WASHINGTON, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Tony Nicely, president and chief
executive officer of Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO), has
announced the five recipients of its 2004 Public Service Awards program. This
year marks the 25th year that the company has honored public service employees
who go above and beyond their professional duties to make a difference in
their communities.
GEICO's Public Service Awards honor civilian career federal employees and
retirees for outstanding achievements in the fields of substance abuse
prevention and treatment, fire prevention and safety, physical rehabilitation,
and traffic safety and accident prevention. The five winners will each
receive a $2,500 cash award, a commemorative plaque, and an all expense paid
trip to Washington, D.C. for a special recognition ceremony. To commemorate
the 25th year of the awards program, GEICO has also invited the 116 past
recipients to attend a special reception.
Recipients of the 2004 awards are:
* Judy Turnbaugh, a retired senior enforcement programs specialist on the
staff of the Commissioner of Customs for her work in physical
rehabilitation.
* Jerry P. McDermott, safety and occupational manager for the Holloman Air
Force Base, for his work in traffic safety and accident prevention.
* Alfred Benalli, alcohol prevention specialist with the Department of
Health and Human Services, Navajo Area Indian Health Service, for his
work in substance abuse prevention and treatment.
* Kenneth E. Frasl, a hydrologic technician for the U.S. Geological
Service Washington Water Science Center, for his work in fire safety.
* Ross Braun, a natural resource specialist for the Department of
Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, for his work in
physical rehabilitation.
The recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception in
Washington, DC, Monday, April 4, 2005. The ceremony will be held at the U.S.
National Archives and Records Administration building, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
"This year marks the 25th year of GEICO's Public Service Awards," said
GEICO President and CEO Tony Nicely. "Since 1980, we have been honored to
salute the men and women who work on behalf of our country each day and who
dedicate their time and talent to bettering their communities. It is a
pleasure to celebrate this year's honorees as well as a 25-year history that
is rich with such outstanding contributions."
Daryl Glover, GEICO's federal liaison for the Public Service Awards
program, discussed the selection process. "Recipients were chosen through a
worldwide selection process involving the federal government, nationally
recognized experts in each of the four fields and other distinguished
citizens."
"Award nominations came from federal departments, independent agencies and
offices in the executive branch. Civil service employees making contributions
in any of the designated fields were eligible. Nominations of retired federal
employees making contributions in any of the four fields were submitted
through the National Association of Retired Federal Employees."
For more information, readers may contact Glover at 301-986-2798 or
dglover@geico.com.
A nomination committee screened all nominations. Its members included
Maureen Kavalar, Vice President of Program and Provider Services, Easter
Seals; Mike Faenza, President/CEO, National Mental Health Association; Delbert
Feaster, Assistant Chief Mineral Volunteer Fire Department; Jim Williams,
Chief of Police Staunton, Virginia Police Department.
A selection committee chose the winners from among the first committee's
nominees. Selection committee members included Pam Haberstroh, Executive
Director Community Health Charities of the Nation's Capital; John V. Moulden,
President National Commission Against Drunk Driving; Richard Howell, Executive
Director Baltimore Federal Executive Board.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fifth largest
private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto
insurance coverage for more than 6 million policyholders and insures more than
10 million vehicles. GEICO uses television, radio, print media and direct mail
to attract customers to call its 1-800-841-3000 number and to its
http://www.geico.com Web site, and keeps its rates low by dealing directly
with the customer. GEICO offers sales and claim services 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.
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