On April 13, the DowntownDC BID recognized two outstanding Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance employees (SAMs) at its annual SAM of the Year awards ceremony.
Retiring BID Director of Homeless Services, Chet Grey demonstrated the bulldog-like determination behind his legendary leadership.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (1200 New York Avenue) hosted the ceremony, which featured inspirational speeches—including remarks by DowntownDC Board Chairman Steven Jumper—special guest appearances by Chet Grey, the BID’s retired director of Homeless Services, and Jonathan Ward, the former head of the joint DowntownDC-Pathways to Housing DC Homeless Services Team; a comedy skit performed by the SAMs; and a video featuring salutations from Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival; Linda Harper, executive director of Cultural Tourism DC (1250 H Street); and Mark McConnell, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Missing from this year’s ceremony was a new SAM graduation class. The BID did not recruit for the SAM Program this year.
SAMs in Space: this year’s out-of-this-world skit was set on the Starship Enterprise.
Rick Reinhard, DowntownDC’s deputy executive director, took the occasion to inform the attendees that a recent branding study shows the SAMs are the most important part of the BID because they represent the organization’s public face and are the first point of contact for thousands of workers, visitors and residents.
Nearly 90 SAMs present a visible, professional and welcoming face in Downtown by patrolling and maintaining the 138-block area between Union Station and the White House seven days a week. They offer directions, notify police when trouble arises; provide after hours escort service to garages or public transportation; engage the homeless; and remove litter, trash and graffiti.
Former head of the joint DowntownDC- Pathways to Housing DC Homeless Services Team, Jonathan Ward receives an achievement award from BID Deputy Executive Director Rick Reinhard.
The 2012 SAM of the Year awards went to Crystal Saunders and Jose Tomas Avelar. The awards are given to two SAMs who best represent what the BID’s SAM Program is all about. Workers are judged based on morale, attendance, letters of appreciation, appearance, and above all else, hard work, leadership and dedication to excellence. A little information about this year’s winners:
Proud award winners Jose Tomas Avelar and Crystal Saunders are flanked by BID Director of Operations Everett Scruggs and Deputy Director of Operations David Pollard.
Crystal Saunders, the Safety/Hospitality SAM of the Year, became a SAM in February 2001. The native Washingtonian is a two-time SAM of the Month employee who enjoys meeting people from different parts of the country, and the world, and engaging with Downtown’s homeless population. When she’s not on the street, Saunders works the SAM dispatch desk, is instrumental to the BID’s safety information fairs, volunteers to wear costumes at the Downtown Holiday Market, and conducts tours for SAM training classes.
Jose Tomas Avelar is the Maintenance SAM of the Year. He joined the SAM team in April 2009 and won the SAM of the Month designation twice last year. Described as “one of the most reliable and dependable members of the SAM team, he does everything from painting to making repairs.” Jose, born in El Salvador, strives to perform his job better every day and keeps looking forward, not backward. In his spare time, he enjoys church and spending time with his wife, three adult children and two granddaughters.
In addition to the honorees, veteran SAMs were recognized at the ceremony for enduring and mastering five years of service. They are Devon E. Alexander, Michael Bunn, Fenton D. Chester, Shanita A. Cowling, Raymond L. Dantzler, Cordeiro R. Gibbs, David L. Hall, Michael Rashad Marshall, and Montee Saunders.
Ultra veterans, we’ll call them Super SAMs—those with 10 to 14 years of service—were also recognized. Give it up for Juvina Brown, Mary Brown, Alvin Chase III, Jerome Coleman, Claudell Epps, Eugene Hailstock, Jessie Marlow, Alfreda Mintah, Jobita Ramos, Donna Riley, Cynthia Ruth, Crystal L. Saunders (yes, our illustrious SAM of the Year), Teresa D. Savoy, Lorine D. Simon, Darrell Q. Stone, Robert Toney, Michael R. Williams, and Carolyn Wood.
Congratulations to all!