County Awards

Charlotte County

• SquaredUp Live Conference: Outstanding Dashboard, Brian English
• The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties have announced Charlotte County earned an eight-place award for counties with a population between 150,000-249,999 in the 22nd annual Digital Counties Survey. The survey, conducted by CDG in partnership with NACo, identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services; encourage open data, collaboration, and shared services; enhance cybersecurity; and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts.
• United Way of Charlotte County recognized Charlotte County at its annual Spirit Awards with its Most Generous Workplace award.
• Green Local Government Certification – Charlotte County Government has been certified as Green Local Government by the Florida Green Building Coalition after demonstrating Green practices in its department functions. The FGBC is a non-profit third-party certifier and their standard presents a comprehensive list of criteria organized in terms of local government department roles. The standard does not only serve to evaluate the County's current level of sustainability, but also is used as a process to improve performance, increase productivity and save money and other resources in the governmental operations.

• Cigna Gold-level Healthy Workforce Designation, Stephanee Phillips
• The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties recognized Charlotte County for Digital Initiatives. Charlotte County has been ranked No. 10 in the 150,000-249,999 population category of the 2023 Digital Counties Survey.
• Drug-Free Charlotte Mission Impact Partner Award
• Charlotte Sports Park USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice spring training facility – 1st place
• Associated Builders and Contractors Award of Excellence for the Charlotte County Airport Rescue Fire Fighter Training Facility
• EnergyCAP Eco Campion Award Most Energy Costs Avoided – 2nd place
• Florida Association of Counties Human Services Administrators Best Practices Award
• Innovation in Marketing Awards-Florida Economic Development Council - Innovation in Marketing Award 
• Innovation in Marketing Awards-Florida Economic Development Council - Pivot and Persist Award for Hurricane Ian Relief and Recovery efforts.
• Innovation in Marketing Awards-Florida Economic Development Council - Best in Show: Melissa Medley Creativity Award for Hurricane Ian Relief and Recovery efforts.

• 2021 United Way of Charlotte County Spirit Awards: Charlotte County, Most Generous Workplace
• 2021 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index, Punta Gorda-Charlotte County Metropolitan Statistical Area-11th
• Cigna Well-Being Award 2021, Wellness at Work program, Stephanee Phillips

• Cigna Well-Being Award 2020, Wellness at Work program, Stephanee Phillips

Budget & Administrative Services

Community Development

• Center for Digital Government: Digital Counties Survey Awards-9th place in the 150,000 – 249,999 Population Category 
• NACo Achievement Awards
  • FEMA Risk Map Changes & Community Outreach
  • Building a Qualified Labor Force through Creativity and Innovation
  • Comprehensive Community Plan

• Gulf Coast Building Officials Association of Florida, Building Inspector of the Year Award: Bob Hunek

• Charlotte County Community Development Director Claire Jubb was presented with a Civic Hero for Building Communities Award at the Accela Trendsetter Awards.
• Building Official Ben Bailey was named Building Official of the Year by the Building Officials Association of Florida, Gulf Coast Chapter.
• The Community Development Department earned the Digital Counties Survey Award.
• National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its Damage Assessment program And Development Public Outreach publication.

Community Services

• Florida Recreation and Parks Association 2021 Public Relations Campaign/Initiative: Easter Egg-scursion
• NACo Achievement Awards:
  • COVID-19 Safety Plan for Hosting Events
  • Back 2 School Bash Backpack Give Away
  • CrossU training and team-building program 
  • Virtual Training
  • Efficient and Effective Youth Sports Council
  • Recreation Facility Phased Reopening Plans 
  • Charlotte Sports Park Security

• Florida Recreation and Parks Association Agency Excellence Award in Environmental Sustainability

• National Association of Counties 2017 Achievement Award for Summer camp, Hiring Event, iAuditor, Nature In Your Neighborhood, Parks That Teach and Inshore Insight programs.
• In September 2017, Charlotte County Community Services achieved national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). CAPRA recognizes Parks and Recreation agencies from around the United States for excellence in operation and service. To achieve this national accreditation, there are 151 standards that need to be met based on administrative policies and procedures, programs and activities, budgeting, personnel, maintenance and facilities, land management, purchasing, staff training, safety, and current industry trends. Out of over 4,000 Parks and Recreation agencies, Charlotte County Community Services is one of only 165 agencies currently nationally accredited.
• In August 2017, Charlotte County Community Services received the Excellence in Sport Tourism Award (Small Market) from the Florida Recreation & Park Association (FRPA). This award recognizes department contributions to the Sport Tourism efforts of their community. To be considered for this award, a department must be an FRPA member in good standing and nominated by a Florida Sports Foundation Industry Partner in good standing (Regional Sports Commission).

Extension Service, UF/IFAS

• Florida Master Gardener - Awards of Excellence Florida‐Friendly Landscaping™ (Parks That Teach) for Charlotte County.

• Florida Sea Grant Agent Betty Staugler won the following awards from the Florida Association for Natural Resource Extension Professionals: 1^st Place – Educational materials – Brief publication; 1^st Place- Educational material – Series of articles; 2^nd place - Innovative program. 
• 4-H Youth Development Agent Pam Phillippe won the Florida Association of Extension 4-H Agents Communication Award for her educational package, Team.
• Extension Director/Horticulture Agent Ralph Mitchell won the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents Search For Excellence Award for Landscape Horticulture – Statewide IFAS Extension GI-BMP Instructor Implementation Team.

Facilities

• National Association of Counties 2017 Achievement Award for Asset Management Program and Software Development.

• Facilities Project Manager John Rohling won a 2015 Green Achievement Award from the Florida Green Building Council for the Harold Avenue Regional Park concession building.

Human Resources

2020

• Florida Association of Counties Institute for County Government, County Government Best Practices Award: Human Resources Department for the Leadership Development Program

Human Services

2023

• NACo Achievement Awards: Lunch and Learn Program, Partners Annual Outcomes Reporting Process, Family Services Center Virtual Tour One-Take Video

2021 

• NACo Achievement Awards: Human Services Department, Community Organizations Active in a Disaster

Public Information Office

• Ashley Turner – National Parks and Recreation Association 30 Under 30

• Government Social Media Nextdoor Neighborly Award
• National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Government Programming Awards Award of Honor for Community Services Updates Post Hurricane Ian
• National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Government Programming Awards Award of Honor for Hurricane Ian Emergency Management Promotion
• NACo Achievement Awards: Hurricane Ian Resource Guide, My Neighborhood webpage, Hurricane Ian Social Media Crisis Communication Response, Family Services Center Virtual One-Take Video

• National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Suncoast Chapter Emmy Award — Artist Showcase

• 2020 NATOA Government Programming Awards 
  • Award of Honor Documentary-“One Charlotte One Water”
  • Award of Honor Award of Humor-“We’re Serious about Mosquitoes”  

• CC-TV Program Manager Elizabeth Tracy accepted the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Award of Excellence for her film Choices and Chances about the challenges facing young people.
• Choices and Chances also received Award of Honor recognition in the Partnership Production and Public Health categories.

• CC-TV received an honorable mention in the Arts & Entertainment category at the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors awards for its Artist of the Month video series.
• CC-TV received a National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its streaming of County Commission meeting on Facebook Live.

• CC-TV won the Best in Class Award for its Can’t Stop The Feeling video at the National Association of County Information Officers annual conference. The video also received a Superior Award in Audio-Visual Production.
• CC-TV’s Can’t Stop The Feeling video won Best in Web-Based Program at the Hometown Media Awards.
• CC-TV won Best of Government Meeting Coverage for its County Commission meeting opening sequence video at the Hometown Media Awards.
• The Public Information Office won a National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its Social Media Policy.

• The Public Information Office won three awards from the National Association of County Information Officers. CC-TV Program Manager Elizabeth Billings won an award of excellence for her News You Can Use video series.
• CC-TV Production Specialist Todd Dunn won two meritorious awards for his Spotlight video series. One of the videos was on snipe signs, the other on reclaimed water.

• National Association of County Information Officers,
  • 2nd place - Audiovisual Productions: One-time Programming category - "Welcome to Charlotte County"
  • 2nd place - County Government Works category - "Single Stream Recycling Campaign"

• Florida Government Communicators Association
  • 1st Place – Community Relations Category – Rumor Central
  • Special Judges Recognition – Community Relations Category – Rumor Central
  • Special Judges Recognition – Public Information Category – Sales Tax Referendum
  • Special Judges Recognition – Special Events Category – Historical Courthouse Reopening
  • Special Judges Recognition – Video Category – "Back to the Future" 2007 Annual Report
  • Special Judges Recognition – Video Category – "Sales Tax Extension: A Community Investment"
  • Special Judges Recognition – Video Graphics Category – Sales Tax Extension
• National Association of County Information Officers, Meritorious – Brochures & Multi-Page Booklets – Charlotte County Kid's Activity Book

Public Safety

• National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its Firefighter Rehab, Rapid Diver, Slo-Ho-Ho Down programs.

Public Works

• Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association: Public Service Award, Matt Logan

• Project Manager Jeff Keyser won the Florida chapter of the American Public Works Association’s Project of the Year for the Midway Boulevard Phase II project.
• National Association of Counties Achievement Award for the Midway Boulevard Phase II project.

• Project Manager Chuck Coons won the Florida chapter of the American Public Works Association’s Project of the Year for the Edgewater Drive Phase II project.
• National Association of Counties Achievement Award for the Edgewater Drive Phase II project.

• Two Charlotte County staff earned statewide recognition from the Florida chapter of the American Public Works Association.
• The U.S. 41 Microtunnel project, managed by Jeff Keyser, and the replacement of the DeSoto Canal Bridge, managed by Chuck Coons, won project of the year awards from the association.
• The microtunnel work, which expanded stormwater flow beneath U.S. 41 to accommodate volume expected to be generated by the widening of Midway Boulevard, had previously received a Crown Communities Award from American City and County magazine. The project will now be entered in the APWA’s national award contest.
• The DeSoto Canal Bridge project replaced an aging bridge with a precast concrete span over the canal flowing beneath Harborview Road.

2012

• Zemel Road Landfill Gas to Energy Project Named 2012 Project of the Year by EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program

2011

• Solid Waste Division: Outstanding Partnership Award - 2011

Purchasing

• National Purchasing Institute Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Awards
• The Charlotte County Purchasing Division has been awarded the prestigious 24^th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement for 2019 from the National Procurement Institute. The division has now earned the distinction 16 times. In 2020, Charlotte County was 1 of only 31 agencies in Florida and 1 of only 40 counties in the United States to receive this award.
• The AEP Award is earned by public and non-profit organizations that obtain a high application score based on standardized criteria. The AEP is awarded annually to recognize innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity and leadership in the procurement function.
• The AEP program encourages the development of excellence as well as continued organizational improvement to earn the award annually.

Tourism

• The Punta Gorda/Englewood Convention and Visitors Bureau was given two Adrian Awards by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International for its work to promote the county as Florida’s premier Gulf Coast destination. The bureau’s Destination’s 2019 Visitor Guide took home a silver award and its brand campaign, “Outsiders Welcome,” earned a bronze award.
• The tourism bureau received the Henry Award, the highest honor in the Creativity in Public Relations category for its public relations efforts and creative response to the 2018 red tide bloom.
• The tourism bureau won an eTSY Award at the E-Tourism Summit Excellence Awards for “Best Use of Video,” for its “Outsiders Welcome” campaign.

Utilities

• NACo Achievement Awards: Hurricane Ian Regional Water Quality Monitoring

• American Water Works Association-Florida Chapter: Outstanding Water Distribution System, Division 6, 1st Place; Year-Round Water Conservation Education, Public Education, Honorable Mention

• The Burnt Store water reclamation facility was honored with a safety award from the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operations Association.
• The Utilities Department won the annual Best Tasting Drinking Water Taste Test in Region X by the Florida Section of the American WaterWorks Association. Region X represents drinking water utilities in five counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota. All Region X water utilities were invited to submit a two‐liter sample of their drinking water to be tested by a panel of five impartial judges.
• The Utilities Department was recognized for outstanding service in a recent competition for water service delivery. The Florida Section of the American Water Works Association presented the award at its annual convention in Orlando. The Utilities Department was recognized as "Distribution System of the Year" amongst other utility providers across the state of Florida who serve between 46,000 and 69,999 customers. The criteria for this prestigious award included water quality, operations records, maintenance, professionalism, safety, emergency preparedness and cross-connection control.

• Utilities wins the annual Best Tasting Drinking Water Taste Test in Region X by the Florida Section AWWA on April 7, 2017. Region X represents drinking water utilities in five counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota. All Region X water utilities were invited to submit a two‐liter sample of their drinking water to be tested by a panel of five impartial judges. The annual Drinking Water Taste Test is intended to educate consumers about water‐related issues and raise awareness about water conservation.
• The Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility was presented with the 2017 Florida Water Environment Association Safety Award for Class C Wastewater Plants. The recognition is for outstanding effort of the management and operational staff which resulted in zero lost time accidents during the 2016 calendar year at that facility.
• Charlotte County West Port Water Reclamation Facility (WP WRF) staff received a safety award by the Florida Water Environment Association for Class B Wastewater Plants. The recognition is for outstanding effort of the management and operational staff which resulted in zero lost time accidents during the 2016 calendar year at that facility.
• The Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility was presented with the 2017 FS AWWA Water Conservation Awards of Excellence for their research and demonstration garden. The recognition is for innovation and outstanding achievements in water efficiency throughout Florida.

• Plant Operations Excellence Award in recognition of outstanding treatment plant operation, maintenance, and compliance at Utilities Burnt Store Water Treatment Plant by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency.
• The Charlotte County Utilities Department was recognized for its transformation initiative by the National Association of Counties with its 2016 Achievement Award.

• The Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility was presented with the 2015 Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association Safety Award for Class C Wastewater Plants. Congratulations to Chief Plant Operator John Thompson and his staff. The recognition is the latest in a series of awards for the Utilities Department, which earned a National Association of Counties Achievement Award in June for its transformation initiative.
• The Charlotte County Utilities Department earned the Florida Excellence Best Practices Award for its transformation initiative. The award recognized the department for its “implementation of a comprehensive strategic planning process that included integration of customer, workforce, information technology and capital improvement initiatives to support the organization’s mission with associated measures, targets and accountability systems.” Florida Excellence recognizes public and private organizations that have successfully demonstrated best practices in one of three categories, customer, workforce and overall organizational excellence.
• The Charlotte County Utilities Department earned the 2015 Outstanding Water Distribution Service Award from the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA).

• Water Distribution employees were recognized with a proclamation by Charlotte Board of County Commissioners (Board) on January 25, 2011 for their support in repairing a water leak at Gasparilla Marina and providing aid to citizens affected on Christmas Eve.

• Operations division was recognized with an outstanding Water Distribution Service Award by the Florida Section of American Water Works Association (AWWA). CCU’s victory was announced at AWWA awards ceremony in Orlando on Dec 1 st among all Division VI utilities serving between 46,000 and 69,999 connections. The winner is selected for outstanding performance and includes performance standards such as water quality, recordkeeping, system maintenance, professionalism, safety, emergency preparedness and cross connection control. AWWA presented CCU with a plaque at January 11, 2011 Board Meeting. 
• Received QualServe Self‐Assessment and Peer Review plaque in April by the Florida Section of AWWA and the Water Environmental Federation (WEF). QualServe is a voluntary, continuous improvement program for water and wastewater utilities to take strides to improve overall operations and to enhance the services provided to customers. A Peer Review team consisting of three (3) water and wastewater professionals conducted on‐site interviews, visited various CCU facilities and reviewed utility processes, procedures and information management systems. The team then prepared a report with findings on “Strengths” and “Opportunities for Improvement” in order to be the “Best‐in‐Class”. Presentations of those findings were presented to the Board on May 25, 2010.

• CCU wins the annual Best Tasting Drinking Water Taste Test in Region X by the Florida Section AWWA on March 13, 2009. Region X represents drinking water utilities in five counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota. All Region X water utilities were invited to submit a two‐liter sample of their drinking water to be tested by a panel of five impartial judges. The annual Drinking Water Taste Test is intended to educate consumers about water‐related issues and raise awareness about water conservation.

• Plant Operations Excellence Award in recognition of outstanding treatment plant operation, maintenance, and compliance at CCU Burnt Store Water Treatment Plant by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency.
• Excellence in Marketing & Communications MarCom Award for Charlotte County Utilities 2007 Annual Report, produced by CCU and PB Americas. We received recognition for the following categories: 
  • Platinum(highest honor), Overall Annual Report
  • Gold, Writing/Annual Report
  • Gold, Design/Annual Report Cover.