The 52nd annual City of Levelland Employee Appreciation Banquet was held November 17, with dozens of city employees being recognized for their hard work.
Councilman Michael Stueart opened the ceremony with the invocation while Assistant City Manager Joe Cavazos took care of welcoming everyone in attendance.
City Managed Brandon Anderson introduced the members of the current city council board as well as a small speech on “Attitude of Gratitude” before turning things over.
Covering all departments and recognizing all employees who have accumulated years of service, those in attendance gave a round of applause for those individuals who have dedicated their time to the city.
For their five years of service, PD Officer John Carrasco, PD Sergeant Rocio Gameros, PD Chief Albert Garcia, PD Officer Ignacia Gonzales and PD Officer David “Dakota” Moody were recognized.
For their 10 years of service, Steven Golden with the parks department, Tony Graves with the sanitation department, Emergency Officer Cole Kirkland, PD Officer Raul Lopez Jr. and Diana Romo with the water administration department were recognized.
For their 15 years of service, Fire Fighter Brian Faulkenbury, Nancy Lopez with the water administration department, Joe Medina Jr. with the cemetery department, LPD Detective Margarito Ramirez and David Riddle with the street department were recognized.
Recognizing the retirees, Fire Chief Bill Durham, LPD Sergeant Rick Galindo, Economic Development Director David Rushing and PD Captain Duane Rust were applauded for the longstanding careers.
Additionally, Cavazos and Mayor Barbra Pinner recognized all the award and certificate recipients.
Earning the Intermediate Peace Officer Certification were Ignacio Gonzales, Rey Nino, Ivan “Chapi” Baeza, Jesus “Emilio” Miranda, Rusty Fuentes and Moody.
Earning the Advanced Peace Officer Certification was Jeremias Rodriguez.
Earning the Crisis Intervention Officer and Licensed Drone Pilot Certification was Officer Moody.
Receiving the Master Peace Officer Certification and Patrol Rifle Instructor Certification was Ty Land.
Earning the Basic Instructor Certification was Fuentes.
Earning the Force-on-Force Instructor Certification was John Carrasco.
Earning the Taser Instructor Certification was Officer Fuentes and Sergeant Gameros.
Graduates from the Texas Sergeant Academy were Sergeant Lopez and Gameros.
Earning their Intermediate Structure Firefighter certification was Andy Finsterwald.
Earning their Advanced Structure Firefighter certification was Joe Madewell.
Earning their Arson Certification and Master Peace Officer was Jeff Pharis.
Earning their Fire Instructor Certification was Derrick Lewis, Lucinda Gonzales and Finsterwald.
Earning their Municipal Clerk Certification was Andrea Corley.
Earning their Code Enforcement Certification was Joe Shedd.
Earning their Community Transformation Certificate was Tania Moody.
Certified Public Managers were Dustin Reichelt and Melissa Fields-Allgeyer.
Promotions include: Firefighter Landon Durham being upgraded from part-time to full-time, Officer Mateo Lopez being upgraded to police captain, Officers Carrasco, Gameros and Ramirez being upgraded to police sergeant, Officer Fuentes was upgraded to detective.
Firefighter Jay McKay was upgraded to fire chief New employees recognized included Veronica Alaniz-Ybarra, Anderson, Justin Balderas, Mathew Benoit, Kirk Bird, Brayden Corwin, Shana Davis, Curtis Dent, Durham, Fuentes, Gonzales, John Hernandez, Tammatha Levell, Robert Pegues, Taylor Perez, Marcus Rendon, Dominic Rendon Jr., Rodriguez, Felipe Soto and Katelyn Yocom.
“This is the one time of the year that we get an opportunity to feed everyone a meal and bring everyone together as a family,” said Anderson. “We are one big family, and there are departments within that family but at the end of the day we’re all one big city family that I think do a great job and great service for Levelland.”
As Cavazos handled the welcome portion of the banquet, Anderson felt it right for Cavazos to handle that responsibility he is a hometown product that has worked his way up the ladder.
“I felt that was very fitting and he will always do the welcome because I think that’s what he likes to do,” explained Anderson. “We appreciate him and what he’s done. What I like about Joe is he started out within the lower ranks of utilities and public works. He worked his way up and that’s what’s great about him. He’s homegrown, he’s Levelland true and he has served as the number one for a while and did a very capable job while he was interim city manager and now assistant manager.”
Opening the speaking portion for Anderson, focused on the theme of attitude of gratitude.
“With our theme for the program I’d given them five steps to have an attitude for gratitude,” said Anderson. “With that, what we do daily working for the public and the taxpayer is considered servant leadership, so I talked to them about seven ways of servant leadership and how we serve the community. At the end of the day that’s what we do is we provide a service.”
Talking about the longstanding careers of the retirees at this year’s banquet, Anderson spoke about the opportunities that working for a city can provide in terms of a career and growth.
“I had the opportunity to talk to a few eighth-grade classes here in Levelland a few weeks ago and I spoke to them about the opportunities that are here,” explained Anderson. “There are good city jobs and opportunities to grow. I’m going to pay you to go get certified and then reach different levels.”
Through all departments within the city, Anderson feels that there is room for growth and improvement for each employee and the opportunity to climb the ladder is there.
“This is the one time where all of our departments can relax, have some fun and mingle,” said Anderson. “
At the end of the banquet, roughly 75 door prizes were given away.
“Our local businesses, providers and vendors were asked to bring a few door prizes and they really came out in strength as we were able to give away roughly 75 of them,” said Anderson.
Businesses providing gifts include Atchison’s Jewelry, Best Western, Brown Reality, Bryant Electric, CleanCo, HCSECU, Higginbotham Brothers, HSI Turbines, KBAR Electric/1st Class Plumbing, Heating & Air, Keeling Insurance, KLVT Radio, L&L Construction, Malouf’s J-M Western Wear, Michael Stueart-Paxton Real Estate, Mosaic Coffee Company, NAPA Auto Parts, Parkhill, Petro Products, Plains Motor Supply, Premiere Waterworks, Reisie’s Kitchen, Republic Services, Robertson-Agnew Heating & AC, Studio K, Sundown State Bank, T&S Craft & Antique Mall, Tea2Go, Underwood Law, United Supermarkets – Levelland and Wallace Theater.