Government workers honored

Velvalane Campos, others awarded for excellent service

BY LARRY GIERER - lgierer@ledger-enquirer.com --

Where she works, Velvalane Campos has seen the change.

"There are so many more people from different cultures coming into the office," said Campos, who has been a clerk in the Muscogee County Tax Commissioner's Office since 2000.

Speaking some Spanish has been a plus. "I wish I could speak it a little better," said the Filipino woman. "I try to help the best I can."

Doing the best they can is a regular routine for not only Campos but 16 other Columbus Consolidated Government workers honored Thursday by the Muscogee Rotary Club with a Service Above Self Award.

Campos, along with Jami Mack of the Human Resources Department and Clerk of Council Tiny Washington, were given special recognition for employee excellence.

Others recognized were Alice Brewer of Parks and Recreation, Pam Brown of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, Darrell Bryant of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Alicia Davenport of the Muscogee Marshal's office, Yvonne Ivey from Finance, Gary Kendrick of Metra, Linda King of the Tax Assessor's Office, Linda Lunsford of the Job Training Partnership Agency, Al Lyons of Public Services, Cynthia Ware of the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, Rebecca Wiggins of Inspections and Codes, Judith Wynn of Muscogee County Prison, Timothy Wynn of the Columbus Police Department and Alphonso Moore of the Columbus Civic Center.

City Manager Isaiah Hugley said the approximately 2,700 city workers always come to work with the mind to help people.

"You are role models," he told the winners during a ceremony at the Government Center. "We salute you."

Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington said, "Our city employees do a good job."

In her job, Campos processes an average of 1,843 motor vehicles services such as tags, titles, research, replacement tags and title inquiries each month.

Her supervisor, Tony Floyd, called her "an outstanding worker."

And that's not just at the office. She works diligently at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church as well as for the Filipino American Association of Columbus, One Columbus and with the Mayor's Commission on Diversity.

"As Columbus grows," she said. "It gets more diverse. We need people of all cultures to come together."

Contact Larry Gierer at 706-571-8581