By Sara Quam
The second Rock County Employee of the Year award was given to a woman who more readily gives praise than accepts honors.
Pam Nelson, financial assistance supervisor at Rock County Family Services, accepted the award from the County Board Tuesday by saying, "My true reward is the people I work with every day at Rock County Family Services."
Family Services Director Randy Ehlers nominated Nelson. "Pam is an advocate for the clients of the agency and is a tremendously loyal supporter of our agencyÕs most important resource, our staff."
Nelson started working for the county in 1970 when she was one of four total employees in the county office. She delivered commodity foods to the elderly and helped stock the shed that housed the surplus foods that were given to welfare recipients.
"We bagged the canned meats for people and cut their cheeses and did the inventory," Nelson said.
Now, she supervises a financial worker staff of six and works in multiple computer systems instead of the old commodity shed.
During her years in the Family Services building she's seen loads of paperwork turn into piles of computer programs, all to accomplish her goal - to help the clients of Rock County.
Representatives from the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council also put in a good word for Nelson to receive the Employee of the Year recognition. "We have had the opportunity to work closely with Pam on the Employment Services part of the Minnesota Family Investment Program.
"We have found Pam to be very compassionate in serving the needs of Rock County clients. She is always supportive of our efforts to help those who help themselves."
Nelson said the entire agency is known for efficient, fair work, and sheÕs not the only one who should be acknowledged. "The credit starts with the County Commissioners and the Family Services director and goes right on down," she said.
"I feel so fortunate that I work with the people I do," Nelson said. "They are of such high caliber. One of the blessings is that they care; it's not just a job to them."
Ehlers also said about Nelson in his letter, "Pam has the unique ability to be both technically correct in understanding and implementing federal, state and county policies, as well as having empathy and compassion for the clients that come to our agency. She continues to strive to implement new processes and procedures for improving customer service."
Nelson has worked in other capacities for Family Services. She knows the hassles the front desk encounters and feels for the frustration of child support collection workers.
"When they do the best they can, that reflects on me. When they're successful, I'm successful," Nelson said.
Other nominees for employee of the year were Gloria Rolfs, courthouse employee; Deb Den Herder, from the Extension Office; Carol Wulf, from Family Services; Jennifer Schmidt, from Family Services, and Elaine VandenBerg from Heartland Express.
Al Hartz, who works for the highway department, was last year's employee of the year.