Daytona Beach, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia) has announced its employees of the year and they represent varied programs across the agency. Employee of the Year Rachel Sweet oversees drinking water systems. Supervisor of the Year Kristie Johnson directs the agency’s finance and accounting. And Non-Career Service Employee of the Year Theresa Hunt is a dental hygienist who often plays the Tooth Fairy when teaching young children about taking care of their teeth.

“Our employees nominated and then selected these outstanding employees because they consistently demonstrate our agency values,” said Patricia Boswell, DOH-Volusia administrator. “It’s an honor when your peers nominate you. They truly understand the demands of the job.”

Sweet joined DOH-Volusia in 2013. In her nomination, her co-workers noted that she is well versed in all of the agency’s environmental programs. She helped other programs during staff shortages and assisted her team by re-arranging her schedule and working long hours to ensure goals were met.

An employee since 2009, Johnson develops creative solutions and workarounds to manage the heavy workload faced by the finance and accounting staff. DOH-Volusia handles billing functions for 16 other county health departments and accounts payable and purchasing for two other county health departments.

For more than 12 years, Hunt has worked with children age pre-K to 5^th grade in Volusia’s schools as part of the school-based dental sealant program. Dressed as the Tooth Fairy, she teaches the children how to brush and floss their teeth and nutrition to promote good dental health.

Selection of the employees of the year is an agency-wide effort. All DOH-Volusia staff members may be involved in the nomination of their peers. An employee committee reviews and then ranks the formal nominations based on how well they demonstrate the agency’s values: Innovation, collaboration, accountability, responsiveness and excellence.

###

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.