Worker in Procurement is Employee of the Year

After nearly 30 years, John Samuels now shines over all other Columbia County employees. The Procurement Department worker recently was named the county's Employee of the Year.

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"It was exciting," Samuels said. "My wife loved it."

A Harlem resident, the 50-year-old started working for the county cutting grass. For the past 12 years, he has been with the Procurement Department.

Samuels' duties include delivering mail and working in the warehouse.

"I like it. It's easy," he said. "I get to meet a lot of people. It's interesting."

One of the people Samuels regularly interacts with is his department supervisor, Finance Department Director Leanne DeLoach.

"He is the most faithful and loyal employee I've ever known," DeLoach said. "He does anything you ask him to without complaint and always has a smile on his face."

Samuels was chosen as Employee of the Year by the 11-member Employees of Excellence Committee. A previous win as the July Employee of the Month made him eligible for the award.

"It's based on the person who nominates them and what they write about him," said Jenny Hinton, coordinator of Keep Columbia County Beautiful and 2008 chairwoman of the Employee of Excellence Committee. "With John, he's been here 29 years. He's very deserving of it."