Camden County Earns National Achievement Award for Employee Recognition Program

Camden County, Georgia's Thumbs Up! Employee Recognition Program has earned a 2024 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

This year, NACo recognized Camden County's Thumbs Up! Employee Recognition Program in the category of Personnel Management, Employment, and Training. This program was established to acknowledge and reward the performance of county government employees, encouraging a culture of appreciation, motivation, and commitment. Through this mission, employees receive recognition for their dedication, innovation, and daily contributions to both the county and the community.

"Our Board of Commissioners recognize the importance of employee retention and we have empowered our staff to execute programs like this. We are fortunate to have a dedicated Human Resources team that leads efforts like the Thumbs Up! Employee Recognition Program," said County Administrator Shawn M. Boatright.

Open to all departments and offices within the county government, the incentive program was designed to ensure every role has an opportunity of recognition. By cultivating a positive work environment and reinforcing a sense of value and inclusivity, Thumbs Up! has been proven to boost employee morale, productivity, and overall organizational success.

NACo's Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.

"The Achievement Awards recognize excellence in county government and effective public service," said NACo President Mary Jo McGuire. "This year's winners have delivered results for our residents and demonstrated innovative efforts to strengthen our communities."

This is Camden County's 28^th NACo Achievement Award since 2009.

From Left: Senior Director of Human Resources & Risk Management Mike Spiers, Vice-Chair Lannie Brant, Human Resources Generalist Amy Peeples, Chairman Ben Casey, Commissioner Martin Turner, Commissioner Trevor Readdick, Commissioner Jim Goodman