by Sharon Wells
Laurel Lee Burton, Senior Office Support Assistant at WRDCC, was recently nominated by her supervisor, Sharon Wells, for the 2008 Missouri Outstanding Older Worker of the Year Contest. Much to our delight, she has been selected as one of the 15 semi-finalists statewide.
Laurel Lee and Sharon will attend the recognition activities in Jefferson City on May 1st and 2nd. The agenda includes a presentation of certificates by Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, and Brenda Campbell, Director, Division of Senior and Disability Services, visit with Senators and Representatives, visit the museum, and view the House and Senate in session. The overall winner will be announced at a luncheon at the governor's mansion May 2nd and will represent Missouri during the Experience Works' Prime Time Awards in Washington, D.C., in late September.
Laurel Lee was nominated for the following reasons and we hope everyone enjoys reading about her. Hopefully, the next article will include her victory speech and photos of her in Washington, D.C.!
Laurel Lee is in her 26th year of service with the Department of Corrections in St. Joseph, Missouri. She spent 13 years within Probation & Parole as a Clerk Typist II and has likely transcribed at least a bazillion tapes and answered a million phone calls. In 1995, she transferred to the Division of Adult Institutions at Western Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center and worked in the records office. She assisted in maintaining and updating over 500 offenders files daily. In 1998, Laurel Lee was promoted to Senior Officer Support Assistant and assumed the timekeeper duties in personnel. She has processed gazillions of leave slips for employees and answered countless inquires always treating everyone with respect and a pleasant demeanor.
Laurel Lee has a wonderful personality. Her feistiness and quick-witted humor makes a bad day seem good. She is compassionate and sincere in assisting staff with personnel issues and is very approachable. She is most dependable and each morning bounces into the office full of vim and vigor displaying a positive attitude.
Working for the state, Laurel Lee has had many training classes throughout the years. One of her biggest challenges was learning the new SAMII payroll system in 2001. After much trial and error, frustration, and a few tears, she conquered the system. Although she still has the occasional feud with "SAM", she normally comes out on top!
Besides working 40 hours per week (and sometimes more), Laurel Lee devotes much time to her husband, son, daughter, mother, and frequently baby sits her three young grandchildren. She cooks up a storm (from scratch) making breakfast each morning for her husband before leaving for work and then finds the energy to prepare the evening meal after work. She makes the most wonderful desserts that she shares with her coworkers that totally spoils us (and our figures)! She fits in time for church and her Friday night supper club, and yes, she takes a tasty dish or some sinful dessert.
Laurel Lee manages to mow her own yard, gardens, stains her own decks, spring cleans, fall cleans (cleans in between), hoses down the outside of her house, and washes windows inside and out. When she bought a new car a few years ago, she enthusiastically climbed on top of the roof to clean and wax it. A big dent and a few dollars later, she claimed they don't make rooftops like her old car anymore!
This lady can work circles around anyone in the work force. She is truly a special person and if she retires, as she frequently threatens to do, she will be a tough act to follow!
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