DPW Supervisor Jordan Pena Receives City Strive Award

(L-R) City of Midland Department of Public Works Supervisor Jordan Pena, City Manager Brad Kaye, and Public Services Manager Melissa Farley

October 25, 2024 - The City of Midland is excited to announce that it has recognized Department of Public Services (DPS) Streets and Solid Waste Supervisor Jordan Pena as its latest recipient of a City Strive Award. The award was presented earlier this month.

Pena received the Safety First Award, which recognizes an individual for consistently exhibiting and promoting safe work practices and encouraging employee health and wellness by following safety policies, utilizing appropriate protective equipment, and striving to reduce risk and improve safety in the workplace.

He was nominated by Public Services Manager Melissa Farley for his creative approach to revamp Public Services' safety training programs to become more engaging and useful for his employees.

"Jordan has gone above and beyond in his role as [Department of Public Works] Supervisor. Not only does he excel at his actual job, he has also taken over and revamped the entire DPS safety trainings program - which is not part of his job description. In the past, DPS had "Safety School" twice a year. The employees dreaded sitting through four hours' worth of training presentations and quizzes twice a year. They would shut down and wouldn't participate because that was such a long time for employees to sit and listen to presentations, especially DPS employees who are normally out in the city moving around! Jordan decided to put an end to the safety school everyone hated and took it upon himself to do short trainings with the DPS employees every Wednesday morning. Now, employees hear one presentation a week and have time to digest the information. They are only sitting for 5-10 minutes instead of the four-hour block of time."

Jordan Pena has worked for the City since 2012.

"Jordan understands the critical importance of safe work practices in Public Services and it's evident in the effort he puts into providing education and training to his department," said City Manager Brad Kaye. "His initiative in overhauling the safety training program to a more impactful method not only demonstrates his deep commitment to the safety and wellbeing of his staff, but also shows how well he knows them as a leader."

For more information on the City Strive Award program or to submit a nomination for a deserving City employee, please visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/citystrive.