in Cedar Rapids. As the Development Services Development Services Manager, Ken is making his mark in Cedar Rapids by creating systems to encourage robust development while also ensuring the vibrancy, smart growth, and infill that makes a great city. Ken’s leadership has created a team that not only handles tough and complex issues but excels at customer service. We are thrilled that Ken came back to the City to manage this critical function after his first stint in Public Works several years ago. His knowledge of the City, and of the private developer side of the work, really enhances Ken’s contributions to the City. Thank you to Ken for his creative problem-solving and tenacious desire to represent the interests of the City all while improving the developers’ experience.

Ken DeKeyser

Kevin Delecki Programming Manager Library

Jesus Delgado Water Plant Operations Supervisor Utilities, Water

Dale Dellimore Police Officer Police

Andrea Drew Administrative Coordinator City Manager’s Office

Landon Einck Police Officer Police

Kevin interviewed for his position during the library closure after the 2016 flood, and little did he know the amount of creativity and flexibility it would take to manage library programs during the next five years! His positivity and tenacity have helped Kevin turn many challenges into opportunities for award-winning library programs and services. His kindness and capacity for empathy are huge assets to the library’s management team. Jesus has recently stepped into a leadership role where he is excelling as a team leader. He is providing team collaboration by helping his team members come up with solutions to solving issues. Jesus has demonstrated the City’s core values of serving enthusiastically, teaming up, and finding a way. Dale is currently assigned to the Patrol Division at the Police Department. He is dependable, hardworking, and trustworthy. Not only does he excel in his role as a Patrol Officer, but he is also certified as one of the few Drug Recognition Experts in our area. Dale uses these skills to assist other officers in complicated OWI investigations. It has been a pleasure to work with Dale. Andrea Drew brings the FUN to the CMO! Since starting at the City five years ago, Andrea has fostered the special events process as it has grown from around 30 to almost 150 events annually. She works with residents to navigate the complex City organization to ensure the public has the best events possible. She has many raving fans from the public because of her ability to put herself in the shoes of other people and find out exactly what they need. We really lucked out the day Andrea walked through our doors! Officer Landon Einck has been with the Cedar Rapids Police Department since 2017. During his career, Landon has worked in the Patrol Division and is currently assigned to the Community Service Division. Landon is the College Resource Officer at Kirkwood Community College. Landon has built positive relationships with students and staff at Kirkwood, and his work ethic and attitude are greatly appreciated.

Hunter Elvidge Firefighter Fire

Brenna Fall City Engineer Public Works, Engineering

Cassy Farley Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Kathy Foley Finance Bus Operations Manager Finance

Elizabeth Gardner Public Service Associate Library

YEARS OF SERVICE

It is a pleasure to have Hunter as part of our team. Firefighter Elvidge is an outstanding paramedic and has proven himself to be a capable and reliable driver/operator in his five years with CRFD. With just 5 years on the job, Hunter has been called upon to fill in as an acting captain at times this past year and has accepted that role with positivity and has performed well in that capacity. Hunter has a great fire service career ahead of him. Congrats on hitting the 5-year mark! Congratulations to Brenna Fall, our City Engineer on completing 5 years of dedicated service to CR citizens and businesses. Brenna has a knack for cutting to the core of very complicated public works challenges and identifying and leading towards successful solutions. Brenna fosters a strong teaming environment for professional development of all who interact with her and we’re fortunate to have Brenna on our CR teams. Over the course of the last five years, Cassy has assisted the JCA department by training several new hires. Cassy has volunteered to attend several training classes—both in person and virtually. Cassy does a great job at having a positive attitude with the citizens, as well as the agencies, we dispatch for. Cassy does everything she can to assist the department with staffing even when advanced notice is not possible. I appreciate Kathy’s positive attitude and willingness to take on any task given to her. She looks for ways to streamline how finance does its day-to-day work using technology and trying new approaches. The entire Finance Department has benefited from her leadership skills, allowing staff to embrace change and see it as an opportunity to learn something new. Thank you Kathy for always seeing the big picture and making the Finance Department better. Elizabeth began at the library when she was still in high school and is getting close to finishing her teaching degree this coming semester. It has been amazing to watch her grow into her position as a Public Service Associate and we feel so lucky to have her on our team. She is caring, respectful, and has the driest sense of humor ever encountered. While we know eventually she’ll leave us for a teaching job, we’re going to enjoy every minute with her until then.

Kyle Garin Streets Driver Public Works, Streets

Ty Gingerich Development Services Engineer I Development Services

Mikayla Goemaat Environmental Specialist II Public Works, Sewer

Melinda Gordon Transit Driver Development Services, Transit

Jason Hartman Firefighter Fire

Kyle has a “let’s-get-it-done” attitude and always has a smile on his face. Kyle is one of the first ones in and the last one out when an emergency comes around, and is always willing to go the extra mile to make the customer happy. He is currently a driver but is a key piece in our asphalt crew, paving or patching, and on projects. He can battle any winter storm that is thrown at him. Ty Gingerich’s site design and surveying experience turned a narrowly focused job reviewing plats into a full-service case management position. I highly value his self-reliance and ability to facilitate plan approvals with little or no assistance. Thank you for bringing unique perspectives to Development Services Division. Mikayla is a highly valued member of the Sewer Department, specifically the stormwater team. She juggles many duties, inspections, customer inquiries, and timelines. Her experience with erosion control and stormwater has made her a go-to person with numerous departments. Her ability to take on new responsibilities and maneuver new situations is hugely valuable to the sustainability and growth of the department. Over the last five years she has received her master’s degree, stepped up to assist wherever is needed, and continues to seek professional growth. Her consistent positive attitude is applauded and does not go unnoticed! In 5 short years with the transit department, Melinda has proven herself to be an asset to the transit team. Every aspect of the job is important to her and she is always looking to improve, whether for the customers or other transit issues. One of her greatest qualities is her ability to remain calm through some of the most stressful transit situations. Each and every day Jason comes to work with a smile and is ready to go. His knowledge base and performance far exceed his time in the fire department. Jason routinely participates in extra training to further hone the craft of firefighting. Additionally, Jason has spent countless hours attending specialty training outside of the fire department so that he can bring the skills and knowledge back to share with all of his peers. Jason has a bright future with the City of Cedar Rapids and will most certainly continue to be an asset.

Darrin Hayes Firefighter Fire

Allyssa Hepke Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Michael Herzberger Firefighter Fire

Mara Horn Custodian Finance, Facilities Maintenance Services

Jamie Huff Collection System Maintenance Worker II Public Works, Sewer

YEARS OF SERVICE

Darrin comes to the City of Cedar Rapids with over 15 years of paramedic experience. From day one, he hit the ground running as an experienced Paramedic with the desire to learn the craft of firefighting. Darrin has done an excellent job combining his years of experience as a paramedic with the fire service. He is frequently called upon to provide informal and formal training to all members of the fire department. Darrin is a trusted and loyal employee that can be placed in any role with the knowledge that he will get the job done. The fire department looks forward to continuing to tap into his knowledge as a paramedic and EMS instructor. Over the course of the last five years, Allyssa has demonstrated a strong commitment to the department by learning as much as she can about all the programs we use to be successful. Allyssa routinely volunteers to attend training classes including attending a national 911 conference a few years ago. Allyssa brings a positive attitude to work each day and assists in welcoming and training new hires for the JCA. Allyssa does everything possible to boost the morale of others in the department by bringing things in that assist in decorating the area as well as baking cakes for employees’ birthdays. Michael has been serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids for five years. He is currently assigned to Station 9. Michael is a firefighter/EMT and is a dedicated employee who puts his best effort into each duty day. He utilizes his knowledge and skill to make Cedar Rapids a great place to live and work. He and his crew were working the day of the 2020 Derecho; he worked carefully as the apparatus driver, responding to one call after another to reach people in need. Mara has worked for FMS for 5 years. She is very thorough, doing her best in keeping our facilities clean. We find her immersed in various projects to help keep the appearance of our buildings up to par. She is a joy to work with! Jamie has been a valued member of the sewer team for five years now. His work ethic, attitude, and sense of humor make him a great person to work with every day.

John Jackson Garage Supervisor Finance, Fleet Maintenance

Sam Jeffries Fire Captain Fire

Pat Keating Traffic Control Supervisor Public Works, Traffic

Karin Kee Project Engineer II Public Works, Engineering

John Jackson started five years ago as our day shift Garage Supervisor at the CSC. He has brought his years of knowledge and experience from the Navy along with his strong work ethic to the division. John is a key player in communicating the status of vehicles and equipment to supervisors and managers. He manages the auto equipment mechanics and the vehicle and equipment repairs, juggling jobs to meet the needs of our customers. Congratulations on your five years of service to the City! Sam came to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department with over 17 years of firefighting and paramedic experience in Overland Park, Kansas. Moving to a new department after nearly two decades is a monumental leap that has personal and professional risks. Sam took this move in stride and immediately proved his skill and value as an employee for the City of Cedar Rapids. Sam is a versatile employee that can work on any piece of apparatus and in any area of the city. Sam’s experience and poise in the fire department were quickly recognized, leading to his promotion to Captain. We frequently call upon Sam to provide training to probationary employees at one of the busiest stations in Cedar Rapids. Undoubtedly, Sam will continue to excel in the fire department no matter his role. Pat is an important part of the Traffic Engineering leadership team. His great work ethic and dedication to traffic safety are on display every day he is on the job. His work on improving the pavement marking and signing programs for the City over the last five have been instrumental in improving the safety and efficiency of the transportation system within Cedar Rapids. When Karin came to the City five years ago she started as a Construction Project Manager in the Engineering Construction Division. She quickly became a great asset to the City in that role. When a Project Manager role opened with Paving for Progress, we were fortunate to add her to our team. With her background in construction, she adds a great area of expertise to the Paving for Progress team. Karin is a great team member, project manager, and engineer. She is always willing to take on a new challenge and additional work. It is a pleasure to work with Karin.

Tina Kelchen Administrative Assistant Utilities, Water

Lisa Kerker Administrative Assistant Public Works, Engineering

Christine Knapp Water Utility Plant Manager Utilities, Water

Trevor Luedtke Infrastructure Technician Finance, Information Technology

Tyler Lundtvedt Auto Equipment Mechanic II Finance, Fleet Maintenance

YEARS OF SERVICE

Tina is instrumental in the day to day operations and success of our Water Distribution team. She is very reliable and efficient and takes pride and ownership in her work. She is always willing to help out with new things. Congratulations on 5 years with the team and hopefully many more to come! Lisa joined the Right of Way team in 2021 from Human Resources. She is an important part of the team by being involved in every aspect of right-of-way services the office provides. Lisa’s contributions are customer service response, council item review and submission, closing document management, and back-up for the right of way permitting, to name a few. When Lisa came to Right of way, she led an initiative to convert the very much loved and protected paper files to an electronic version which has made a positive impact on the team. Lisa continually challenges the team for ways to improve our processes. Thank you for being a part of the Right of Way team. Christine has served as Utilities Lab Manager, Water Plant Operations Manager, and now as Water Plant Manager overseeing both water treatment plants, in her short time at the City. She is always ready to take on a challenge and meet issues head-on. It is a pleasure to have her on the Utility Team. Trevor fills an important role within the IT Department serving as Infrastructure boots on the ground. Most recently Trevor lead an IT Infrastructure effort to bring the new Ellis Park Golf Course Clubhouse online including moving hardware and assisting with wired and wireless network access. He is the primary owner of inventorying all physical hardware under the IT Infrastructure umbrella. Trevor is a pleasure to work with, approachable and works to assist city employees with many infrastructure-related issues. Tyler has been an auto equipment mechanic at the CSC garage for over five years now. He quickly learned the diverse equipment he would be maintaining and went on to be a leader and trained others. Tyler’s military experience was evident as he moved into the role of filling in for the Garage Supervisor. Tyler is honest, reliable, and wants the best for the City. Thank you, Tyler, for your hard work, and thank you for your continued service in the military.

Jackie Lynch Claims Analyst Finance

Kim Martens-Tyo Materials Librarian Library

Kirk McKay Transit Driver Development Services, Transit

Mitch Mensen Garage Supervisor Finance, Fleet Maintenance

Kyzer Moore Police Officer Police

Tyler Mougin Water Plant Operator IV Utilities, Water

Tom Mrazek WPC Instrument Technician Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Jackie is a team member that always pitches in whenever extra hands are needed. Her team benefits from her reliability. She is positive and reassuring to the City’s customers and meets the more challenging work with dedication and positivity. Congratulations on your first 5 years, Jackie! Kim is such a wonderful member of our team, she always brings energy and positivity to her work. Her 5 years at the Library have been full of change and we’re so grateful to have her on the journey. Kirk has been with our Transit Department for 5 years and always offers a cheerful and welcoming conversation with our passengers. Kirk’s ability to adapt to everyone he is around and keep a level head makes him a valuable driver for the city. Mitch started at the City five years ago as our Garage Supervisor at the Transit fleet facility. His prior experience in the Cedar Rapids School District has been beneficial for the City, along with his leadership skills. Mitch has been an asset to our division, bringing solutions to issues and staying ahead of the game. He is a team player and will do what it takes to get the job done. Thank you, Mitch, for your dedication and five years with the City! Kyzer Moore is currently assigned as an Investigator on the Mobile Assist Team as part of the Criminal Investigations Division. Prior to this assignment, Kyzer was a patrol officer. Kyzer is a dedicated member of the department and in addition to his daily duties, he is also a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Bike Patrol Officer, and a member of the Mobile Field Force. Kyzer does an outstanding job of working with other areas of the Department and is always willing to assist. He is truly an asset to the Police Department. Tyler is a great example for our new operators. He strives to learn and gain knowledge to better operate the water plant. He maintains a calm and collected demeanor during times of stress and helps to guide the team in the right direction. Tom is an integral member of our Instrumentation team at Water Pollution Control. Tom’s attention to detail and willingness to work together to solve complex electrical issues is a valuable asset in maintaining the operation and compliance of our facility. Congratulations Tom on 5 years of service. Thank you. 15

Joel Parker Streets Heavy Equipment Operator Public Works, Streets

Josh Petska WPC Operations Supervisor Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Benjamin Pritchard Police Officer Police

Cory Rains Solid Waste & Recycling Driver/Collector I Utilities, Solid Waste

Melinda Rauwolf Police Officer Police

Randy Ridenour Systems Support Technician Finance, Information Technology

YEARS OF SERVICE

Joel has been a valuable member of the NW Streets team for 5 years. Joel started in a labor position and through training, knowledge, and ability has become a Heavy Equipment operator. Joel shows flexibility, initiative, and pride in work completed. Thanks for your 5 years of service. During his time here, Josh has proven to be a valuable asset to WPC and the City of Cedar Rapids. Thanks, Josh!

Benjamin is a valued member of the Patrol Division here at the police department. He is disciplined and detail-oriented. He goes above and beyond in everything he does. Benjamin is also a valued member of our Special Response Team and an active member of our armed services. He uses the skills he has learned in these specialties to assist other officers and help keep our community safe. Cory has completed 5 years with the City of Cedar Rapids. Cory started as a Solid Waste Recycling Laborer Extra Driver in 2016 and was promoted to Solid Waste Recycling Driver Collector I on March 29, 2021. Cory is well versed and proficient with all of the equipment in the Solid Waste and Recycling Division and is called upon regularly to assist with nuisance abatement work and other tasks. In addition to his duties with the City, Cory is a volunteer Firefighter for the Shellsburg Fire Department, is a fully Certified EMT, and is an active member of the Iowa National Guard. Officer Melinda Rauwolf has served the Cedar Rapids Police Department since June of 2017. Since then, she has exhibited the core values of a public servant and will excel as an asset to our community for years to come. Randy is the newest member of the IT Department Customer Support Team. He has brought an added knowledge of application and process to the team. Randy’s dedication to customer service, including his calmness and patience, is contagious. His ability to rouse humor within the team is an extra bonus.

Briana Robertshaw Police Records Technician Police

Ben Rocca Firefighter Fire

Zach Rogers Auto Equipment Mechanic II (Transit) Finance, Fleet Maintenance

Sam Rohrer Transit Driver Development Services, Transit

Briana is always willing to tackle a challenge and look for ways to improve processes. She is dependable, pleasant, and contributes to the department in many roles. In addition to serving as the specialty Record Tech supporting the Criminal Investigation Division for the past three years, Briana also serves as an on-the-job trainer for new employees, co-coordinator for monthly NCIC Validations, and is a member of the Police Department’s Focus Group. Briana’s role in Records is critical to the continued success of the division and she is a very valuable member of our team! Ben came to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department from a firefighting family as the son of a retired Iowa City Fire Chief. He walked in with a great deal of knowledge and the desire to make his father proud which he has most certainly done. Ben is a skilled firefighter and paramedic that currently works on the city’s NE side. He has a great deal of desire to continue learning and become involved in all aspects of the fire department. Ben is a workhorse and is loyal to the City of Cedar Rapids on and off of the job. Ben has a bright future with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and will most definitely continue to make the city a safer place. Zach joined the Fleet division five years ago from the Cedar Rapids School District. He has years of experience maintaining and repairing buses, so he was able to adapt quickly to the job in the City. Zach comes in each day with a positive attitude and is a great influence on others and is a great role model for the City. We appreciate Zach and his hard work keeping the City buses on the road for our citizens. Sam has been with our Transit Department for 5 years now and has been a great driver for us. He has great customer service skills and good knowledge of our buses and our system. We are glad he is part of our team.

Sue Sager Organizational Development Manager City Manager’s Office

Brandon Schmall Utilities Engineer III Utilities, Water

Rory Siddell Collection Systems Maintenance Worker II Public Works, Sewer

Logan Sirovy Streets Driver Public Works, Streets

Aaron Smith Firefighter Fire

Hunter Swartz Streets Driver Public Works, Streets

YEARS OF SERVICE

Sue Sager is one of the few employees who I think has met every person in the organization. When we embarked on the organizational health initiative, we couldn’t have designed a person who would so perfectly fit the role of Organizational Health Manager. Sue truly embodies our core values of teaming up, finding a way, and serving enthusiastically. She is always there with a kind words and advice on how to make any situation better. Sue has made our organization exponentially better by using her talents to ensure we have the strongest culture possible. She is an incredible member of the City Manager’s Office team. Brandon Schmall started in Water as a Utilities Engineer I, steadily advanced to Utilities Engineer II, and now most recently was promoted to Utilities Engineer III over his 5 years with the City. He is one of our most experienced Professional Engineers on staff and can be trusted with managing large complex projects thanks to his extraordinary attention to detail. His hard work and dedication have set a great example for the rest of our team. Thank you Brandon for being an employee who is always up for new challenges. Rory is an ambitious and intelligent member of the sewer team that is learning quickly and continually expanding his skill set and knowledge of sewer operations. He is also always willing to jump in and help with any task that may arise. Logan has recently been promoted and continues to do the things he needs to do for further advancement. His main job in the summer is driving the asphalt paver, and in the winter, he plows snow. Logan is assigned to the Southeast Quadrant. Aaron is a hard-working firefighter who will accept any task given and will always do his best to exceed expectations. Aaron is a steady hand who is always observing and learning. He is relied upon as a driver/operator and has also stepped up to accept an acting captain role. Aaron is an asset to our shift and CRFD as an organization. Keep up the great work! I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish in your next five years! Hunter has been a valuable member of the NW Streets team for 5 years. Hunter is currently a Driver and is counted on for his skills in hauling material to City construction projects, snow removal, and maintenance efforts. With his experience in Traffic, Concrete and Quadrant Hunter is a knowledgeable resource. Thanks for your 5 years of service.

Sara Thomas Administrative Assistant Building Services

Derek Turner WPC Equipment Mechanic Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Katie Ulmer Human Resources Specialist Human Resources

Cody Vry Police Officer Police

Sara Thomas began as a temporary front desk employee serving multiple departments before becoming a full-time employee with Building Services five years ago. We all recognized her commitment to providing great service to our customers and we were very happy she moved into a permanent position. Sara has one of the most difficult roles in our department. She provides call intake for inspection requests for our entire building trade division. Sara combines a certain level of finesse in handling difficult questions and situations in conjunction with a higher level of understanding of the code and construction, ultimately to deliver a high level of customer service. She has grown into the position and we are happy to have as a member of our team. Thank you Sara for your service! Derek Turner has made a large impact in his time here at WPC. He can be counted on to complete any task needed with great attention to detail. Derek is a great team member to all members of the Repair and Overhaul team at WPC. It has been a pleasure to work with Derek and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in the future. Katie provides support for our applicant tracking system, setting up interviews and most importantly tracking that candidates have all successfully completed their pre-employment requirements. As you can imagine, this can be a lot to keep organized especially during the height of our seasonal hiring. We get compliments from candidates on Katie’s thoroughness and professionalism in communicating with them from the pre-interview stage all the way through their start date at the City. Cody Vry came to the Cedar Rapids Police Department from another agency in Iowa. Cody Vry started out in Patrol and soon was selected to be a member of the K9 Unit, where he currently still holds a position. He is a dedicated K9 handler and has taken a leadership role within the K9 unit and at the Police Department. He and his K9 partner Mac have been involved in several major incidents and have been instrumental in taking contraband, weapons, and dangerous criminals off the street. Congratulations Cody on your 5 years of service!

Calob Ward Code Enforcement Officer Building Services

Travis Watkinson Transit Driver Development Services Transit

Ben Weyers Water Plant Operations Manager Utilities, Water

Matt Wirth Streets Driver Public Works, Streets

YEARS OF SERVICE

Calob Ward is a Code Enforcement Officer with the Housing & Nuisance Division of the Building Services Department. Calob was previously a laborer/extra driver with the City’s Solid Waste & Recycling Division before joining Building Services in June 2021. Calob does an excellent job of communicating with citizens to help them understand potential property maintenance code violations and articulates methods in which they can be successful in bringing their property into compliance. Calob created an innovative way of addressing motor vehicles not parked on a permitted hard surface or inoperable/unlicensed vehicles by creating a Courtesy Notice tag that could be used as an alternative to a Notice of Violation. The Courtesy Notice tag helped reduce the number of violations that needed to be referred to Linn County District Court and was identified as a more efficient means of code compliance. Calob continually demonstrates enthusiasm and advocates for additional training of code enforcement staff, which prompted a Situational Awareness & Self-Defense program offering to all divisional staff. Travis has been a dependable employee over these past five years. He is an asset to our training program with new hires and puts customer service at the top of his priorities each day. Ben Weyers plays a key role in the water treatment plant. His leadership and collaboration with others in the utility are driving forces to keep safe, great-tasting drinking water in the community. Ben meets complex problems with a positive attitude and a “can-do” perspective. His attitude and motivated approach to problemsolving is infectious to the rest of the water plant team. This enthusiasm leads to the staff’s ability to overcome hurdles, more often than not. Matt’s background is in construction, which makes him a versatile employee. Most of Matt’s Summer work consists of asphalt overlay, inlays, street sweeping, and seal coating and he plows snow in the Winter. Matt is assigned to the Southeast Quadrant.

Bill Yirkovsky Solid Waste & Recycling Driver/Collector I Utilities, Solid Waste

Tina Young Library Shelver Library

Bill has been with the city for over 5 years. Bill started as a Solid Waste Recycling Laborer Extra Driver in 2017 and was promoted to Solid Waste Recycling Driver Collector I on September 15, 2021. Bill is an efficient route runner. When routes are changed due to community growth or just a simple switch in operators, Bill will be running his new route efficiently in short order. Bill enjoys cooking, volunteers his time with the Sons of the Legion, and spends time at his cabin. Tina Young is Library Shelver at the Downtown Library. Her reliability, teamwork, and attention to detail make her a valued part of the Library staff. Prior to working as a Shelver, Tina worked several summers as a seasonal employee. I am thankful for Tina’s work and great attitude.

10 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Yvonne Aubrey

One of Yvonne’s goals, when she started working for the City, was to transfer Risk from the City through purchasing insurance policies that protected the City’s financial condition. The City’s exposure to financial risk was seen in the 2016 Flood, 2020 Derecho, and 2022 Library Fire. Yvonne’s commitment to transferring risk allowed the City to be reimbursed for losses and not place the burden of these losses on the taxpayers of Cedar Rapids. In addition, Yvonne has always been willing to discuss with departments what their challenges are as it relates to risk management.

Risk Manager Finance, Risk Management

Steve Barker Transit Driver Development Services, Transit

Chris Bormann Utilities Purchasing & Inventory Technician Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Chris Brand Police Officer Police

Steve has been with the Transit Department for 10 years now. His knowledge of our system and helping passengers with great customer service skills have served our passengers well in the city. Chris is very detail-oriented and he is extremely proficient in his role as Purchasing Technician at WPC. Chris is a great resource for his extensive knowledge of purchasing and finance policies. He is diligent in his responsibilities and he has really been an asset for the City. Thank you for your 10 years of service! Chris is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Unit, working on both State and Federal investigations involving drug crimes. He is also a Firearm instructor for the department. Chris is a valuable member of the Police Department and is always willing to help others.

Sara Buck Housing Services Manager Community Development, Housing

Jess Bys Safety Coordinator Finance, Risk Management

Kevin Ciabatti Building Services Director Building Services

YEARS OF SERVICE

Sara Buck started with the City 10 years ago to assist in administering a 2008 Flood Recovery Program. With a willingness to expand her knowledge and step outside her comfort zone, Sara has continued to increase her role, now serving as the Housing Services Manager. In her current position, she has led her staff through many transitions due to the completion and initiation of new, significant federal housing programs. She has also led process improvement to maximize resources and maintain responsiveness to external factors. Through all of these changes, Sara has kept the energy and focus on the services we provide our residents. This commitment to customer service has resulted in Sara’s activity in many cross-departmental teams, such as innovation initiatives, that strengthen our entire organization. Her commitment and collaborative approach make her an invaluable member of our City team. Jess provides quality content for safety communications and this communication helps to bolster her team’s presence and service delivery. Her customers reach out to her and are engaged with her on challenging safety questions. Jess is connected and trusted and her team values her commitment to expanding her assignments and creating a great team! Congratulations on 10 years, Jess! Cedar Rapids is a safer place because of Kevin Ciabatti. Kevin’s constant dedication to life safety and ensuring buildings are safe for inhabitants and visitors touches our residents every day, even though most would never know it. Kevin’s leadership of the Building Services Department has encouraged staff members to expand their knowledge and gain certifications, expanding the talent of the team, and increasing their ability to serve the community. Kevin demonstrates every day the commitment to his profession that he also promotes to his team. A team that not only has experienced the highest reported valuation of building permits ever recorded in a fiscal year—$770 Million!—but who has also been working tirelessly to issue about 35,000 building permits since the derecho in August 2020. Thank you to Kevin for his ten years with the City of Cedar Rapids, his contributions to the Director Team, and for his leadership of the Building Services Department.

Aaron Dodds Plans Examiner Development Services

Tyler Evans Water Systems Equipment Operator Utilities, Water

Travis Foster Firefighter Fire

Richard Guider Custodian Finance, Facilities Maintenance Services

Zach Hughes Urban Forester III Parks and Recreation, Forestry

Aaron Dodds became Development Services’ newest plans examiner in July 2022. As a prior City inspector, Aaron brings considerable training and know-how to our commercial plan reviews. DSD is noticeably more efficient with Aaron on board and his dedication is helping lead us to success. Tyler Evans has been an important employee on the construction side of Water Distribution. Tyler started as a laborer where he gained great knowledge of the water distribution system, then he worked his way up to a Water Distribution Operator where he leads a crew of 4-5 employees in completing water main breaks, hydrant, and valve installations, and street and yard restoration. Tyler is willing to stay late to complete work, pick up extra on-call shifts, and fill in for the Lead Repair Worker III position, overseeing 9 employees. Thanks for your dedication Tyler! Travis Foster has been serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids for ten years in a variety of roles. He is currently assigned to the department’s central station. Travis serves as acting company officer almost daily and will be taking the department’s promotional exam next month. Travis has assisted in training with multiple probationary firefighters and a real help to his crew and company officer. Travis is part of the urban search and rescue team where he serves as squad leader. Travis is knowledgeable with many vehicles and specialized equipment such as the rescue and aerial truck. This fact makes him very versatile employee. Travis is a member of the Chief’s Listening Post as well as Safety Committee. Richard has worked for FMS for 10 years. He is a joy to work with! Rick is great at keeping our facilities clean and always looking for ways to improve the appearance of our buildings. We can count on Rick to come up with solutions for various issues. Zach brings much-needed skillsets to the Forestry team. With experience in other city departments, he can team up and help other divisions when needed to accomplish a variety of tasks. Zach has been willing to come in after hours for storm damage calls and is a skilled operator on all forestry equipment. He can be counted on to work independently to get the job done.

Sean Kinkead Police Officer Police

Jeremy Kuda Urban Forester III Parks and Recreation, Forestry

Bruce Lyon Utilities Quality Assurance Officer Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Derek McCusker WPC Repair & Overhaul Maintenance Supervisor Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Jerry Merritt Transit Driver Development Services, Transit

YEARS OF SERVICE

Officer Sean Kinkead has served with the Cedar Rapids Police Department for 10 years. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division and has recently taken on the assignment of accident reconstruction investigator. Officer Kinkead is meticulous and thorough in providing the best possible service to the citizens of Cedar Rapids. Jeremy has continued to strive to increase his skills on the forestry team. His leadership and technical skills have grown together in his time here. Like most other forestry staff, Jeremy has non-forestry skillsets that can be utilized by other departments when needed. Jeremy is also attuned to resident needs and helps assist residents with non-forestry concerns whenever necessary. This is Bruce’s second stint with the City of Cedar Rapids, so although we’re celebrating his 10-year anniversary his contributions have extended beyond the past 10 years. Bruce brings a solid technical background and set of experiences to his role as the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Officer for the Utilities Laboratory which allows him to be a sounding board and resource for those around him. His door is always open and he’s willing to lend a hand to anyone with questions. We appreciate all Bruce’s contributions and the positive attitude he brings to work every day, thanks Bruce! Derek’s journey with the City started at the Water Department as a Water Plant Operator for 1.5 years. After working at Water, Water Pollution Control had an opening for an Instrumentation Technician. Derek spent another 1.5 years in that position. WPC had an opening for Repair & Overhaul Maintenance Supervisor where he has excelled and currently remains in that position. While Jerry has been with the city for 10 years, it does not explain the value he brings to the transit team. He is a team player and is always collaborating to help improve things in the department. Jerry is a great example of the Organizational Health philosophy of “focusing on results,” as he takes initiative and consistently contributes to the collective success of the transit team.

Matthew Messer Police Officer Police

Lisa Miles Patron Services Specialist Library

Marsha Otto Accounts Payable Specialist Finance

Chad Pence Water System Repair Worker I Utilities, Water

Lindsay Powers Police Officer Police

Officer Matthew Messer has been a member of the Cedar Rapids for 10 years. In 2016 Officer Messer joined the department’s Police Community Action Team. He has taken it upon himself to become knowledgeable of the individuals who are responsible for the gun crimes in our community. He conducts thorough investigations to ensure those responsible are held accountable. He is an informal leader of this department and highly regarded by his peers. Lisa provides exceptional customer service to our community. One of her great passions is making sure that our teen patrons feel welcomed and that the library is a fun and safe space for them. She has made a huge impact on their lives. We are so fortunate to have her on our team! Marsha came to Accounts Payable from the Treasury division of the Finance Department and is a valuable member of the AP team. She is dependable and very willing to assist a co-worker or take on a new challenge. She brings a calm, confident presence to the team, and is a pleasure to work with. I congratulate her on 10 years of service with the City, and wish her many more! Chad Pence started in Solid Waste and then transferred to Water Distribution on the construction side where he learned about the water distribution system, fixing main breaks, and installing valves and hydrants. Chad then moved into the Maintenance side of Water Distribution where he maintains fire hydrants for ease of flushing and to ensure the Fire Department has working fire hydrants. Chad has been a consistent learner, most recently increasing his knowledge by learning how to perform water main shutdowns. Thanks for your hard work, Chad! Officer Lindsay Powers has 10 years of service with the CRPD. During her career, Officer Powers has been involved in many assignments within the police department. Officer Powers currently serves on the Crisis Negotiation Team, Peer Support Team, and Honor Guard. She has a passion for each of these programs and has helped them develop and grow over the last several years. Officer Powers is currently assigned to the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative. She has risen to the challenge to develop new programs to present to the public in an effort to educate citizens on the opioid epidemic sweeping our nation. It is an honor to have Officer Powers serving on the CRPD. 25

Amanda Rabey Compliance Monitoring Specialist Community Development, Housing

Breck Raim Streets Supervisor Public Works, Streets

Laura Shaw HCV Supervisor Community Development, Housing

Joe Sherbon Auto Equipment Mechanic II Finance, Fleet Maintenance

YEARS OF SERVICE

Amanda’s dedication to serving residents in need in our community is seen daily, but especially in times of disaster. Stepping up to lead a new Eviction Prevention Program that was created during a time of uncertainty for many households, Amanda worked with the team to create an easy process for families to receive assistance. This was done alongside of her daily duties of completing federal environmental reviews and monitoring federally funded projects. Amanda’s attention to detail, work ethic, and team-oriented approach have made her an asset to the City and our community. Her ability to switch gears and complete extremely complex tasks quickly makes her an invaluable member of our team. Breck started as a Laborer and quickly demonstrated a strong work ethic and interest in learning new techniques and processes as a second-generation employee of the City. Breck was eager to share that knowledge and became a Street Supervisor, the position he currently holds. Breck is involved in a number of committees within Public Works to include Safety Chair. Breck enjoys working with animals and helping to farm in his free time. Laura’s leadership in Housing Services has been essential to the success of our programs, as well as many families in need. Her dedication to helping others can be seen every day, in her work with families and with her staff, to ensure those with the highest barriers to housing have options. Working through federal regulations to identify opportunities for residents, taking on additional programs and funding opportunities, and doing it all with a positive can-do attitude, is what Laura does. Laura works closely with the Veterans Affairs staff and several social service agency staff to keep appraised of families’ needs and works diligently to find ways to break down barriers and find options for gaps in assistance. Her team-oriented approach goes beyond the Housing Services division with her work with other departments and agencies. Laura is an essential part of our team and is an asset to the City and the community. Joe has been with the City for over 10 years now, but it only seems like yesterday when he started and brought his years of knowledge with him. Joe is first to start the safety stretches in the morning tailgate, and is always safety conscious. He is a positive role model and quick to assist another mechanic when needed. He is hard working and can run circles around the Energizer Bunny. Thank you, Joe, for being an asset to the Fleet division!

Richard Taylor Housing Inspector Building Services

Michelle Timm Animal Control Officer Police, Animal Control

Teri Van Dorston Veterans Memorial Museum Manager Veterans Memorial Commission

Richard Taylor is a Housing Inspector with the Housing & Nuisance Division of the Building Services Department. He joined the department in May 2021. Richard was previously an Animal Control Officer for Animal Care & Control under the Police Department. With his previous background, Richard has successfully incorporated skills learned as an Animal Control Officer to enhance rental housing inspections, including comprehensive report writing, safety awareness, and conflict resolution. Richard is dedicated to process improvement and was an integral part of helping the department updating the Housing & Property Maintenance Code. He also embraced the department’s carbon monoxide monitoring program and determined the presence of carbon monoxide emitting from a faulty furnace through an outside ventilation system that was in proximity to a neighboring property. Rich makes a difference in our community by ensuring rental properties are in compliance with the Housing & Property Maintenance Code, which equate to safer living conditions for tenants and properly maintenance properties in neighborhoods. Michelle has made a large impact in the 10 years she has been with Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control with her compassionate attitude. She continuously goes above and beyond her normal duties, enriching the lives of the animals in her care. Michelle has spear headed many projects within the department, motivating her co-workers with her great work ethic. Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control is lucky to have Michelle as a staff member. Over the last 10 years, Teri has absolutely reinvigorated our museum and memorials here at the Veterans Memorial. She has single-handedly brought us up to standards and practices that put us on par with other institutions. The motto before she came may have been to be just good enough, but now thanks to Teri, we strive to do better than we did yesterday.

Weston Wery Police Officer Police

Joy Williams Patron Services Specialist Library

YEARS OF SERVICE

Officer Wery has proudly served the citizens of Cedar Rapids for the past 10 years. He is dedicated, hardworking, and always goes above and beyond. Not only does Officer Wery serve as a Field Training Officer, but he also works with the Special Response Team. Officer Wery uses this specialized training to better serve the community, along with the recruited officers he mentors. Wes is a valuable, well-rounded Officer for the City of Cedar Rapids. Wes is a part of the Special Response Team and recently completed a stint in Investigations. Wes takes on a leadership role every day he comes to work and is a Field Training Officer helping teach recruits the job. Wes works every day to make Cedar Rapids a better, safer community. Congratulations, Joy, on 10 years with the City of Cedar Rapids and with the library! You consistently encompass the core values of our city by serving every patron with enthusiasm, you find a way by being creative, and you treat your team with respect and generous intent. It is such a pleasure to work with you and watch you make every interaction with our library community a priority. You are an asset to the library, the city, and to all those lucky enough to get to work with you. Here is to the next 10 years!

15 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Stacy Baye

Stacy Baye is an excellent employee that has served with dedication. She is currently assigned as an investigator in the Crimes Against Persons Unit. Stacy has also been on the Police Honor Guard Team and currently serves as a crisis negotiator during active events involving persons in crisis. Stacy started in the patrol division and later transferred to investigations where she has worked for the last several years. Stacy manages multiple cases at a time and provides quality service to citizens and victims of Cedar Rapids.

Police Officer Police

Shawn Burke Police Officer Police

Officer Shawn Burke has established himself as a police officer who cares about the youth of Cedar Rapids. He has become a role model and leader with the Police Explorers. He received the Chief’s Award for his service and dedication to the youth and Explorers in 2021. Officer Burke sets the standard of what the city of Cedar Rapids should expect when it involves youth and guidance for our growing community.

Cathy Cropp-Scanlon Administrative Assistant Parks and Recreation

Michael Dierks Police Officer Police

Douglas Doyle Police Lieutenant Police

Ray Druger Jr Solid Waste & Recycling Supervisor Utilities, Solid Waste

Cathy started with the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department at Usher’s Ferry as a volunteer in 1994. She then moved into working as a seasonal employee and in 2007 became an Administrative Assistant at Usher’s Ferry. Cathy was very instrumental in the planning, design work, and operations of the Usher’s Ferry Lodge. She registers patrons for programs, sets up school tours, and tends to the gardens and grounds around the village. Cathy is a huge asset and hard worker, instrumental in keeping all things running smoothly at Usher’s Ferry. Officer Michael Dierks has been a valued member of the Cedar Rapids Police Department for 15 years. He is an asset to the overnight shift, providing years of experience and knowledge. Michael is one of the more senior officers on the shift, and his friendly personality, it allows him to be someone the younger officers can turn to with questions. He comes into work each day with a positive, passionate, and hardworking attitude. Michael has made physical fitness one of his top priorities, and recently he has taken on a new role as a PT Instructor, training new recruits in the academy. Lieutenant Doyle is celebrating his 15th year anniversary. I have been impressed with his work ethic and his overwhelming commitment to excellence. He embodies all of the true values of the CRPD—Courage, Character, and Integrity. He was selected for his current assignment in Professional Standards for his values and those aforementioned details. He is a true professional and a credit to Cedar Rapids. Ray has been with the city for over 15 years. Ray started with the city in 2007 as a Solid Waste Recycling Laborer Extra Driver. He then transferred to Water Distribution in 2003 and then promoted to Service Rep II in the Water Meter Shop in 2015. Ray was an active AFSCME member and became the Local 620 Union President and then its Vice President. Ray recently has come full circle and is now back at the Solid Waste and Recycling Division as one of its newest Supervisors. It is exciting to have Ray back in the Solid Waste and Recycling Division. When not at work, Ray keeps himself busy managing rental properties with his wife.

Chuck Graham Systems Analyst Finance, Information Technology

Jessica Harden Police Officer Police

Kevin Heald Garage Supervisor Finance, Fleet Maintenance

Rod Irons Animal Control Officer Police, Animal Control

Liz Jacobi Assistant City Attorney II Library

Rebecca Johnson Purchasing Agent II Finance, Purchasing

YEARS OF SERVICE

Chuck has been a versatile and reliable member of the IT team. He has experience with a number of City Departments and always receives positive reviews from customers. His dedication to the success of the City and his customer service attitude are great examples for the rest of the team. Jessica Harden marks her 15-year milestone with the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Over the last five years, she has proved herself to be a valuable member of the department’s Crime Scene Unit. She goes above and beyond daily to assist patrol officers and investigators with criminal investigations to collect, preserve and process evidence necessary for successful prosecutions. In addition to her regular duties, she also serves as a crisis negotiator for the department. Kevin started with the City 15 years ago in the Transit division. His mechanical experience and knowledge from the military led him to our Fleet Division in 2009 where he has been an asset on the shop floor. Kevin later was promoted to Garage Supervisor where he spends time training and working with new auto equipment mechanics on the second shift and leading mechanics in their daily work. Congratulations on your 15 years of service Kevin! Rod’s “can-do” attitude has lifted spirits within Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control more then once. His ability to quickly de-escalate situations and connect with the citizens of Cedar Rapids has resulted in co-workers leaning on him in difficult scenarios. With Rod’s easy-going attitude, experience, and animal welfare knowledge, he is truly a valuable member of our team. Liz is an invaluable member of the Legal Team. She’s not only an excellent attorney but an amazing human being who truly cares about the people she works with and the impact she has on the community. This makes her a committed public servant and a role model for aspiring leaders. Congratulations on reaching this milestone and thank you for your continued service to the City! Rebecca has been a purchasing agent for the past 15 years. She works well with all City departments, especially providing guidance during the proposal process. Rebecca has great communication and writing skills. Rebecca recently received her NIGPCPP certification—congratulations! Rebecca is a valued member of the Purchasing team.

Adam Jones Fire Captain Fire

Dan Kent Police Officer Police

Mike Kern Police Sergeant Police

Aaron Leisinger Police Sergeant Police

Corey Lentz Police Officer Police

Adam has been servicing the citizens of Cedar Rapids for 15 years. Currently, Adam is assigned at Station 5–A shift as Captain / Paramedic. Adam is dedicated to ensuring Cedar Rapids Fire Department is progressing with rookies as he is entrusted with his second rookie in two years. In doing so, Adam delivers daily training and mentorship to the rookie with his crew to ensure his rookie is achieving the standards needed to graduate from his rookie year. In addition to the daily training, Adam uses real-world street experience from emergency calls to progress his rookies from the basic concepts to the advanced thoughts and actions needed to be an effective and safe firefighter. In closing, Adam was on shift on August 20th of 2020, the day of the Derecho. Adam and his crew worked tirelessly throughout the night to keep the city safe. Thank you, Captain Jones. Dan is an experienced officer having worked on different shifts and on different beats. Dan brings calmness and resolves in what are otherwise chaotic situations. Dan can be counted on to solve problems and diligently investigates cases assigned to him. Dan strives to make the community a safe place to work and live. Congratulations on 15 years of service! Mike is a tremendous Police Officer and supervisor. He ensures the shift is aware of emerging crime trends and legal issues that affect how and what we police in today ever changing law enforcement environment. Mike is a quiet professional who ensures quality police service across the board as efficiently and promptly as possible. He is a valued member of the department and an asset to the citizens of the city. Sgt. Aaron Leisinger is a very tactically sound commander that utilizes the tools available to him to attempt to find peaceful resolutions. He is always willing to guide and mentor less experienced police officers in various different disciplines. He is an asset as a front-line supervisor on patrol. Officer Corey Lentz has been with the Cedar Rapids Police Department for 15 years. During that time he has become one of the lead firearms instructors for the department. His training experience and networking with instructors from other agencies have been an asset to the Cedar Rapids Police firearms program and those we serve. Officer Lentz has also taken a leading role in the development and implementation of the use of force simulator program.

Steve Mast Administrative District Chief/ Assistant Fire Marshal Fire

YEARS OF SERVICE

Steve Mast is a key member of the fire department leadership team in his role as the Assistant Fire Marshal. His keen intellect and ability to communicate complex issues clearly have served the city well in a variety of capacities during his 15 years of service. Chief Mast has had a significant hand in the development and re-development of the EMS program and fire investigation program in addition to serving as a firefighter paramedic, fire captain, fire investigator, and training captain. Steve came to the Fire Marshal’s office from shift, Steve has proven to be very valuable to the Fire department serving in many roles but none more important than Assistant Fire Marshal. Steve has stepped up and exceeded expectations as the plan reviewer, permit reviewer, and supervisor of our fire inspectors. Steve’s broad background in the fire service as a shift firefighter, shift Captain, and fire Investigator, as well as being a certified ICC Inspector 1 has prepared him for his role as AFM. Steve’s ability to solve problems and end up with win-win outcomes is extremely valuable in his position as AFM.

John McNamara Water Utility Service Rep II Utilities, Water

Matt Minkler Solid Waste & Recycling Driver/Collector II Utilities, Solid Waste

John has been with the city for 15 years. He has been very reliable in helping others when needed by assisting in getting the work done. He puts in a lot of extra time after work for being on call, taking care of emergencies outside of his normal working hours, and is always willing to help train the younger staff in our department. Matt has completed 15 years with the City as a Solid Waste and Recycling Driver Collector II. Matt started as a Solid Waste Recycling Laborer Extra Driver in 2007 and was promoted to Solid Waste Recycling Driver Collector I in 2011 and then to Solid Waste Recycling Driver Collector II in 2013. When Matt started with the Solid Waste and Recycling Division, he ran one of the original stand-up right-hand drive recycling trucks and now operates a fully automated collection truck. Matt also works hard educating his customers about what should and should not be recycled. When off work Matt enjoys road tripping, watching movies and loves to read about and stay current on vintage cars.

Janae Obbink Police Officer Police

John O’Brien Police Officer Police

Aaron Orcutt WPC Operations Manager Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Stacy Parmer General Accountant Finance

Ryan Rasmussen Water System Repair Worker I Utilities, Water

Officer Janae Obbink has been with the Cedar Rapids Police Department since 2006. During her career, Janae has worked in the Patrol Division but most of her career has been spent in the Community Service Division. Janae is currently the School Resource Officer at Prairie High School. Janae has worked hard to build positive relationships with both students and staff at Cedar Rapids Prairie to make the school and the community a safer place. John came to the Police department with prior law enforcement. He is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division and serves as a Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of investigation. In this position, he is able to work with the United States Attorney’s Office to help prosecute cases that involve some of the most violent Offenders. His knowledge and communication skills make this collaboration successful. Aaron is a great asset to the City of Cedar Rapids and WPC. He is always willing to jump in to help and take on challenging tasks to help make the plant a better place. Thanks, Aaron for all that you do! Stacy is an integral part of the General Accounting team. She is willing to take on new tasks and assist on projects in order for the good of the team. She has been a big help in making sure we complete reimbursements and closeouts of grants timely and accurately. Ryan Rasmussen came to Water Distribution from Solid Waste. Ryan started on the construction side of Water Distribution learning the system by fixing water main breaks, installing valves and hydrants, and completing yard and street restoration. Ryan is now utilizing his knowledge of the Water Distribution System by shutting valves for Water Distribution and contractors. Ryan is willing to stay late and come in after hours to perform water main shutoffs and turn-ons. Thanks for your dedication, Ryan!

Jessica Schur Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Randy Vest Police Officer Police

YEARS OF SERVICE

Jessica has been with the JCA for the last 15 years. Over the course of the fifteen years, she has been a lead dispatcher, quality assurance certified dispatcher, and also assists the department by updating the schedule the majority of the time. Jessica has volunteered to attend several training classes to continue her professional development and has attended several local APCO and NENA conferences as well as attended a national 911 conference a few years ago. Randy is a seasoned officer who brings years of experience and knowledge to the department. Randy is currently assigned to the patrol division where he continues to be proactive and dedicated to public safety. Randy continues to build community relations in the neighborhoods and districts he works. Randy has taken on an additional role as a Field Training Officer; passing on his knowledge and experience to new officers. Randy is an asset to the department and city. Congratulations on 15 years of service!

20 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Jason Aarhus

Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Aarhus has been in the fire department for 20 years. He is currently assigned at Station 2 – A shift. With this location, E2 responds to a lot of industrial emergencies, Kirkwood Community College, and accidents along Hwy 30 & Interstate 380. With this, Jason’s paramedic skills are used a lot each year to assist citizens and those who pass through our city. Jason is also the chairperson of the Cedar Rapids Fire Departments’ 5K run/walk. The race is a benefactor to Fire/EMS /PD personnel who have been affected or killed in the line of duty. The race has been donating money to those in need for 22 years. Just in the last 2 years, 10 different donations have been given to families. To close, Jason was working the day of the Derecho storm that impacted the city and the citizens, like others Jason made a positive influence on August 10th of 2020. Thank you, FF/Paramedic Aarhus.

Firefighter Fire

Corey Archer Fire Captain Fire

Eric Bahl Construction Project Manager Public Works, Engineering

Mike Bailey Police Officer Police

Josh Bell Police Officer Police

Captain Archer is a valuable 20- year member of CRFD. Captain Archer is a highly motivated fire officer and takes special pride in working on Truck One (CRFD’s flagship ladder apparatus), responding out of Central Fire Station. He is a student of his craft and is well-versed in all things firefighting. Captain Archer is also highly involved in the CRFD Special Operations Program and holds technician-level certifications in the disciplines of rope rescue, confined space rescue, water rescue, and hazardous materials. Captain Archer is also the CRFD lead coordinator for the trench rescue program. Corey passes on his expertise in many ways, including teaching classes as an adjunct fire instructor for Kirkwood Community College on his days off. Corey is also a veteran member of and holds a leadership position in Iowa Task Force 1, the State of Iowa’s Urban Search and Rescue Team. Congratulations to Captain Archer for 20 years of dedicated service. During his 20 years with the City of Cedar Rapids, Eric has served as a Construction Inspector and now as a Project Manager in the department. Having this background allows Eric to have a unique perspective in team and project meetings. He’s always looking for ways to improve as an individual, a project team, and the City of Cedar Rapids. We’re lucky he’s here as we all learn and grow with our increasing programs. He’s also a heck of a cook. Cheers to 20 years, Eric! Mike is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Unit working on Narcotic Investigations. In this position, Mike works on both State and Federal investigations involving drug crimes. Mike has also recently taken over as the President of the Officer’s Union. Mike is a valuable resource for the Police Department. Josh Bell is a valued employee, who has worked in many areas within the police department. He started his career in patrol working overnights handling calls for service and traffic enforcement. Josh also served on the Special Response Team, and Honor Guard, and is an involved member of the police associations. Josh is assigned to the investigative division where he has worked Internet Crimes Against Children and later transferred to the Persons Crimes Division where he currently works. Josh has served the citizens in various ways while working for the city and continues to be a dedicated employee.

Lyndi Bieber Police Officer Police

Mark Bohman WPC Process Operator Utilities, Water Pollution Control

Cory Burkle Fire Captain Fire

Robert Collins Police Lieutenant Police

Corey DePauw P&G Maintenance Repair Worker II Parks and Recreation

YEARS OF SERVICE

Officer Lyndi Bieber is a dedicated officer with 20 years of service with the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Officer Bieber is currently a Patrol Officer and one of only a few accident reconstruction investigators in the department. Officer Bieber has taken the lead role in investigating many of the most serious accidents in our city. Officer Bieber has also been a firearms instructor for many years. She is instrumental in working with recruits during the academy as well as providing ongoing training to our officers. Mark is a true team player and a great asset to the WPC operation’s team. He works well with everyone and is quick to share his knowledge. Mark offer’s help to others to achieve the desired outcome. Congratulation on 20 years of service. Captain Burkle strives to ensure fire and life safety within our community. He steadily moves forward each day to tackle the tasks at hand. In addition to his regular workload, Captain Burkle often follows up on ongoing fire safety issues to keep people safe and properties up to code. He gladly works with customers and can often be found explaining fire safety concepts to help educate others and improve their understanding. Captain Burkle is an expert in childcare and school safety, his work in these areas helps keep our city’s children safe. Thank you Captain Burkle for your 20 years of service. Lt. Robert Collins has been with the CRPD since 2002. During his career, he has excelled in many positions and taken on many roles and responsibilities. His work ethic and attitude are greatly appreciated. Lt. Collins has served the citizenry with professionalism and compassion and has shown leadership throughout his career. It is an honor to have Lt. Collins be a part of the CRPD. Corey has actually been with the City longer than 20 years. Corey started with the Golf department as a seasonal in 99’. In 2002, Corey became an Assistant Superintendent with the Golf department and in 2016 became Superintendent. After golf was restructured in 17’, Corey moved over to Parks and became a Maintenance Repair Worker for the Urban Core/SW quadrant. Corey’s extensive knowledge in turf maintenance as well as construction and mechanical has made him an integral part of our department. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the City and we look forward to you spending another 20 years with us!

Martin Eganhouse Police Officer Police

Matt Humphrey Fire Captain Fire

Kevin Kirchner Utilities Business Manager Utilities, Water

Adam Lindenlaub Planner IV Community Development

Martin has been with the department for 20 years with 13 years of them assigned to the Crime Scene Unit. As the most senior investigator within that unit, he provides great insight and experience to the rest of the team. He is thorough and meticulous with his investigations which leads to successful prosecutions and ultimately convictions. He is a vital member of the department and his service is appreciated. Matt joined the Fire Marshal’s office as one of our Arson investigators, Matt has since gone through the Police academy making him our second Arson investigator that is also a sworn peace officer. Matt has learned very quickly the ins and outs of fire investigations making him a valuable member of our Investigations team, his no-nonsense approach to investigations makes him a great investigator. In addition to his responsibilities as an Arson investigator Matt is also responsible for a number of fire inspections, his understanding of fire code helps him with his investigations. Matt’s vast knowledge of the fire service makes him a valuable member of our team. Kevin plays an invaluable role within the Utilities Department, making sure our bills are paid, our revenue is being collected, and most importantly, making sure our customers are being assisted in a timely and efficient manner. While he primarily works behind the scenes, his expertise and dedication keep the business end of Utilities flowing every day. Over his 20-year career, Adam has been a key team player in the CD Planning Division. His portfolio of planning initiatives is impressive, from his pivotal role in the intensive Flood Control System and Neighborhood Planning after the 2008 Flood to the Czech Village/New Bohemia Area Action Plan. Adam continues to promote growth through planning that engages residents, guides public improvements, and spurs private investment. He also has shown leadership with the Historic Preservation Commission, transitioning to a more proactive prioritization of our historic assets. Adam’s accomplishments have made a significant impact on the City’s planning team, establishing an expectation of professionalism and excellence.

Jen Marion Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Josh McAlpin Police Sergeant Police

Matt McAtee Animal Control Officer Police, Animal Control

Jackie Mullen Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Theresa Munger Utilities Collections Coordinator Utilities, Water

YEARS OF SERVICE

Jen has been with the JCA for the last 20 years. Jen has been a steady and extremely reliable employee. Jen always puts the department and the job first, and her dedication to the department is admirable. Jen does a good job working with citizens as well as the agencies we dispatch for. Josh has served in numerous capacities over his 20-year career including Patrol, Special Response Team, Bicycle Patrol, Field Training Officer, and Honor Guard. His current assignment in the Criminal Investigation Division has him overseeing Crimes Against Persons investigations, which include the most violent crimes occurring in Cedar Rapids. Josh has a strong passion for police work, an excellent knowledge base, and a true dedication to assisting others to succeed. He constantly portrays a positive and professional image to everyone he interacts with. Josh’s sense of humor and genuine outlook make it a pleasure to work with him. Josh is a great asset to the Police Department and the City of Cedar Rapids. Congratulations on your 20-year milestone! Matt’s knowledge of animal husbandry, animal laws and willingness to mentor co-workers makes him a valuable member for Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control. Over the last 20 years Matt has continuously sought to improve the lives of animals in the shelter and in Cedar Rapids by voicing not only his concerns, but also solutions. Matt’s vast experience has benefited the citizens of Cedar Rapids, both two-legged and four-legged. Jackie has been with the JCA for the last 20 years. Jackie has been an acting lead dispatcher on the midnight shift and also assists with documenting audio files for the Linn County Attorney’s office. Jackie is instrumental in assisting all JCA employees when something traumatic has happened in their personal lives or while at work. Jackie checks on employees often to make sure they know we are thinking of them. Jackie has done a great job working several major events for the JCA. Theresa has been a positive influence on our department since her first day. Our customers, coworkers, and utility have benefited tremendously from her commitment to providing excellent customer service. Wherever the need, Theresa can be relied upon to jump in and assist, whether it be working on the impact of a natural disaster, implementing new business processes, training a new hire, or simply providing a word of encouragement to a co-worker. Congratulations on your service milestone, and thank you for your commitment and dedication to the City.

Eric O’Rourke Streets Supervisor Public Works, Streets

Julie Popelka Firefighter Fire

Loren Snell Project Engineer II Public Works, Engineering

Tina Wickman Fleet Administrator Finance, Fleet Maintenance

Marci Williams Transit Programs Coordinator Development Services, Transit

Eric never takes the easy path and holds himself and his coworkers to a high standard. Eric excels at finding creative ways to solve challenges and is someone who can be counted on to find a way. Eric started with the City as a seasonal and has done just about every task in the Streets Division making him a valuable member of the Public Works team. He shares his knowledge and takes the time to make sure assignments are understood. Julie has served the citizens of cedar rapids for twenty years as a firefighter paramedic. Julie is currently assigned to station six. Julie spent six of her twenty years as the department’s public education specialist. In this role, Julie championed programs such as Remembering When, a safety program for seniors, as well as the Junior Firefighter Challenge and Neighborhood Blitz. Julie was also integral to the Fully Involved women’s Fire Academy and a member of the department’s honor guard. Julie loves being a member of the CRFD. A former manager in construction engineering for the City of Cedar Rapids, Loren is an important member of the sewer engineering team. He has valuable knowledge of projects and events from the last 20 years and serves as a liaison between sanitary sewer maintenance staff and sewer engineering. Tina has been a valuable team member of the Fleet division and was one of the first employees when Fleet was created in 2007. Her knowledge of city operations and networking has brought value to the division. Tina shows initiative and is always willing to help others to get the job done. Her knowledge, leadership, and teamwork have proven to be a strong asset to the division and the City. Thank you, Tina, and congratulations on your 20-year service award! With 20 years of service, Marci offers much institutional knowledge for less tenured employees. She is always willing to help others with their projects, offers her opinion and assistance, and is a valuable member of the Transit Department.

25 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Stacey Crist

Stacey has been with the JCA for the last 25 years. Stacey was my original trainer and I am thankful she trained me to this day. Over the course of the 25 years, Stacey has been a lead dispatcher and a trainer for the JCA. Stacey’s knowledge of the city and the history of the JCA is immeasurable. Stacey is an excellent resource for the department on how to get things done when something that is commonly used may not be working properly. Stacey excels in the “We Find a Way” city goal as she is able to accomplish the job tasks no matter what seems to arise.

Dispatcher Police, Joint Communications

Mitch Crist Police Officer Police

Brad Dawson Water Plant Asset & Inventory Supervisor Utilities, Water

Anne Deutmeyer Police Officer Police

Mitch is a high-quality Police Officer who supports many facets of the police departments daily functions. He provides positive and prompt Call for service handling with a flare for professionalism. Mitch also provides internal training to the seasoned Police Staff and the recruit classes in Defensive Tactics and Firearms. Mitch is a senior member of the Special Response Team providing a vast array of experience to the team. The City of Cedar Rapids is proud to have such a valued employee. Brad Dawson has navigated several roles during his 25 years in the water department with all of them pointing at the importance of providing safe drinking water to the public. Coordinating and prioritizing numerous plant maintenance activities all while keeping operations running isn’t an easy task but Brad continues to work through it. Brad‘s growth and development over the last couple years has shaped the leader he is becoming. Thank you Brad for your dedication. Officer Anne Deutmeyer started her career here in 1997 in the Patrol Division as all new officers do. She was selected to be an Investigator in 1999 where she served in several roles in Investigations until 2004. From there, her career took her back to the Patrol Division with a short time in the Traffic Unit. In 2015 she was selected to be the School Resource Officer (SRO) at McKinley Middle School. She currently remains an SRO.

Brian Freeberg Police Officer Police

Rick Halleran Battalion Chief Fire

Michael Hass Police Officer Police

Brian Havlicek Police Officer Police

Brian is a dedicated Investigator that sets the bar high in his quality of work. He is currently assigned to the Property Crimes unit in the Investigation Division. Brian displays a tremendous work ethic. He is a well-respected investigator that others turn to for assistance. Thank you for 25 years of service to the people of Cedar Rapids. Rick is an invaluable leader at the fire department and has been involved in nearly every significant development at the department during his 25 years of service. He was integral to the implementation of a department-wide physical fitness program, truck company operations, special operations, development and leading of the Urban Search and Rescue team, and most recently as a battalion chief on the A shift. Chief Halleran’s approach to consistency and leadership has raised the bar for the organization and for everyone who follows. Officer Hass is a 25-year veteran who has worked mostly in the Patrol Division. He has also been assigned as a Field Training Officer since 2005, training new recruits as they end their Academy training and before they go solo as Police Officers. He has trained many officers and has dedicated himself to being a professional in law enforcement. Currently, Mike is assigned to the Office of the Chief and is our only Accreditation Officer. He worked with our Accreditation Manager to achieve accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Mike is able to use his street experience to help keep our accreditation valid and on target. Brian is currently assigned to the Investigative Division working primarily to check fraud cases. He is a very hard worker, who demonstrates hard work and professionalism in his everyday work. Brian demonstrates excellent customer service and works hard to find a conclusion to the cases he is assigned. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the City of Cedar Rapids.

Glen Heims Fire Captain Fire

Jared Hicks Police Officer Police

Matt Hilliard Fire Captain Fire

Dallas Hyke Collection Systems Maintenance Worker III Public Works, Sewer

YEARS OF SERVICE

Captain Glen Heims is a valued member of the fire department and an excellent steward to the City of Cedar Rapids. Over the years Glen has proven his diversity by working in many different roles. He is well versed in all areas of the fire department. Glen is always kind and gracious both at work and away from work. In his current assignment as the Captain of Truck 1 at Central Fire Station, Glen is called upon to provide highquality service to the entire City of Cedar Rapids for all fires and complex incidents. Glen proves every day he is up for the challenge and ready to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. Jared has done many things over his 25 years of service with the Police Department. He is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division where he serves as a Task Force Officer with the United States Marshall’s Service. He is able to use his tactical experience as a member of the Special Response Team to successfully track down and arrest wanted fugitives. He has proven to be a valuable resource and is always willing to help other officers. Captain Matt Hilliard came to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department in 1997 after four standout years as an Iowa Hawkeye linebacker. The tenacity that he showed on the football field has certainly continued to shine through in the City of Cedar Rapids. Early in his career, Matt tackled the challenge of attending the paramedic program. After countless hours in the classroom, field internship on an ambulance, studying, and testing, Matt successfully received his paramedic certification. His drive to always improve was one of the leading factors in his promotion to Captain several years ago. Matt has been a “go-to” Captain who has mentored several probationary firefighters. He has always been a pleasure to work with and requires little to no supervision. Dallas is genuine, inspiring, and brings a positive attitude to work each day. Very rarely is he not smiling. Dallas and I have worked together for the past 25 years and I truly appreciate all that I have learned from him during our time working together. Thank you Dallas!

Dan Jabens Police Sergeant Police

Chip Joecken Police Officer Police

Mark Jones Solid Waste & Recycling Manager Utilities, Solid Waste

Molly Knock Administrative Assistant Fire

In his quarter century serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids, Dan has served throughout the department in many different roles. From patrol officer and investigator, to being promoted to Sergeant and leading officers in different parts of the department, he enthusiastically and eagerly takes on new assignments and challenges. He currently supervises the Property and Evidence Unit and the Hazardous Devices Unit. Chip Joecken is currently assigned to the Persons Crimes Unit in the investigative division of the police department. He has also worked in the Narcotics Unit and started his career in the patrol division before being assigned to investigations. Chip serves the citizens well by working on his assigned criminal cases to help bring closure to victims and citizens in this community. Chip has extensive investigative experience as he has worked in most areas of the investigative division. Chip’s experience is an asset to this unit and the department. Mark has seen many changes in the City in his 25 years with Solid Waste & Recycling. His dedication and service to keeping our residents happy are greatly appreciated. We all wish him and his family well as he starts a new chapter in his life as he retires in April 2023. Molly has been with the Fire dept. since December of 2013, Molly has been a quick learner that possesses very good organizational skills. Molly saw the need to be able to answer customers’ questions without having to pass them on to someone else, she has learned some basic fire codes so that she could answer those questions giving customers an immediate answer. Molly has been a problem solver from the start by streamlining many processes within the Fire Marshal’s office and eliminating redundancy. Molly is the glue that holds the FM’s office together, her leadership is greatly appreciated.

Matt Kunkle Fire Captain Fire

Mike Leaven Sewer Maintenance Supervisor Public Works, Sewer

Terry McAtee Fire Captain Fire

Lanna McLane Custodian Finance, Facilities Maintenance Services

YEARS OF SERVICE

Matt has been serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids for over twenty-five years where he serves at station 9. Matt is a twenty-five-year paramedic, and in this role, is a valuable asset to the department. Matt served two years in the department’s training division as EMS training captain where he utilized his thirtyplus years of EMS experience in training the department’s EMS personnel. Matt is a critical care paramedic and certified EMS instructor. His credentials and experience made him an asset to the department’s training division. Matt was a member of the Fire Chief’s Listening Post and has served as an EMS incident report reviewer. Matt has previously trained probationary firefighters and is a Distinguished Service Award recipient. As a Sewer Supervisor in Public Works, Mike is the go-to person with questions about the voyage of items entering the Storm and Sanitary system. If you haven’t really given it much thought, that is because Mike is very good at what he does. Mike’s knowledge, gained over his 25 years of service, is a great asset to the City. Mike has played a critical role in a number of significant flooding issues in his career offering perspective and real-time experience that has helped him respond to and plan for events. Captain McAtee has been a dedicated member of CRFD for over 25 years. Terry has worked the majority of his career at CRFD’s busier stations and is currently the senior captain at Station 5. Capt. McAtee has never lost his love for responding to calls for help. Capt. McAtee is an extremely caring individual and always acts in the best interest of the people he serves. He will always go above and beyond for someone in need. Terry’s no-nonsense, down-to-earth disposition and infectious sense of humor make him a joy to be around. Thank You to Captain McAtee for 25 years of devoted service. Lanna has worked for the City for 25 years and we are fortunate that she transferred to FMS years ago. We can count on her to keep the appearance of our facilities up to par. She is a joy to work with!

Brian McLeod Street Supervisor, Senior Public Works, Streets

Phil Meyer Police Officer Police

Deb Meyer Streets Driver Public Works, Streets

Erik Moen Fire Captain Fire

Brian is responsible for Concrete work within the Streets Division. Brian has demonstrated a wiliness to help other Departments complete many projects. If you were to point at a panel of concrete replaced in the past 25 years Brian probably has a story about how and who did it. He has been a leader in the Streets Division well before accepting his current Supervisory role. He is someone you can rely on to point out a new perspective or way of viewing an issue that you may have otherwise not considered. Phil is a very dedicated Police Officer who goes above and beyond during his work as a Day Shift Patrol Officers. Phil mentors other Officer and provides his vast knowledge and experience to each Call for Service he is on. Phil handles each call with the intent to fix the issue for the long term. The City of Cedar Rapids is proud to have such a valued employee. Deb is in Vegetation management mowing and keeping City Lots looking short and clean. Deb is one of the best drivers we have for Asphalt and Seal Coating and is great at snow plow operations. She has seen many white-out blizzard conditions and you have probably passed her on your way to some sunny destination at the Cedar Rapids Airport keeping the roads cleared. Erik has been serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids for over 25 years in a wide variety of aspects. He is currently assigned to Central Fire Station, Truck 1–A shift as a Captain/EMT. With his skill set and abilities, he leads and mentors a lot of firefighters and crews on Truck 1. Erik is a very reliable employee each day as he brings a can-do attitude to each shift. Erik oversees Confined Space on A shift and he helps the rookie training academies on such skills to showcase Cedar Rapids Fire Departments’ talents with confined space. Erik is a role model for younger company officers who look for guidance as they build their experiences in leading and mentoring others. Lastly, Erik worked on the front lines on August 10th of 2020 during the Derecho storm to mitigate emergencies safely and effectively to protect the City of Cedar Rapids. Thanks, Captain Moen.

Casey Pearson Transit Operations Clerk Development Services, Transit

Corey Peiffer Police Officer Police

Joe Werling Traffic Control Maintenance Worker I Public Works, Traffic

YEARS OF SERVICE

With 25 years of service, Casey is one of the longest-tenured employees in the transit department. Through his many years of dedication and service interfacing with the citizens, Casey brings a wealth of knowledge that helps in the successful day-to-day operations of the transit department. Corey has been a tremendous asset to the Investigations Division for many years. He is currently assigned to Property Crimes where he focuses on crimes involving theft and Dependent Adult Abuse. Corey is willing to jump in and assist on other big cases when needed. Corey is well respected by his peers and commanders because of his commitment to professionalism and integrity. In his 25 years with the City, Joe has worked for the Sewer Division, Water Division, and Forestry Division, and he recently made his way to the Traffic Division. Joe is energetic and likes to find different ways to get the work done. He always has a positive attitude, even when things may not be going the right way, and he is a huge asset to the Traffic Division. We are happy to have him and congratulations on 25 years of service to the City of Cedar Rapids

30 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Titof Aquice

Titof is a pleasure to work with and a celebrity around the City of Cedar Rapids. It seems as if people recognize him anywhere he goes. Titof has been a member of several departments and teams during his 30 years of service to the City of Cedar Rapids including time in Transit and the IT Department. Titof serves a role within the IT Infrastructure team by providing guidance, background information, and details regarding city operations beyond the IT Department. If you ever get a chance to see Titof out and about, you will be charmed by his warm personality and great sense of humor.

Infrastructure Administrator Finance, Information Technology

Vickie Freeman Streets Driver Public Works, Streets

Charity Hansel Police Officer Police

Vickie transferred to Streets after the 2008 flood and has become a very talented driver. Most of Vickie’s workload in the summer consists of hauling asphalt to the paver and hauling chips for seal coating, and she plows snow in the winter. Vickie is assigned to the Southeast Quadrant. Officer Charity Hansel has been with the CRPD since 1992. Officer Hansel has excelled at many assignments during her time with the department. Some of her assignments include patrol, investigator, school resource officer, and mental health officer. She has been a member of the Honor Guard, Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity, Field Training Officer, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Crisis Negotiator. She was named Officer of Year in 2007, received the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Award in Washington DC in 2008, and the Dr. Kathleen Opdebeeck Award for her work with sexually abused children in 2008. She most recently received the Community Service Award for her work in mental health in 2020. Officer Hansel consistently works hard and is passionate about her work. The CRPD is fortunate to have Officer Hansel serving the citizens of Cedar Rapids.

Jeffrey Hembera Police Captain Police

Gail Loskill Parks and Recreation Communications Specialist City Manager’s Office

Rachelle Molyneux Patron Services Specialist Library

Tony Wilson Streets Heavy Equipment Operator Public Works, Streets

YEARS OF SERVICE

Captain Hembera is service-oriented and focuses on the future of the department. As the Captain in charge of training and the Academy, he stays current on best practices and on needed training to keep our local training relevant and modern. He has a heart for the people he serves, whether it is the public or the City of Cedar Rapids employees, and he has demonstrated the City Values throughout his career. Jeff is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and serves on their Board of Directors for the state-level association. He has also proven himself time and time again as a member of the City Incident Management Team, whether it was during the Flood of 2008 or most recently during the Derecho of 2020, in taking care of the citizens of Cedar Rapids. Gail brings a passion for her work and a cando attitude that boosts confidence and builds excitement in the teams she serves. Her experience gives her an advantage in recognizing possible challenges and developing solutions before issues arise. She frequently offers insights and learning lessons to benefit all. Gail is the first to offer support whenever needed and is an invaluable asset to the Communications division, Parks and Recreation, and City teams. Congratulations to Rachelle on the enormous accomplishment of 30 years with the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Through floods, derecho and now a fire, Rachelle has steadfastly worked through it all. The amount of growth and change that Rachelle has navigated in those thirty years is astonishing and her experience is a well that those she works with will draw from daily. As a team, we celebrate Rachelle’s accomplishments and thank her for her service. Tony has been with the SW side for many years now and has become the go-to at our supply yard on Bowling Street keeping track of all material coming in and out for various departments. In the wintertime, Tony is one of the best equipment operators for the snow fighting efforts. Tony is a great trainer and someone to lean on when things go bad in any emergency.

35 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEE

MANAGER COMMENTS

Mark Asplund

Officer Mark Asplund has dedicated 35 years of service to the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Officer Asplund is currently a Patrol Officer and a senior member of the Hazardous Device Unit. He is also a very knowledgeable resource for OWI investigations and accident investigations. Officer Asplund brings a wealth of knowledge and a calm, common sense approach to the citizens he serves and the officers he works beside.

Police Officer Police

Jim Porter Firefighter Fire

Scott Saylor Fire Captain Fire

Jim has seen many changes and worked for six different fire chiefs during his time with us. He brings a wealth of experience and has been a part of numerous teams within the department over the years. Jim has served on the safety committee, TQS committee, rope rescue team, confined space team, water rescue team, boat operations, uniform committee, and as a board member of the Fire Department Credit Union while it existed. Jim often steps up to fill the role of Acting Captain to successfully manage a fire station and supervise a crew. He never hesitates to engage in a spirited discussion and often provides a unique perspective. Captain Saylor has been a member of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department for 35 years, with almost two decades serving in the Fire Marshal’s Office. Scott has established long-term working relationships with the owners and tenants of the businesses and industries he inspects. Scott is an expert in fire flows and verifying the amount of water required for sprinkler systems and firefighting operations. Scott has also done extensive work in fire and arson scene examinations and determining the causes of fires within our community. Scott is planning on enjoying a well-deserved retirement in 2023, but we would gladly have him for another 35 years!

2022 RETIREMENTS

EMPLOYEE

DEPARTMENT

YEARS of SERVICE

Dennis Boeding

Street Operations

Joseph Clark

Police

Mitchell Conant

Transit

Anne Deutmeyer

Police

Stephen Drane

Water Pollution Control

John Ernst

Water Pollution Control

Kelly Fitzpatrick

Police

Susan Fleege

Public Works - Engineering

Craig Furnish

Police

Timothy Gavin

Fire

Brian Hall

Fire

Carolyn Hamilton

Aquatics Operation

Patricia Holderness

Cedar Rapids Public Library

William Holub

Street Operations

Glenn Kieler

Police

Pauline Kikuts

Information Technology

Lawrence Livingston

Utilities - Solid Waste

Patrick McDonald

Facilities Maintenance Service

Karla McMurrin

Cedar Rapids Public Library

Marcus Morin

Fire

Michael O’Neill

Recreation

Gary Petersen

Public Works - Engineering

EMPLOYEE

DEPARTMENT

YEARS of SERVICE

Dale Retzlaff

Transit

Linnan Ryan

Attorney

Steven Salyer

Water Pollution Control

Judy Sheely

Joint Communications

Alan Soukup

Financial Operations

James Sweet

Water Pollution Control

Gary Thompson

Water Operations

Dien Tran

Utilities - Solid Waste

Ronald VanHoeck

Fire

Danny VanHorn

Water Operations

Bernard Walther Jr.

Civil Rights

Jolene Whiting

Cedar Rapids Public Library

Roy Wilson Jr.

Water Pollution Control