
3 minute read
Lyn Kiger Named 2011 Employee of the Year

Each December, the City of Westerville recognizes outstanding employees who have demonstrated excellent performance, productivity, loyalty, pride and responsibility. Employee of the Year candidates are nominated by their peers and/or supervisors. A committee comprised of City staff reviews the applications, selecting recipients of the Excellence in Service Award and one Employee of the Year. The City of Westerville is pleased to announce Lyn Kiger from the Parks & Recreation Department was selected as the 2011 Employee of the Year.
Congratulations on being recognized as the 2011 Employee of the Year. What does this award mean to you?
It was a complete surprise and shock to me, and the honor should totally go to the department. This award would not have been possible without the great staff that I work with, both part-time and full-time. They are wonderful and hardworking, and we are close enough as a team that it often feels like a family. It means a lot knowing that my nomination came from my co-workers.
Where are you from originally?
Waterville, Ohio – a small town on the Maumee River just north of Bowling Green. It’s a small, close-knit farming community and a great place to grow up!
How long have you worked for Westerville? When did you get started?
I started as a volunteer intern in 1991 teaching preschool classes. Later, I was hired as a summer camp supervisor/ leader and taught classes part-time while going to college at The Ohio State University, majoring in Recreational Education. I continued with my summer internship and, after graduation in 1995, worked part-time developing new classes. In 1997, I was hired full-time as a Program Supervisor, and I have been here growing with the department since then.
What is a typical day for you in the Parks & Recreation Department?
We do not have typical days at the Westerville Community Center. I go with the flow, armed with an agenda of what I want to get done in the day. But that can and does change at any time due to the visitors and the kids and their needs. Setting up rooms and programs, checking to make sure all areas are staffed properly, helping in child care rooms with class switchover and when they are busy watching the children. Assisting in any emergencies or requests that may come up. Answering phone calls and voice mails for booking parties and guests, and then hopefully getting the to-do list done for upcoming programs and requests.
What is the most rewarding experience you have had in your 15 years with the Parks & Recreation Department?
Seeing children I had in programs when they were 3 years old. They have grown up and become responsible adults and leaders, and have a desire to come back to work at depart- ment. I’ve been fortunate to train them as staff. I mean, these are the same “kids” that I worked with through separation anxiety issues when their parents dropped them off in the Sprouts room at 3 years old. They are now graduating from college and looking for full-time jobs. It is nice to see the kids grow and become confident, responsible, reliable adults within our community.
What stands out as one of the most challenging experiences, and how did you overcome it?
Offering evening programs for the working parent. There are so many evening activities offered in the Community Center for adults, teens and youth, so it can be difficult to find the space to offer evening preschool programs. It can be an organizational challenge to coordinate the variety of classes and times that are offered to the public, but we are committed to providing a diverse selection.
What is your favorite activity or event that the Parks & Recreation Department offers? Why?
Touch-a-Truck! It is fun to get the trucks together and see the children and parents and their reaction to the large vehicles they typically only see at a distance. I have fun myself seeing the inside of vehicles. I drive around town going, “Oh! I want to get that for Touch-a-Truck!”
What is something about the programs you manage that people may not know?
I manage preschool programs and special events such as the Baby Bargain Boutique, Half Pint Hullabaloo, Toucha-Truck, Cabin Fever Reliever, Preschool Open House and many more. Even though they are annual events, people may not know the time and effort we spend in and out of the office looking for and working on new ideas for the events. We brainstorm constantly and look for new and exciting activities that we can offer the families in our community.
What do you do in your leisure time?
Leisure time? Ha! I have two girls (Ashley, 7, and Allison, 10) who are very active in school, basketball, tumbling, Girl Scouts and horses. I took on the role of “cookie mom” this year and co-4H leader for their activities. The girls ride horses and they show them at the local shows, so my leisure time is spending time with them and my husband, Brad.