Fire Staffing Specialist Kim Matthews was recognized as the “2009 Apex Employee of the Year” during the town’s annual holiday luncheon on December 16.

Mayor Keith Weatherly presented the award to Matthews who has worked for the Apex Fire Department since March, 1996.

The Employee of the Year is chosen by a secret committee from among nominations submitted by town employees. This year 23 employees received nominations for this award from their peers.

In presenting the award to Matthews, Mayor Weatherly quoted from some of the comments written in the nomination forms, and described Matthews as “someone who comes to work happy every day, always with a smile and ready to do whatever work is assigned.”

He also noted that she is “one of those people you can always count on, and who does not mind working long hours or adjusting work schedules to get the job done,” and that she “always has a positive outlook and is able to see the good in everything.”

Weatherly shared that Matthews was called “the backbone of the fire department” and noted that “her ‘can do’ and ‘will do’ attitude can serve as a positive example to all Town employees.”

Matthews’ duties with the Town involve maintaining various personnel and payroll related records, acting as the department’s Infection Control Officer and being very involved in the hiring process for volunteers, part-time and full-time employees.

This year, after the town received a grant to hire 12 new firefighters, Matthews worked closely with the town’s human resources department and Fire Chief Mark Haraway to design a validated selection process. She was also responsible for keeping applicants informed of their status at each stage of the process.

Her attention to detail and desire to provide exceptional customer service led to many positive compliments, even from applicants who were not selected.

As the Employee of the Year, Matthews received a plaque, $100 gift certificate and a reserved parking space at Fire Station #3.

Prior to announcing the Employee of the Year, the mayor and council members presented service awards to employees who had reached 5-year milestones in 2009.

Most notably, water reclamation facility operator/mechanic Herbert Sneed received an award for 25 years of service and police sergeants Wayne English and Greg Towell, police corporal Kevin Herring and meter services supervisor Dewayne Branch were recognized for 20 years of town service.

Volunteer firefighter Butch Woody also received an award for 35 years of volunteer service to the Town.