For the first time this year, the staff of the Penitentiary of New Mexico is joining other agencies, churches and nonprofit organizations in an effort to ensure a bountiful Thanksgiving for area families in economic need.

In exchange for donations of nonperishable food items, Penitentiary of New Mexico staff members will receive a ticket for a chance to win a turkey from the Penitentiary of New Mexico Employees' Club. The club in turn is donating the food to Santa María de la Paz Catholic Community, which will deliver it to those in need by Thanksgiving Day.

"We're trying to reach out to the community, but we also want to help our staff [through the turkey drawing] who put in long hours and extra time during the holidays," said Warden James Lopez.

Jerry Brinegar has been named the New Mexico Corrections Department's Central Office 2010 Employee of the Year. Brinegar, a project manager in the agency's Information Technology Division, last year led — along with Toni Rodriguez and others — the agency's Association of State Correctional Administrators performance review.

Brinegar's "willingness and ability to work with high quality on matters outside [his] project management duties is of extremely high importance to the department," his nominators said.

Also at Corrections, Albert Montaño and Gabriel Wilson were honored as the Central Office's latest employees of the quarter. Montaño is a procurement manager in the Administrative Services Division, where he has "proven to be an excellent leader and ... positive example and model," his nominators said. They added that in meetings with other agencies and procurement committees, Montaño represents the department "with honesty, integrity and professionalism."

Wilson, a security and videoconferencing
specialist in the Information Technology Division, was recognized in particular as a "dedicated IT resource" for the office of the secretary, who worked to ensure a smooth transition during the recent change in administration.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation's most recent employee of the quarter is Ernestina Martinez of the Transit and Rail Division. With an "infectious laugh and ... energetic customer service," Martinez has been instrumental in helping develop new methods of administering rural transit programs throughout the state. According to her nominators, "Ernestina has a very positive and flexible attitude that radiates" as she "efficiently and effectively" helps oversee rural transit programs.

The Transportation Department's section of the quarter is the Pavement Evaluation Unit, consisting of Clyde L. Lovato, Frank Arellano and Melvin C. Ortiz. The three are responsible for successfully reviving a critical program, using specially designed electronic equipment, which will evaluate some 10,000 miles of pavement annually.

If you have news about a public employee, contact Gussie Fauntleroy at gussie7@fairpoint.net.